On Spiritual Gifts

Speaking in Tongues, The Unpardonable Sin, Spiritual Gifts, and Orderly Worship.

Part Two of: A Dialogue With A Seventh-Day Adventist on Spiritual Gifts.

Ms. Laura Peale Writes: The study on Tongues is very clear to me, with every bible verse saying that they were speaking in various languages to teach and edify other nations more quickly. The modern "slain in the spirit", gibberish tongues, and "fire walk" are exactly the same thing the pagan/demon worshiping cultures did years ago. It is not possession by the Holy Spirit of Yahweh! It is a great deception of the enemy preying on our sensational feelings. 

Our Reply:

The Scriptures forbid us from prohibiting the speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39) and so that is my view, I will not forbid the speaking of tongues. However, they must be done in biblical order (1 Corinthians 14:26). In the worship service, the speaking in tongues must be done two or three at a time (1 Corinthians 14:27, 14:33), with an interpreter (1 Corinthians14:28), and women are forbidden from doing it in the worship service altogether (1 Corinthians 14:33-14:35cf 1 Timothy 2:11-14). If women pray, sing, or speak in church with the whole congregation, or by themselves outside of church, they must have their heads covered (1 Corinthians 11:5-11:10).

Too many Pentecostals love these texts on tongues, but then ignore how those tongues are to be actually practiced.

I also do not think Scripture teaches that EVERY Christian must speak in tongues. Firstly, it is obvious that the vast majority of Christians do not speak in tongues, so unless we are ready to say that the majority of Christians aren’t actually Christians except for the few that speak in tongues, we must face the reality that such a gift is not necessary for true conversion as some Pentecostals have come to claim with their emphasis on a “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

Secondly, Scripture does not command that every Christian must speak in tongues as proof of their salvation in Jesus Christ. St. Paul does argue that he wishes all had the gift of tongues and prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:5); however, we must also remember that he also desired that all had his gift of singleness and celibacy as well (1 Corinthians 7:7); however, both verses recognize that all will have their own gift according to how God has appointed them. If anything, Scripture teaches that every person is to have his proper gift (1 Corinthians 12:1-31) unique to his nature, calling, and role in the kingdom.

Thirdly, tongues is not treated as the penultimate gift above all others, if anything, it is almost regarded as a limited gift, inferior to other gifts and one that could be easily abused and made useless as a practice if not done properly (1 Corinthians 14:4-25).

I also would argue that prophecy must be properly defined. Most “prophecy” is just a type of preaching or ministering (1 Corinthians 14:3), but when it comes to prophecy in terms of telling the future, the LAW has warnings for those who would speak “thus saith the Lord” and their prophecy not come to pass:

“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’  And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”  (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)

Indeed, it seems that such actions, as false prophecy, would be considered blasphemous like breaking a vow to God or using His name in vain, and is worthy of death, and immediate expulsion from a congregation. We Christians are supposed to test such spirits and look out for those who would claim to speak from God and confirm whether or not their words come to pass (1 John 4:1).

This is of course quite fair, after all, you cannot allow false prophets, and no one should ever claim to have a word from God unless they absolutely do.

In spite of this apparent skepticism, I am overall very careful not to call the work of other Christians demonic, whether it be Pentecostal snake handlers and faith healers or Roman Catholic exorcists, for the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit spoke of by Christ is directed against the Pharisees who claimed he cast out demons by the power of the devil.

“Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:22-26)

This text is plain, and I have never understood the desire to take a non-plain reading of the Scripture here. If ever there was a text for church unity that is underrepresented it is this one. I remember when I was a Presbyterian at a Reformed Presbyterian seminary and I heard guys speculate that Roman Catholic exorcisms were done by the power of Satan, and that claim has never sat right with me for this very reason. Likewise, Christ was clear to his Apostles about those who were doing exorcisms that were not part of their group:

“John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”  (Mark 9:38-41)

This text shows that exorcism is not dependent on being an ordained minister and a direct heir of the Apostles and that exorcism is always a divine act of God, holy and pure, against the kingdom of darkness, and those who truly cast out demons are supposed to be regarded as allies against evil, regardless of their “denomination.”

To call the work of God that of the devil is high blasphemy and if someone heals, speaks in a tongue, or casts out a demon, I assume them to be on our team until proven otherwise even if they may or may not be misguided or even deluded in their distinctive beliefs on various subjects. I have criticisms of hardcore Pentecostals and Roman Catholics, but if they are casting out demons, healing the sick, feeding the poor, acknowledging the Trinitarian God of Scripture as defined in the Nicene Creed, and preaching Scripture in their congregations (which is all that is needed for someone to be converted), then I praise God for them.

-Joshua Johnson