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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

This article is a continuation of the interaction between myself and a gentleman who offered a thoughtful reply to my first article by this title. Herein, I attempt to address his 10 propositions and the passages he has supplied. I hope this is helpful for the readers, irrespective of the conclusions to which they arrive.

(3.) 1 Corinthians 14:18-19—“Practiced and Commended by Paul—Paul valued and used tongues regularly.”  Paul reports speaking in tongues more than the Corinthians, but he immediately qualifies this: “In church I would rather speak five words with my mind… than ten thousand words in a tongue” (v. 19). Moreover, Paul was an “apostolos,” a “sent one”—translated into Latin as “missio,” this is where we get the word “missionary.” Paul used tongues (“languages” he had never learned) to proclaim the Gospel to pagans. Of the Corinthians, Paul asked the question: “Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?” (1 Cor. 12:29), in which each question is preceded by “mē,” the strongest negative in the Greek language—that is, Paul made it clear that “all” DO NOT. Hence, I maintain that it is spiritually abusive to pressure Christians into “manifesting” tongues as evidence of Spirit baptism, especially when Paul demands that EVERY Christian has been baptized in the Spirit: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. ANYONE who DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT of Christ DOES NOT BELONG to Him” (Rom. 8:9).

(4.) 1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-15—“A Form of Prayer and Worship to God—Used to speak mysteries in the Spirit.” These verses are regularly cited to support the idea of “prayer languages,” but context proves those assertions inadequate. Paul was clear: “If I pray in a tongue, MY SPIRIT prays but my mind is unfruitful” (v. 14). “Spirit” here does not refer to the Holy Spirit but to Paul’s inner-being engaging in prayer without mental comprehension. Paul is NOT endorsing incomprehensible prayer—He is CORRECTING it. Paul advocates praying “with the mind” (v. 15). The biblical pattern of worship—whether prayer or praise—is always intelligent, doctrinally sound, and publicly edifying (cf. Col. 3:16). Praying in unintelligible utterances is inconsistent with the biblical paradigm.

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria