SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS IT FROM GOD?

A Tool to Spread the Good News

Early in his ministry, Jesus directed his disciples to preach the good news of God's Kingdom to the Jews only.  (Matthew 10:6; 15:24) As a result, the disciples rarely set foot outside of areas predominately inhabited by Jews.  But that would soon change.

Shortly after his death in 33 C.E., the resurrected Jesus commanded his followers  to "make disciples of people of all nations." He also told his followers that they would be witnesses of him "to the most distant part of the earth." (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8) Spreading the good news to that extent would require the use of many tongues other than Hebrew.

However, many of those early disciples were "unlettered and ordinary." (Acts 4:13) How, then, would they be able to preach in distant lands where languages were spoken that they may never have heard of, let alone learned to speak? Holy spirit empowered some of those zealous preachers with the miraculous ability to preach fluently in languages they had never before  learned to speak. 

Thus, the gift of tongues served two vital purposes. First, it provided a sign as evidence of God's backing. Second, it was an effective tool to help the first-century Christians fulfill  their commissions to preach to people of many languages.  Does the speaking in tongues done in many churches today accomplish these purposes?  

Speaking in Tongues Today-A Sign of God's Backing? 

Where would you post a sign to benefit as many individuals as possible in your community?  Inside a small building? Of course not!  The account of the day of Pentecost tells us that a "multitude" of passersby observed the sign provided by the disciples' miraculous  speaking in tongues.  Why, as a result, "about three thousand souls were added" to the Christian congregation on that day! (Acts 2:3, 6, 41) If people today claim to speak in tongues but do so within the confines of a church building, how can the practice serve as a public sign to multitudes of unbelievers?  

God's Word mentions fornication and other "works of the flesh" as being opposed to the operation of holy spirit , adding that "those who practice such things  will not inherit God's kingdom." (Galatians 5:17-21) If you observe people of questionable  morals speaking in tongues, you might rightly wonder, 'Would it not be inconsistent-even misleading-for God's holy spirit to be bestowed on individuals who persistently engage in conduct that God's own Word condemns?'  That would be like installing a street sign that directs traffic  the wrong way. 

Next time: SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS IT FROM GOD? - Speaking in Tongues today-A Tool to Spread the Good News? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2010