SPEAKING IN TONGUE

For those who don’t know, speaking in tongue is a phenomena where a person
utter words that no one can understand. In the context of the Bible “tongue”
means language. For an ordinary person, speaking in tongue simply means
speaking in a different language. To understand the concept of speaking in
tongue, one must read Act 2 : 1 – 12

When it happened ? Verse 1. On the day of Pentecost. What happened ? Verse

2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of violent wind came from heaven Verse 2
tells us that, there was a divine intervention. A sound like blowing wind came
from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then, there
were tongues like fire and so on. The crowd were perplexed. According to verse
5, there were people from all over the world speaking different tongue
(language). Verse 6 is very tricky, “one heard them speaking in his own
language” meaning the speaker who is a Galilean (verse 7) speaks a language
which a listener who may be an Asian could understand. The speaker did not
know or understood what he spoke. After the incident, the speaker of that
different tongue(language) will not have any knowledge of what he spoke. Verse
twelve says amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this
mean?” At the end of the day, no one even the speaker knew what happened.
Then, as you read further, Peter stood up and explained what happened.

How many languages are there in the world? Stephen R. Anderson of the
Linguistic Society of America,cites the Ethnologue organization. According to
Ethnologue, there are currently 6,912 living languages, defined as languages that
people speak today.
It is interesting to note that speaking in tongue is a gift from God. Speaking in
tongue would have been the best evangelical tool of all time. How can the people
during the time of Jesus ignore such a magnificent gift? The Bible have no
records of Jesus or his disciples speaking in tongue when they go from one town
to another. Jesus and his disciples knew that speaking in tongues can be self-
induced and they don’t want to lie about it.

The “Big Lie” was simple –tell the biggest, most outrageous lie; tell it often
enough; tell it loudly enough –and eventually people will believe it – Joseph
Paul Goebbels

Knowing this, the Apostle Paul has got this to say in 1 Corinthians 14 (New
International Version) – Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of
prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to men but to
God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.[b]
3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening,
encouragement and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he
who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in
tongues,[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater
than one who speaks in tongues,[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may
be edified.

According to the Bible, anyone who speaks in tongue, speaks to God. As such, I
belief speaking in tongue do exist and I would like to conclude with verse 18 & 19
of 1 Corinthians 14 “thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others
than ten thousand words in a tongue.Language,