Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1907

A MOVEMENT has gained some headway on both shores of the United States that is attracting considerable attention just now. It is the so-called “gift of tongues,” and in its demonstration certain individuals profess to be controlled by a power which speaks through them in some language which they had not before known. This “gift” is thought by those who possess it to be an indication of God’s special blessing. But this movement, like everything else with which we come in contact, must be judged by its fruits. So far as we have means of knowing, no fruits have yet appeared. Those having the “gift” spend long hours in meeting, speaking the tongues given to them, which no one else understands, if they do themselves, which is doubtful. The good which has come from it has not yet appeared, and the time wasted in listening to jumbles of sound might more profitably have been spent in works of charity and mercy. Paul says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” Again he says, “Greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” We have learned of no instance where these persons who are now claiming to have the gift of tongues have interpreted what they have been saying. Paul plainly indicates that such a course is not edifying to the church, and he further says, “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.” This part of the gift is not considered of any consequence at the present time by those who are claiming the gift. But God does not do useless things. He does not turn our speech into a babel of sound, producing no fruit in the salvation of others. When the Lord gives the gift of tongues, it is that some one may understand and his heart be touched who does not understand the natural language of the speaker. Thus it was upon the day of Pentecost, when Jews from foreign countries at Jerusalem heard the gospel in their own tongue. All did not understand all the languages spoken. Therefore the Jerusalem Jews accused the apostles of being drunken, but the devout foreigners, out of that confusion of sounds, were learning the gospel of Jesus Christ as the Spirit gave utterance to the speakers. More than that, the spectacle is anything but edifying where these of our day are praying and wrestling for the “gift.” Let none be in any wise deceived or troubled over the unseemly demonstrations. The fruit of the movement classifies it where it belongs. We would not say that God would never clothe his missionaries with the power to speak other languages which they had not learned; but when he gives that gift, it will be for some purpose, and the fruit of it will give unmistakable evidence that it is of God.