3012.— Speaking with Tongues
By Editor
- Is the speaking with tongues now practised by what is called the Apostolic Faith people, a sign of being baptized by the Holy Spirit?
- Is it genuine or the work of the devil?
- Do you know a case of healing that they claim to have made that was real?
W. E. C.Personally, none of these manifestations have come under our observation. From their publication and from the testimony of others, there is a great amount of nonsense connected with them. Some of the speaking in tongues, so called, has been nothing but gibberish in which no one on earth could tell the language used, and in which experts have declared that it was the simple repetition of certain sounds, meaning nothing. Some of these persons believing that they were talking in the Chinese or some of the languages of India have gone to these various fields, but have found when they reached China or India that the natives could understand nothing of what was said. Some have been greatly deceived by these manifestations, believing them of the Spirit of God, and have been thrown into utter discouragement. No doubt there have been honest and sincere people connected with the movement. No outward manifestation is of itself proof that the source is the Spirit of God. Our Lord assures us that in the last great day there will be those who will say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out demons? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?” To that very class He will say: “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” “Iniquity” is “lawlessness,” breaking God’s law, disobedience to His law. The great test always of true Christianity is its fruit, and its fruit must be in harmony with God’s government. The mightiest miracle that can be wrought is the changing of poor, wretched, sinful man into one who is loyal to God; changing the heart that loves sin and self to a heart that is willing to deny sin and self for the Lord’s sake, and that delights in doing the will of God. All other things ought to be measured by that law, that will. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” We do not know of any cases of healing or of pretended healing which have come from the people you name. But it is with healing as it is with speaking with tongues. Healing in and of itself is no proof of the divine blessing or the presence of the divine Spirit. We are told that satanic agencies will work miracles and deceive, as recorded in Revelation 13; that Satan will work with all power and signs and lying wonders as the coming of Christ draws nigh, as recorded in 2 Thessalonians 2. Again we wish to repeat that the one voice by which to measure all other voices is the voice of God in His holy law. There the great Shepherd has spoken. Those who know Him, have His law written in their hearts, and therefore can discern the voice of the Shepherd, because that law in their hearts is in harmony with His law in His Word. In the days of the apostle Paul, the Jews sought after a sign; the worldlings after wisdom, philosophy, hypotheses, men’s theories. We have the same classes to-day—those who are looking after signs; those who are seeking relief in human wisdom. But there ought also to be in these days, as in the days of the apostle, those who “preach Christ crucified,” unto one class a stumbling-block, and unto the other class foolishness; but “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” See 1 Corinthians 1.