“All real Christians speak in tongues” – that’s what some of our Pentecostal friends say. “Speaking in tongues is a bunch of nonsense” – that’s what some of our Presbyterian friends say. But instead of accusing one another or trying to call the facts of each other’s Christian experience into question, maybe we should take a closer look at what Paul says.

For in today’s passage, he wants us to shift our focus away from how ecstatic religious experiences might manifest the presence of the Spirit (v. 12). Instead, he says the key question is how anything we do in worship benefits one another and glorifies God.

For what if, during worship, someone starts speaking or praying in some sort of spiritual language that no one else can understand? He may build up himself in some way (vv. 2, 4), but no one else has the ability to say “Amen” to his prayer (v. 16), and no one can be built up by the truth of his words (v. 17).

That’s why, even though Paul says that he himself spoke in tongues (v. 18), he preferred to speak in intelligible language (v. 19). And that’s why he urged the Corinthians to focus less on miraculous manifestations of the Spirit (v. 12) and more on prophecy, the kind of divine language that builds up the Church through encouragement and consolation (vv. 3-4).

And Paul points out that this sort of focus is just as helpful for the unbelievers who might come with us to worship. For while it’s easy for them to mock those they think are simply babbling a bunch of nonsense (v. 23), it’s much harder for them to ignore the clear proclamation of God’s Word, the Word which reveals our sin and our need for repentance while also calling everyone to respond to God’s grace with faith (vv. 24-25).

Yes, that’s the message we all need to hear, and that’s the kind of truth that demonstrates that God is truly among us (v. 25). So, while God is perfectly free to grant any of us some sort of ecstatic experience, why don’t we focus instead on what we can learn and how we can encourage and challenge one another – with the Biblical words we know we can trust?

I Corinthians 14:1-25 (ESV)

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
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.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
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?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.