"TONGUES" - TRUE? OR FALSE?
by: Pastor Rick Bickelhaupt

When I was a young Christian, I remember driving by a church which had a church sign that stated, "A FULL GOSPEL CHURCH". 'I thought to my self, that's great, every church needs to be a full Gospel Church.' Later I realized just what they meant by "Full Gospel". It meant that they believed in the Apostolic gifts, and that they were still available today. Then I discovered that they had a heavy emphasis on the doctrine and the practice of "Speaking in Tongues". As a new believer I was very confused on the issue, but I also knew that the answers to all my questions could be found in God's Holy Word. I was told by some of my friends that were involved in a "Charismatic" church that "Tongues" was in the Bible. Sure enough, as I began reading and to study the Bible concerning this topic, speaking in "Tongues" was in the Bible! An interest began to arose within my soul about this so called "gift" that had been given to many Christians. I started comparing what the Bible said about the "Gift of Tongues" mention in the Book of Acts and the instructions concerning "Speaking in Tongues" that the Apostle Paul gave us in I Cor. chapters 12-14.
As I began to compare the Biblical and historical account of the "Gift of Tongues" to the present phenomenon, I began to notice GREAT INCONSISTENCIES! I Began to ask myself many questions about the present day "gift of Tongues". I asked myself the question, "If Tongues is true, and for today, why do those that believe in this gift send their Missionaries to Language School before sending them to the mission field? It wasn't long after this I turned on the TV and saw that Jimmy Swaggart was on and he was preaching in a large stadium to thousand of people. I paused for a few minutes to watch. He was in a foreign country, (I believe it was in Brazil), and he was using an interpreter to speak to the people. It is a known fact that Jimmy Swaggart believes in the modern day gifts of tongues. If he really believes it and practiced it why did he need an interpreter? After about two minutes of watching him say a few words then the interpreter say a few words, something happened that really opened my eyes to the fakery that was going on. Rev. Jimmy began to "speak in tongues" on International TV. The funny thing was that the Interpreter stopped interpreting and just looked at him dumbfounded, not knowing what to do. If this was truely a gift of "Tongues" the Bible states in 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." I Cor. 14:6-9 states that the "Tongues" must be intelligible to the congregation. Verses 7 through 9 of the same chapter state that the one speaking in "Tongues" must be clearly understood and not a babbler!
Because of all these inconsistencies, I began to search the Scriptures and the history of Tongues more thoroughly. Let me remind you that I am not be critical of individuals, but of the heresy that they are propagating! Note: Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Let me give you a brief history of the modern day "Tongues Movement"
In 1900 Charles F. Parham started the Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas. Under his ministry and teaching a young woman was influenced to speak in "tongues". Within a short time a dozen more students had claimed to have this experience. In 1906 the "Azuza Street Assembly was founded in Los Angeles teaching a heavy emphasis on "seeking one's Pentecost". This new teaching on "Tongues" infiltrated the old Pentecostal Movement, and because of this new teaching, many new denominations were born. Some of these denominations that started as a result of the "Tongues Movement" were: the Assembles of God, Foursquare Gospel Churches, Church of God in Christ, the Church of God of Bible Prophecy, the United Pentecostal and many others. These groups have received a steady stream of "converts from the mainline denominational churches. During the last half of this century, and especially in the last 20-25 years, we have seen the "Tongues Movement" creep into main line denominational churches. For at least 20 years we have heard of Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, Brethren, Missionary Alliance, and Catholic speaking in Tongues. Many of these groups are staying in their churches to spread the "Tongue Movement" within the circles of their own denomination. These "tongues groups" are now working in through their own churches through home Bible studies, prayer groups, and many other avenues to recruit converts. Organizations such as the "Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship are working interdenominationally with hundereds of chapters working to make converts into the "Tongues Movement". One of the most amazing things about the present day "Tongues Movement" is it's rapid spread into the Roman Catholic Church. A few years ago, 12,000 Roman Catholics from all over the world assembled on the campus of Notre Dame University in the interest of the tongues movement. Multiplied thousands of Roman Catholics claim to have received the "Baptism of the Holy Ghost" and to have spoken in "Tongues".
Regardless of the "Denominational" support, or the lack there of, our understanding of the Tongues Movement needs to be derived totally from the Infallible, Inerrant Word of God!

