Open the
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Q:
Are tongues for today?
No. They went
out of use with the sign gifts. The sign gifts were miraculous gifts
given during the apostolic age (before the completion of the New
Testament) so that those to whom the apostles preached would know that
the word they spoke was really from God. When the New Testament was
completed and direct revelation was no longer given, there was no longer
any need for the sign gifts. Notice these characteristics about the sign
gifts.
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The
signs were given for the purpose of "confirming the word" (Mark
16:20). This means to prove that the words they spoke with their mouths were
from God.
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The signs included taking up
serpents and drinking deadly poisons (Mark 16:17-18). If
we are supposed to do one, then evidently we are
supposed to do the others.
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The signs were given
especially for the Jews (1Corinthians 1:22). God often
deals with the Jewish people through signs beginning
with Moses (Exodus 3-4).
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The signs were given
(especially tongues) in order to convince the lost.
"Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that
believe, but to them that believe not" (1Corinthians
14:22). They were never given for the pleasure or
spiritual experience of the saved. This verse says that
they are not for those that believe.
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Although tongues were still
allowed at the time of the writing of 1Corinthians
(14:39), they were on their way out. We see this in the
great number of regulations Paul puts on the speaking in
tongues and in his emphasis on the lesser importance of
tongues (14:1-9). He also clearly says that tongues
"shall cease" (1Corinthians 13:8).
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Tongues took the path of
apostolic healing through the instrumentation of man.
Christ healed all that came to Him (Matthew 9:35). The
early apostles did the same (Acts 5:16). Yet, before the
New Testament was completed, Paul could not heal himself
(2Corinthians 12:7-9) or his co-worker, Trophimus
(2Timothy 4:20). He kept Doctor Luke with him (2Timothy 4:11) and
told Timothy to take a prescription of medicine (1Timothy 5:23). God
still heals through prayer (see Philippians 2:25-27), but He does it
directly and not through the touch of a man.
Q: Are
they unknown or known tongues and what is the meaning of angelic
tongues?
A: They
are unknown in that they are languages no one present knows. When
tongues were spoken on the day of Pentecost, every man heard the word
in his own language (Acts 2:8). This is not angelic language. Paul
only uses "the tongue of angels" as a contrast. [Even if I spoke in the language of angels, that would do no one any
good if they could not understand me.] He was not defining unknown
tongues an angelic language.
Q: Can
you explain I Corinthians 14 to me; this is the chapter that my relatives
say proves that speaking in tongues is for today.
A: 1Corinthians
14 is proof that:
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Tongues
were already unimportant in the service of Christ by about 60AD.
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The most
carnal church Paul wrote to (see 1Corinthians 3:1-4) was
caught up in tongues-speaking and gave way too much
emphasis to it.
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No
speaking of tongues should be done unless the tongues
are interpreted (v.27-28).
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No more
than three should ever speak in tongues in a church
service (v.27).
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Only one
should ever speak in tongues a one time (v.27). That's
what "by course" means--in order, one after the other.
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Those who
truly speak in Spirit-given tongues can speak if they
want or refrain from speaking if they want (v.32).
God-given tongues is not some uncontrollable urge that
comes over someone. It is a gift that they can use when
they want just like preaching.
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Women
are not to speak in tongues in a church service (v.34).
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Truly
spiritual people will agree that these restrictions are
necessary (v.37).
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Paul
clearly told the Corinthians that tongues were going to
“cease” (13:8). When would they cease? Tongues were a
form of divine revelation; thus, the importance of
interpretation (14:5). They would cease when God’s
perfect revelation was completed—that which is in part
is replaced by that which is perfect (13:10). God’s
perfect revelation is found in His completed Bible and
no new revelation is needed (Revelation 22:18).
I do not
think that many churches follow the rules set down by Paul for the
speaking in tongues. Does the church your relatives go to follow
all these rules? If not, then they are not following God's plan.
You see,
Paul was kindly regulating tongues to a minority role in the church
at Corinth so that it could die out gracefully when it was no longer
needed. It was no longer needed when the New Testament was completed. I
hope this helps.
By David F. Reagan