What do you think about the gift of speaking in tongues? Do you believe in it? Do you think it’s for today? In last Thursday’s blog, I began a discussion about the gift of speaking in tongues, and if you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to give it a quick read-over. There, I shared what the gift is, the fact that Scripture indicates it will cease, and studied a few modern-day translations to help us determine if they have, in fact, already ceased.
Today, I’d like to dig a little deeper and learn more about whether they’ve ceased. Grab your shovel and explore with me.
The Continuation of Tongues
When it comes to the continuation (vs. the ceasing) of tongues, some point to a difference in the tense of the Greek verbs referring to prophecy and knowledge ceasing and that of tongues being ceased. They say this is evidence for tongues ceasing before the arrival of “the perfect” (which I shared about in last Thursday’s blog). While it’s possible, it’s not explicitly clear from the text.
Some also point to passages such as Isaiah 28:11 and Joel 2 as evidence that speaking in tongues was a sign of God’s oncoming judgment. 1 Corinthians 14:22 describes tongues as a sign to unbelievers. According to this argument, the gift of tongues was a warning to the Jews that God was going to judge Israel for rejecting Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Therefore, when God did, in fact, judge Israel with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, the gift of tongues would no longer serve its intended purpose. While this view, I guess, is possible, the primary purpose of tongues being fulfilled does not really necessitate its cessation.
Scripture does not conclusively assert that the gift of speaking in tongues has ceased. It just doesn’t say this real plainly. However, if the very purpose and conduct of the gift seems to be all but gone, then one has to at least consider that the New Testament gift may have ended. It will, in fact, cease; the Bible makes that clear. It’s simply a matter of when.
What Do Cessationists Believe?
Now, those who adamantly hold to this belief are known as Cessationists. These folks do not say that tongues became corrupted and therefore had to be stopped. More so, they point to the fact that tongues sort of faded away because they were just no longer necessary. Put another way, what got us here won’t get us there. So, the Cessationist’s view will point out that the words used for the cessation of knowledge of prophecy are in the passive voice, indicating that they will be stopped by an outside force. However, the verb used for the cessation of tongues is in the middle voice, which indicates that they will cease all on their own or of themselves.
Now, this is usually seen as further proof that tongues were temporary and would eventually pass away on their own. Regardless of the strength of this argument, though, the grammatical analysis leaves a little something to be desired. Some verbs usually take the middle voice, and the verb translated “be still” in the NIV is one of them. Therefore, there is no particular significance to the change from passive to middle voice in this passage. In Luke 8:24, the storm is still—same word and voice. However, it is clear that Jesus actively stilled the storm, so both tenses are there.
Cessationists also point out that if tongues, prophecy, and knowledge continue, this continuing revelation would, in effect, be adding to Scripture. However, most Continuationists (say that three times fast), who hold to the current exercise of these gifts, do not view the revelations as being on par with Scripture, but more like from the leading of the Holy Spirit. Many Cessationists feel God led them to do something or told them to do something and would maintain that this was some sort of communication from God (but they’d never place it on par with the Bible or on par with Scripture).
What Does All of This Mean?
Now, it’s interesting that both Charismatics (the largest group of Continuationists) and Cessationists seem to want to argue about this, which I have learned, sometimes, means you’re in the right place.
Ultimately, here’s where I landed on the gift of speaking in tongues—and I gained a lot from some great articles on GotQuestions.org. There’s nothing that prevents God from giving any spiritual gift. If God gives a spiritual gift, He expects that it’ll be used in submission to what the Bible teaches about that. Gifts being systematically abused does not necessarily mean that the gifts were not truly present or never real.
The completion and sufficiency of the Word of God have an impact on how the gift of tongues functions today. I guess you could say, as the author in an article on GotQuestions.com said, “I’m a weak Cessationist with an open, but cautious, mindset.” (How’s that? Clear as mud?!) I believe we should avoid extremes. Recognize that both Charismatics and Cessationists are brothers and sisters in Christ. Argue for, and defend, your beliefs, but do it in love (Ephesians 4:15). It needs to be done in truth and grace, not one without the other. Be gentle and respectful (1 Peter 3:15b). Don’t limit what God can do but recognize that everything God does is absolutely—and has to be—in agreement with His Word.
I hope this has helped you learn more about the gift of tongues and whether you believe they are for today or not. Until next Thursday, I encourage you to join me and my Summit family this Sunday morning—in-person or online—for an awesome time of worship. We’re live at 9am & 11am MDT. Hope to see you there!
Until next time, Peace!
~Pastor Rob
Aka P-Ro