Speaking In "Tongues"
God communicates clearly, and He wants us to converse the same,
Otherwise, any utterances will just simply be in vain.
When God speaks, the words are clear and distinct, never a mere sound,
For unintelligible utterance within heathenism is found.
Thus, regarding speaking in “tongues,” we need to turn to Scripture,
For there within its pages is an unambiguous picture.
God wants us to very clearly understand what He is saying,
Lest we mistakenly practice error; such be conveying.
Though the apostles hadn’t learnt all the languages of their day,
When they preached, each race understood, and learnt about God’s way.
Via this gift that’s called “tongues,” that God gave to spread His Word,
The various races — the gospel message — in their own language heard.
The devil has a substitute for each truth that God has given,
For Satan, (who's the father of lies), via falsehood is driven.
Thus, whenever we study Scripture in order to wiser be,
Both a false, and genuine speaking in “tongues,” we can clearly see.
Satan’s false speaking in “tongues” the hearer never understands.
Its meaningless utterance just engenders pride, and error fans.
Satan’s false speaking in “tongues” seeks to build up those speaking,
And it wrongly addresses God, not the ones who truth are seeking.
Satan’s false speaking in “tongues” is simply an ecstatic state,
Where the mind’s inactive, sleep-like, giving Satan an open gate.
Thus, any utterance that is heard via this trance-like condition,
Will (unsurprisingly) arouse much derision and suspicion.
Genuine speaking in “tongues” the hearer clearly understands.
It respects the human mind; the words uttered, God’s truth fans.
Genuine speaking in “tongues” builds others up spiritually,
Whereas, the false is simply focused on, “What’s in it for me?”
Genuine speaking in “tongues” addresses the human hearer.
The speaker’s mind is conscious, words spoken make truth clearer.
Thus, the saving gospel message, the non-believer clearly hears,
Receiving the opportunity to repent before Christ appears.
The gift of “tongues” is for the benefit of the non-believer,
Not for the selfish benefit of any Christian receiver.
As well as this, not every Christian the gift of “tongues” receives,
Though the old devil, with an opposite story, many deceives.
It’s tragic and alarming that strange sounds are being uttered,
Like the ones that witch-doctors throughout history have muttered.
Hence Christians should be careful, for the Lord should not be mocked
By such incoherent sounds, that even Paul himself, clearly knocked.
Thus, there’s no mysterious language that only God understands,
One that’s just imparted to Christians — no, that sad theory is man's.
God always does things openly, and He treats everyone the same,
And never has time for utterance that’s used wrongly in His name.
God says, “Let’s reason together,” invites us to study and pray,
Knowing that prayer and deep study help us to find the right way.
Yes, God communicates clearly, so why would He lead us astray
With mysterious utterances that clearly nothing convey?
By Lance Landall
REGARDING THE NEED FOR AN INTERPRETER
(1 Cor 14:28).
The
Corinthian church was a church where many different nationalities meet
together to worship. Things became confusing when members prayed,
testified, or preached in a genuine language that was unknown to others
present, In such a case, unless they used interpreters, they were
better to remain silent.
The translators used the
word “unknown” to indicate that the language being used was foreign to
most who were present. A Greek word for “unknown” isn’t found in
any original Bible manuscripts.