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The topic that I spent the day reading about was that of speaking in tongues. I read an article where a supporter of speaking in tongues brought his arguments for it and attempted to deflect arguments against it. Frankly, while it was a well intentioned attempt, he fell flat in many respects. His assertion that tongues can be a spiritual language was founded on two passages and one of which, does not support his claim. The other one is shaky at best in supporting his claims. It felt lacking and full of bashing the other side as opposed to proving himself. However, after reading some good stuff about cessationism (the opposite side of the argument) I was still unsure. The ultimate problem that I have with cessationist theology is that I just haven't found a sufficiently strong logical basis for it! My titles asks, is the foundation of cessationism as sure as we think it is? Looking at the scriptures, I don't think it's as set in stone as we think it is. Both sides still have left me unconvinced.

I spent a lot of time reading 1 Corinthians 14. It's an incredible passage and frankly, it's confusing in light of cessationist theology. Am I to believe that this passage merely no longer applies? I am at a crossroads. Where I currently stand, is here: what is commonly thought of as tongues is not tongues. Confusing? I'll explain.

Let's take a look at Corinthians 14...

¹Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

²For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

³But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

⁴He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

⁵I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

⁶Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

⁷And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

⁹So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

¹¹Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

¹²Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

¹³Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

¹⁴For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

¹⁶Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

¹⁷For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

¹⁹Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

²⁰Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

²¹In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

²²Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

²³If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

²⁴But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

²⁵And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

²⁶How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

²⁷If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

²⁸But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

²⁹Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

³⁰If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

³¹For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

³²And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

³³For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

³⁴Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

³⁵And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

³⁶What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

³⁷If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

³⁸But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order.

Let's look at this in context. What is Paul saying about tongues? He says that tongues are to be translated! If they are not translated, you are speaking into the air and it profits no one. The gibberish that passes for tongues now a days cannot be translated! If it could be and it was, then churches practicing speaking in tongues would be in accordance with this passage. Clearly, that is not happening. Now, if we view tongues as a foreign but real language. Then this passage begins to make sense. At Pentecost, tongues was mentioned. Yet, in that instance, those tongues were foreign languages. This is how tongues appears throughout the NT. It appears to me that tongues are not gibberish. (which even pagan religions practiced before Christians.) God is a God of communication and order. He does not sow chaos. Corinthians 14 provides a clear guide for how tongues are to be practiced, yet the church is not adhering to this passage. Regardless of whether cessationism is correct of not, the church is not following the guidelines that the Bible lays out to practice speaking in tongues. This needs to be corrected .

I will continue to read about cessationism. Many men I respect and look up to hold to this view. There must be something to it. I did find a fantastic article by Mark Snoeberger on this topic. It's well written and extremely helpful. Over the next week, I am going to re-read it and analyze it. I'll get back to you on it. As a side note, I recommend reading the article titled "Tongues - Are They for Today?" (http://ccggrockford.org/wp-content/uploads/Snoeberger%20-%20Tongues.pdf) and I also recommend Mr. Snoeberger's blog. (I'm putting it in my links.)

God Bless,

Stanley