Instructions on using tongues
Key Verses: 1, 5, 12, 14, 18, 25, 32, 34,
One of the conclusions that could be drawn from the previous chapter on love is that only love matters, that the outworking of the Spirit in the church was not important. But God gives gifts to the church, including the gift of tongues. The Corinthian believers seem to have gone hog wild with this gift, going beyond where the Spirit was leading and into self-serving exploits. They elevated the expression of tongues beyond all other gifts.
The goal of all the gifts of the Spirit is edification, the building up of the spiritual component of man. If an expression appears to be from the Spirit, but it does not edify, then the origin of the expression can rightfully be questioned. Paul goes to great lengths to emphasize that all expressions of the Spirit are to build up the church. Prophecy, the proclamation of the Word, is a prime example of a gift that builds up believers. People can understand prophecy since it is in their native language. It can easily lead to edification. Tongues, since it is a language unknown to the speaker, and usually the hearer, does not easily lead to edification. So Paul says the gift of interpretation needs to go with tongues. Edification is the goal.
When gifts are in evidence, but there is not edification, then we are being spiritually childish. The goal of the gifts is a drawing closer to God, whether it is believer or non-believer. Tongues by itself is just a sign, but without meaning. There must be meaning connected to the sign. That is why Paul emphasizes prophecy for unbelievers. It leads to understanding, conviction and conversion. Signs got people to pay attention on the day of Pentecost, but it was Peter’s preaching that brought understanding and edification.
Chaos in worship is not the goal, but neither is rigid ritualism. We can get so stuck in “we never did it this way before” that we resist the leading of the Spirit. Some people are so afraid of the Spirit’s moving, that every element of worship must be spelled out and programmed to the second. There can be flexibility without disorder. Just because things change doesn’t mean it is chaotic.
Verse 34 can get blown out of context so easily. Whatever these women were doing, culturally it was a sign of rebellion. Men and women often sat on opposite sides of gatherings in that day and time. So for a woman to ask her husband a question about what was being said, she would have to raise her voice, thus disrupting those around both of them. This is the context of verse 34.
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