TONGUES - TRUE? OR FALSE? PART #2
By: Pastor Rick Bickelhaupt

1 Cor. 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." Last Month I wrote on the topic of "Tongues - True? or False?" As I finish the article this month, I would like to start by asking several questions that I asked last month. First, if the modern day Tongues Movement is true, why is there no record of it before the year 1905? Secondly, if these people really have the God given gift of Tongues, (Biblically speaking, the gift of being able to speak in a foreign language that you had not learned), why do they use language translators when in a foreign country? Thirdly, if these people really have the "Gift of Tongues", why do they send their missionaries to Language School before sending them to the mission field? Lastly, If "Tongues" is such a big deal, why doesn't the Scripture have more to say about it. It's interesting to note that out of the 1,185 chapters in the Word of God, only 7 refer to tongue speaking. and out of the 31,262 verses in the entire Bible, only 22 of them contain a reference to "Tongue Speaking" If "Speaking in Tongues" is so important, why is it not mentioned more? The answer to these questions are obvious. The "Gift" that they say that they have, is not really there!
In I Corinthians chapter 12-14 the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of "Tongues" and gives certain instructions to the Corthinian believers concerning the practice of Tongues Speaking. There are 16 specific instructions given by the Apostle Paul in these three chapters. The Bible states in 1 Cor. 14:32 "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." This verse basically states that if we are going to do something Biblically, (like speak in Tongues), we have to do it in accordance with the Word of God! With that in mind, let me give you these 16 Biblical Guidelines for speaking in Tongues.
1. Speaking in another tongue or language must edify the believers that are present. I Cor. 14:6; I Cor. 12:9-12.
2. It must be intelligible to the congregration. I Cor. 14:6-9, 19.
3. It must evidence value in the service. - I Cor. 14:23
4. There must be an interpreter present - I Cor. 14:27-28
5. It must be know by the speaker that there is an interpreter present before he speaks in another language or tongue. I Cor. 14:27-28
6. There must not be any confusion - I Cor. 14:33
7. The individual must not seek the gift of Tongues, but seek the gift of preaching. - I Cor. 14:1-39.
8. The speaker must be directing his speech to men, not to God - I Cor. 14:2
NOTE: There are some that say that when they speak in tongues, they use it as a "Prayer Language". First of all, there is nothing in the Bible about a "Prayer Language". Secondly, that line of thinking contradicts I Cor. 14:2. Lastly, It was God who confounded the languages at the Tower of Babel in Gen. 11, therefore He created all languages, therefore I don't need a "Prayer Language" because He understands English just fine!
9. He must not edify the himself (the speaker) - I Cor. 14:4-5
10. He must expound the Word of God - I Cor. 14:6
11. He must be clearly understood, and not a babbler. - I Cor. 14:7-9.
12. There can be not more than 3 speaker per service. - I Cor. 14:34
13. The individual speaking must not be a woman - I Cor. 14:33
14. They must maintain self control - I Cor. 14:32
15. They must be in consecutive order as they speak. I Cor. 14:29-32
16. There must be unsaved Jews present in the service. - I Cor. 14:22
Note: In I Cor. 14:22 Tongues was for a sign not to the believers, but to the lost Jews that were present.
If you take a good look at the instructions given, you will probably come to the conclusion that most of those who are claiming to speak in "Tongues" are not following the Biblical Guidlines for doing so. Is therefore what they are doing really speaking in "Tongues"? I would have to say no.
The Bible states that "Tongues will Cease". 1 Cor. 13:8-10 "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."
A few words of explanation are in order for certain words found in the above Scripture. "Prophecies" refers to office of the prophet who received a direct revelation to the future from the Lord. "Fail" does not mean that some prophecies given by Divine inspiration would not come to pass, but rather that there would be no need of prophecies when the Word of God was complete. John wrote the last prophecies in 96 A.D. on the Isle of Patmos. Now there is no need for prophecies and prophets for John finished that work.
"Tongues ... shall cease." Tongues here means the gift of Tongues. Tongues (langues have to be learded today, they are not received as a gift. God said that Tongues shall cease. Why? Because today we a sign to validate what we are saying is from God, we have the completed, inspired, infallible Word of God that speaks the truth, and we are to align ourselves and our teaching to the Word!
"Knowledge... shall vanish away." "Knowledge" here means revelatory knowledge necessary for completing the Word of God. After the last book of the Bible was finished this "Knowledge" vanished away because there was no more need for it. This interpretation is confirmed in vs. 9-10, 1 Cor. 13:9-10 "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." At the time that Paul wrote this, only a small parts of the New Testament had been written by "prophecy and by knowledge", so there was need for these gifts to be continued until it was completed.
"But when that which is 'perfect' is come, then that which is in part shall be done away" vs. 10. In vs. 10 the Word "PERECT" does not refer to Christ, as some would have to believe. According to William G. Bellshaw, Th.M., he states: "This adjective (used as a noun) is in the neuter gender. Therefore, it is a refererence to the finished (perect) or completed Word of God. If it referred to Christ, it would be in the Masculine gender." When the New Testament was completed, prophecy, tongues and knowledge were no longer needed. This interpretation of vs. 10 is also confirmed by Merrill F. Unger and Roy L Laurin in his commentary on I Corinthians.
As we look at the issue of Tongues for today, we have to conclued that what is going on in many churches is not Biblical tongues, for "Tongues" ceased with the completion of the Scriptures, I Cor. 13:8-10. If "Tongues" today are unscriptural, why is there so much ephasis on this subject today? There are several possible sources for tongues. 1). Divine. We have already reuled this out! 2). Satanic. 3). Psycological. 4). Fakery. I personally believe that every tongues experience today is one of the last three listed. Remember what the Word tells us in Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
Let's be like the Berean believers, for it is recorded in Acts 17:11 'These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Be sure to stand for the Truth, The Lord will bless you for it!

By His Grace,
Pastor Rick Bickelhaupt