Narcissism and Nobility

Meditations on 1Corinthians

No. 21a

The “Tongues Passage” — Getting Our Bearings

1Cor 12.1-3; 14.20-22

Introduction.

We now come to what is famously known as the “tongues passage,” and it is as controversial today as it was 2000 years ago.  The passage is very long, covering chapters 12, 13, and14.  For that reason, and also because of its controversial nature, we need to get our bearings before we jump into an exegesis of it.

Since its beginning in the 1960s, the charismatic movement has touched all branches of the church and has become very large and influential.  “Charismatic” comes from the Greek word charisma, which basically means a “grace gift” from God to the church.  But when I speak of the charismatic movement, I am not using the term in that technical sense, but in the modern sense which refers to that broad movement within the church that sees Pentecost as paradigmatic for the church of all ages, particularly when it comes to the gifts of tongues, prophecy, healings, and the like.

Be mature while being babes.

As we broach this subject, we want to heed Paul’s admonition in 1Corinthians 14.20: “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.”  In our understanding, we want to be grown-ups — we want to look at this topic maturely, scripturally, head-on, and with eyes open.  At the same time, we want to be babes — we want to be sincere and guileless in our love and openheartedness toward the whole church of Jesus Christ.

With that in mind, let us take note of Paul’s first point, which he uses like a corner stake, driven deep into the ground, from which to lay the boundaries of this whole discussion: “No one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”  (1Cor 12.3.)  The demarcation of a Christian indwelt by the Holy Spirit is not any particular gift, but the heartfelt confession that Jesus is Lord. Paul is going to apply that to the Corinthians who viewed certain gifts, especially tongues, as the litmus test of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or at least of a higher spirituality.  Paul makes it clear that anyone who says Jesus is Lord and means it is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  Further, whenever anyone confesses that Jesus is Lord, that is just as much a manifestation of the Spirit as speaking in tongues or any miracle you can name.  Indeed, that confession is the fundamental miracle, the foundational miracle when it comes to the life and experience of the believer.  This fact stands as a rebuke for any who would make tongues the test of faith or of higher spirituality, but it also stands as a rebuke for any who would make a correct view of tongues the test of faith or of higher spirituality.

I have Christian friends who are charismatic.  Indeed, one of my closest pastor friends is charismatic.  I, on the other hand, am part of the reformed tradition, and that tradition has long maintained that the sign gifts (tongues, prophecy, healings) served their unique purpose and ceased by the end of the apostolic era (the gifts ceased, not the miracles).  In that regard, I agree with the reformed tradition, although I do not think reformed Christians have always advanced the best biblical case for their position, nor less do I think it has always been advanced as charitably as it ought to have been.

So how is it that I enjoy a close bond of Christian fellowship and ministerial companionship with a man who is on the opposite side of this issue?  Because tongues is not the test. The test is the lordship of Jesus Christ – confessing him as Lord, serving him as Lord, and desiring the whole world to bow the knee and confess him as Lord (1Cor 12.3; Phil 2.9-10).  Wherever we find that heart in other Christians, we ought to be able not only to fellowship with them, but also to stand with them and work together for the advancement of the gospel and of the kingdom of God.  Indeed, we ought to have a closer bond and a greater kinship of spirit with a charismatic church that hungers and thirsts to see Jesus honored as Lord than with a reformed church that doesn’t.  And in that regard, I have known of some charismatic churches that would put many reformed churches to shame when it comes to sincerity and seriousness of heart to serve Jesus as Lord.  I have also known of some goofy and even dangerous charismatic churches and movements which make an idol of their personal experience or the money they can earn from faking it.  But then, I also know of some goofy reformed churches and movements which make an idol of their intellect and their theological propositions.  Well, we need theological propositions, and we need Christian experience, but they both come under the umbrella of confessing and honoring Jesus as Lord.

With all that being true, you might wonder why it is needful or even helpful to look closer at what the Bible teaches about the gift of tongues.  I see two reasons.  First, as already stated, we need to heed Paul’s admonition to be mature in our understanding (1Cor 14.20).  Christ wants us to understand these things.  Understanding and experience, mind and heart, go together.  Second, and very importantly, I believe the best instincts of the charismatic movement will be better served by a biblical understanding of these things.

What do I mean by the best instincts of the charismatic movement?  The best representatives of the charismatic movement, I believe, are motivated by a heartfelt desire to know Christ, to walk in the fullness of the Spirit, and to avoid the ditch of formalism into which the church in every era so easily slides.  I agree with this impulse; it is one of my highest personal motivations as a Christian and pastor.  But while I acknowledge the genuine piety and spirituality of the best representatives of the charismatic movement, I believe that they can better achieve these very biblical goals through greater biblical understanding of these gifts and the unique purpose and role they served in redemptive history.

(To be continued.)