Must I Speak in Tongues?

Q: But, I can't speak in tongues, does this mean I'm not saved?

A: NO, NO, AND AGAIN SCRIPTURE SAYS NO !

Have you ever known anyone who has said that? Have you ever been taught that?

Have you ever wondered about it yourself, but just weren't sure who to trust on this issue? I've heard this teaching a lot, and I know a lot of other people have too. Well, let's examine the issue, FROM the bible, and see what it does in fact say.

We would encourage you to print this article and read it along with Scripture, after you pray, so that God would (by His Holy Spirit) open your eyes to the truth, and show you what He would have you know, about the issue of speaking in tongues.

First of all, where does this teaching come from? Those who teach it and believe it, say it's Scriptural, so where in Scripture are they basing this doctrine, on? If you'll turn to the book of Acts, chapter 2, you'll read the account of the "filling of the Holy Ghost", where those filled began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. This is where the teaching comes from, that when you're saved, and filled with the Holy Spirit, you will speak in tongues. In a sort of reverse reasoning, people will say that if you are not able to speak in tongues, you must not be filled, therefore not saved, because the example of being filled, in Acts 2:4, clearly sets a precedent, a standard, for which we all must go by.

Or Does It?

Please turn to I Corinthians, chapter 12. In verse 1, the first thing we read that Paul writes, is that he would not have us ignorant concerning spiritual gifts. How much more would God desire that we not be ignorant where these things are concerned?

I Cor, 12:4-11:

Here we read that there are diversities (various kinds) of gifts. Paul teaches us that there are diverse gifts, diverse manifestations and operations of those gifts. Paul reminds us that still, there is one source, and that is the Lord.

Then Paul begins to tell us what some of these different gifts are:

word of wisdom
word of knowledge
faith
gifts of healing
working of miracles
prophecy
discerning of spirits
diverse kinds of tongues (known languages)
interpretation of tongues

Now read verse 11 very carfully:

"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit (God), dividing (distributing) to every man severally (individually) as he will."

So this is saying, God chooses to whom, which gift He will give. It doesn't say that ALL will receive the gift of tongues, it says God will decide, who gets which kind of gift.

Going down to verses 12, through the end of the chapter, Paul talks about the different roles, within the body of believers. Why they're important, and how one is no less needed than another. Paul specifically mentions in verses 29 and 30, that all of us are not all apostles, or prophets, or workers of miracles, or teachers...

and that not all of us will have the gift of healing, or speak in tongues, or interpret tongues. Remember what you read in verse 11, that God chooses who gets what kind of gift.

Verse 31 is very interesting. Paul encourages us to "covet (desire) earnestly the best gifts".

What does that mean? Well, if you turn to chapter 14, and verse 1, we find this exhortation:

"Follow after charity (love), desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophecy", and then in verse 39 we read: "Wherefore brethren, covet (desire) to prophecy". So what does this all mean?

In a nutshell, it means this: the gift of speaking in tongues is NOT *THE* gift of the Holy Ghost, it is *A* gift of the Holy Ghost, given to whom He has chosen to have it, for reasons He has chosen them to have it for. Paul tells us the gift of prophecy is the gift we should all be seeking, not tongues. And he never once says that if we don't have the gift of tongues, we're not indwelled with the Holy Spirit, as some teach.

I've heard some say, that Paul is just Paul, he's not Jesus, and he's not God. Well that's true, Paul was just Paul, but either II Timothy 3:16 is correct, or the whole Bible has to be thrown out. That passage says:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness".

So there it is, Paul was inspired BY God, to teach us that the gift of tongues is A gift of the Holy Spirit, given to whom God chose to give it to.

Some will say that this gift of tongues (known languages) was for the early church only, and is no longer in operation today. There is very strong Biblical argument for this, found in this sermon here:

Biblical understanding of tongues (2part audio sermon) http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=7120014323

We would strongly encourage you to listen.

There is also another very interesting article on this topic, HERE, that we would highly recommend. We hope this helps you in your own understanding, of this often controversial issue.