Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all. Acts 19:4-7
Is the gift of speaking in tongues “normative” for the Church throughout the Church Age (meaning until Jesus comes again?) In a word, no. This should be obvious when one surveys Church history. Besides there being no such indication since the Apostolic era, the book of Acts records some speaking in tongues and others not. And Paul in 1 Corinthians asks the rhetorical question: “Do all speak in tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:30).
Since the modern resurgence of Pentecostalism in the early 1900s, speaking in tongues has been more known among Christians, although the practice is still limited to Pentecostal and Charismatic circles.
Christians are generally divided into three categories regarding speaking in tongues. There are anti-Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians who condemn the practice—a small amount even saying it is of the devil. These are often called “cessationists,” as they believe tongues and other “sign gifts” ceased at the conclusion of the Apostolic Age. The Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians place a large emphasis on speaking in tongues—a small amount even insisting that it is necessary for salvation. These are often called “non-cessationists,” as they believe tongues and other “sign gifts” did not cease at the conclusion of the Apostolic Age. There are many other Christian between these polar opposites who either: (a) know nothing about speaking in tongues, (b) don’t much care, or (c) have an opinion, but don’t want to choose sides.
Where am I, and what do we teach at GBC? We are cessationists, but we do not condemn believers who we believe are mistaken about tongues. We think that the emphasis on tongues (and other Charismatic gifts) is misguided but not heretical. What is heretical? Read tomorrow’s post…