[Editor's Note: In a recent feature story for Esquire, actress Megan Fox spoke of a number of non-Christian beliefs to which she holds but then also described what it feels like to speak in tongues. (See quote below). Since such experiences are neither provable nor deniable, people are curious about what the Bible teaches. After all, what is the Christian's authority? God's Word or experience? Bible scholar, Ron Rhoads, offers the following brief summary on what the Bible says about speaking in tongues.]
What does Scripture say about Speaking in Tongues?
The Holy Spirit is the one who bestows spiritual gifts on believers (1 Corinthians 1:11). Not every Christian has every gift. So Christians should be happy with whatever gift the Holy Spirit has sovereignly decided to give them.
There are a number of facts about speaking in tongues that we can derive from Scripture:
1. Speaking in tongues is not the definitive evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Not all the Corinthians spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 1:5), but they had all been baptized into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:13).
2. The fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) does not include speaking in tongues. Therefore, Christlikeness does not require speaking in tongues.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
3. Most of the New Testament writers are silent on tongues. Only three books (Acts, 1 Corinthians, and Mark) mention it. (Note: Mark 16:17 is not in the two best Greek manuscripts.) Significantly, many of the other New Testament books speak a great deal about the Holy Spirit, but fail to even mention speaking in tongues.
4. There are more important gifts than tongues, and these are to be sought (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Personally, I think much too big a deal is made about speaking in tongues. It's easy to fake and can distract people from what Jesus says is most important such as...
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:1)
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37).
Bible Verses about Speaking in Tongues
1 Corinthians 14:27-28 ~ If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
Acts 2:4 ~ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Mark 16:17 ~ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
1 Corinthians 14:2 ~ For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
Acts 2:1-47 ~ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven... (Read more)
1 Corinthians 14:23 ~ If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
Acts 19:6 ~ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
1 Corinthians 13:8 ~ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Acts 2:6 ~ And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
Answer adapted from what does the bible say about…? by Ron Rhodes, harvest house publishers.
Ron Rhodes, president of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries, is heard regularly on nationwide radio and is the author of Christianity According to the Bible and The 10 Things You Need to Know About Islam. He holds Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Quote by Megan Fox:
"It feels like a lot of energy coming through the top of your head – I'm going to sound like such a lunatic – and then your whole body is filled with this electric current. And you just start speaking, but you're not thinking because you have no idea what you're saying. Words are coming out of your mouth, and you can't control it. The idea is that it's a language that only God understands. It's the language that's spoken in heaven. It's called 'getting the Holy Ghost.'" (Source: Esquire, February 2013, p. 60 ff.)
