Things Tongue Talkers Don't Talk About

The Charismatic Movement is so prevalent that Speaking In Tongues an accepted phenomenon.  The tongue talkers try to use scripture as a proof text to support their viewpoint rather than using it as their final authority.  In fact, all apostate movements today operate in that same fashion.

1 Cor 12-14 were written specifically to deal with the abuses of spiritual gifts.

There are at-least six points that the tongue talkers never notice.  Paul introduces these rules with 1 Cor 14:20

1 Cor 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

 1) Tongues are for the benefit of the nation Israel.

1 Cor 14:21 In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

The "this people" refers to the nation Israel. See Isa 28:11

Tongues are for a sign - and signs are for Israel. See 1 Cor 1:22

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

These signs are a collective unit, a package of gifts that associated with "Confirming the Word" in relation to Israel's program (Mark 16:20, Heb 2:3-4) This "signs and wonders" program has its roots in Ex. 4 where God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt.

 2) Tongues are for the purpose of convincing unbelievers. - not for convincing believers, and especially not Gentile believers.

1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

Tongues were a testimony to unbelieving Jews.  Because of their heritage "the Jews required a sign"

 3) No more than three people are to speak in tongues at any one meeting.

1 Cor 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

Not much comment needed here.  If you are at a meeting and more than 3 people are speaking in tongues then God is not in it!

 4) Each person of the three is to wait his turn.

14:27 (above) … and that by course.

Someone may say "But I have a tongue and I have to exercise it."  No you don't! The verse says that if the gift is from God it is subject to your control. It is not some mindless activity that just happens.  It is coordinated by the Holy Spirit who set down these rules to identify how He operates in this realm. Thus all things will be done "in order" (v40) "for God is not the author of confusion" (v33)

 5) One person is to interpret.

1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

When there is no interpreter - no translator - there is to be no speaking in tongues.  If the Holy Spirit gave the tongue, He would provide a translator.

 6) Only men were to speak in tongues.

1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

1Co 14:34 ¶ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Paul is not prohibiting women from talking or holding a conversation during the meetings.  No. The context of 1 Cor 14:34 is speaking in tongues. "It is not permitted unto them to speak" - in tongues.  This rule alone would put the modern tongues movement out-of-business.

Other points-of-interest

• Some people who profess to speak in tongues like to use the following verse:

Ro 8:26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Words mean stuff: If this "prayer language" cannot be uttered then what is this stuff that's coming out of the tongue-talker's mouth?

• The tongues movement likes to refer to what took place at Pentecost as an example of their "speaking in tongues".  The context:  Acts 2:1-11  Notice, though, that these "tongues" are not the same gibberish that you hear uttered at these tongues meetings.