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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

Arguments about “charismatic” gifts have divided Christians for the last 125 years. Even those who allow for the continuation of these spiritual gifts—with “tongues” being the best example—remain skeptical because of HOW they are seemingly being abused.

For reasons detailed below, the 20th-century revival of “tongues” remains dubious. Charles Fox Parham, the father of modern Pentecostalism, was a man of exceedingly poor character. He was indisputably a racist, was perpetually mired in conflicts, and had multiple accusations against him for sexual impropriety—even being arrested for “the commission of an unnatural offense”—to which he initially confessed, but later recanted. In 1901, Parham’s student, Agnes Ozman, is credited with being the first person to speak in tongues since the biblical era. Ozman and her impressionable classmates claimed that she spoke Chinese, but no linguistic experts were consulted, and no evidence has ever confirmed that she spoke anything but gibberish. Moreover, Ozman presented written examples, claiming that they too were Chinese. A simple online search will convince the reader that her “chicken-scratch” was CLEARLY not Chinese!

So, what DOES the Bible say about “tongues?” First, the biblical Greek term translated as tongue(s)—glōssa—has ONLY one definition: “a known human language(s).” Far from ecstatic babble, Acts 2:8-12 describes listeners—representing 16 different languages—“hearing” the apostles speak in “their own native languages.” Second, contrary to what is commonly taught, there is no such thing as a “heavenly” language. Misinformed teachers will appeal to “the tongues of men and of angels” (1 Cor. 13:1), but any student of Greco-Roman literature knows that this very common metaphor just refers to “eloquent” speech—not languages spoken by angels.

Nevertheless, Paul avers, “Do not forbid speaking in tongues” (1 Cor. 14:39); but this allowance has non-negotiable guardrails. Paul DEMANDS that only two or three should speak, in turn (v. 27), NEVER in chaotic unison. If there is no separate interpreter, Christians should “keep silent” (v. 28)—ensuring that  “all things be done decently and in order” (v. 40).

As we have seen, the question is not simply whether tongues are for today. The question is: Will Christians subject the exercise of spiritual gifts to the authority of Scripture? If not, what is called “spiritual” may in fact be fleshly, deceptive, or even demonic (1 Tim. 4:1-2).

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria