Dr. Jack L. Arnold
THE HOLY SPIRIT
RULES FOR
USING TONGUES AND PROPHECY
1 Corinthians 13:26-39
Lesson 11
Most of us, if we are
honest, do not like rules because they cramp our lifestyles. Yet, God has rules, called
commandments, and whether these commands are positive or negative, they are always
for our good. If we obey GodÕs
rules, we are blessed; if we do not, we are not blessed.
God has given us some
specific rules for conducting a New Testament church service. Thank God He has, for the New Testament
service was vibrant, dynamic and alive with excitement. It was much different from the
traditional service of our day. Leon Morris, commenting on 1 Corinthians
14:26-40 said, ÒThis is the most intimate glimpse of the New Testament church
at worship.Ó As we shall see, it
was much different than most services we observe today. While it would be impossible to conduct
a service exactly like the New Testament church, 1 Corinthians 14 can still be
a guide or a general model of what the meeting of the church should be. Whatever else we may say about the New
Testament church service, it was a time when Christians exercised their
spiritual gifts in order to benefit and build up one another and it was most
certainly not dull and boring.
RULES FOR THE USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN GENERAL 14:26
ÒWhat then shall we say,
brothers? When you come together,
everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an
interpretation.Ó -- At this time, there may have been as many as 500 Christians at
Corinth, and it would have been difficult to have Christians participating in
the service consistently. Many
scholars think the church met occasionally as one body but broke up into
various homes with an elder presiding.
It may be that there were two types of meetings in the first century -
one being the small, intimate gathering of about twenty in a home where
spiritual gifts could be more readily used, the other the more formal meetings
where preachers and teachers would address the whole body at once. Such a meeting would be that found in
Acts 20 where Paul met with the Christians at Troas. This meeting began around nine oÕclock at night and went
past midnight, causing Eutychus to fall asleep and fall out the window. Even the Apostle Paul put a few
parishioners to sleep. We canÕt be
sure whether the meeting referred to here is the large gathering or the small
gatherings of the church.
The word ÒeveryoneÓ is
significant because it indicates that various Christians in the church
contributed in the meeting. This
cannot be pressed to mean that every member of the group always had something
to contribute, but it does mean that any of them ought to be expected to take
part in the service if God so led.
The two words which best describe New Testament worship are spontaneity and participation.
Tertullian (160-225) gives
us a hint about worship in his day.
He was an immoral lawyer who came to Christ. He was a radical and for a time was involved in the Montanist
cult but later came back into fellowship with the established,
institutionalized church:
In
our Christian meetings, we have plenty of songs, verses, sentences and
proverbs. After hand-washing and
bringing in the lights, each Christian is asked to stand forth and sing, as
best he can, a hymn to God, either of his own composing or one from the Holy
Scriptures (Tertullian).
The Bible teaches the
priesthood of the believer, and part of the ChristianÕs responsibility is to
participate in worship not just be a spectator. Corporate worship is not where people come to be entertained
by other people up front. Part of
the spontaneity is people actively and wholeheartedly participating in
worship.
Some have suggested that
this verse virtually eliminates the professional clergy (teaching-elder). For sure, there was much participation
by the laity but that did not eliminate the teaching of the Word from the
clergy. According to First Timothy
an elder must be Òable to teachÓ (3:2)
and a teaching elder is told Òcommand and teach these thingsÓ (4:11) and
he is to Òdevote yourself to the public reading of Scripture and to teachingÓ
(4:13). There are other
important verses for pastors.
of double honor, especially
those whose work is preaching and teaching
(1 Tim. 5:17).Ó
ÒPreach the Word; be
prepared in season and out of season; correct,
rebuke and encourage - with
great patience and careful instruction
(2 Tim. 4:2).Ó
When the saints gathered, they had a psalm, which is a song accompanied by a musical instrument, probably a harp or a mandolin. It might even imply that this was the personÕs own composition. Another Christian would give some teaching or doctrine and apply it to the life. Another would have a revelation in that he would bring truth to bear that would declare the mind of God through Holy Spirit impressions. Still another would speak in a tongue and whether that is a foreign language or an unintelligible utterance, it had to be interpreted.
It is safe to say that while
these services were done in a proper and orderly manner, there was no settled
format to them. There was a
spontaneity but no routine order of worship. The Holy Spirit guided the meeting.
This might give us some
justification for changing the order of worship in our traditional services so
as to add spice and variety, keeping our attention on what is happening. Worship services should not be
routine. They should be exciting. We all need spontaneity and expectancy
in worship. However, nothing
should ever be done to force spiritual gifts or manipulate people.
ÒAnd let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward
love
and good deeds. Let us not give up
meeting together, as some
are
in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all
the
more as you see the Day approachingÓ (Heb. 10:24-25).
ÒAll of these must be done
for the strengthening of the church.Ó -- The ultimate goal is the strengthening and
maturing of the believers in any given church. It is done by using the means, which God has given to
accomplish this goal.
ÒIf anyone speaks in a
tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone
must interpret.Ó -- While Paul was not against the use of tongues in the local church,
he did not encourage it either.
Paul clearly states that if people speak in tongues only two or three
are to participate and they are never to speak all at once but in succession. Tongues did not have to occur every
worship service. There must be no
duplication or multiplicity of tongue speakers. Only one could speak at any give time. There was to be an interpreter whenever
a person spoke in tongues. If
there was no interpretation, then this was not a work of God. The interpretation was for the whole
congregation so they should know what was being said.
There are charismatic who
often have a number of people speaking in so-called tongues all at once and no
interpreters. This is contrary to
GodÕs rules for the use of public tongues.
This verse does not say that
people have to speak in tongues every week in the church service, but the rule
is when tongues are used, they must be controlled and no more than three can
speak.
ÒIf
there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak
to himself and God.Ó --
Tongues whether a foreign language or a prayer language were never used in
public without an interpreter. If
there is no interpreter, a person can use this gift of tongues in his own life
so that he is praising God in his spirit, in his thoughts, but not in words.
ÒTwo or three prophets
should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.Ó -- Only two or three prophets were to speak
and this was probably done to keep down the length of the meeting. Again, it does not say that people have
to prophesy every Sunday, but when they do, no more than three should do
it. Those who pass judgment are
probably those
with the gift of discerning
spirits, being able to tell whether the prophecy is from God, the flesh or evil
spirits.
ÒAnd
if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should
stop.Ó -- If a person
prophesying sees another prophet is led to talk, then he is to let him do
it. No one prophet is to take over
the meeting. Notice carefully that
when people were prophesying they were not in a trance or a frenzy. It was controlled prophecy that could
be stopped and started at will.
ÒFor you can all prophesy in
turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.Ó -- Again the ultimate
purpose of prophecy is to instruct and encourage true believers in Christ.
ÒThe spirits of prophets are
subject to the control of prophets.Ó -- Those prophesying are not under some
uncontrollable, irresistible force.
He or she could stop or start whenever the person wanted to do so.
If a person who claims to
prophesy says, ÒI canÕt help what I say; the Spirit of God is in me and He is
speaking through me, therefore, everything I say is from God,Ó is pure
nonsense. The prophet could always
control himself.
ÒFor God is not a God of
disorder but of peace.Ó -- Apparently, all the prophets were trying to speak at once and so
were the people who spoke in tongues.
PaulÕs point is that God never creates confusion and disorder. God has given all the spiritual gifts
and all can be controlled so no confusion abounds. Where there is confusion, the demons are lurking.
ÒAs in all the congregations
of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must
be in submission as the Law says.Ó -- Now we come to a section where angels fear to
tread. Whatever else we may say
about verses 34 and 35, we must put them in the context of I Corinthians
14. These verses in context are speaking
about tongues and prophesying in the public meeting of the church. Therefore, when it says, ÒWomen should
remain silent in the churchesÓ it is somehow related to tongues and prophecy.
There are some possible
views on verses 34 and 35, none of which will satisfy everybody. First, women are to never speak
in church period, but this is clearly contradicted by I Corinthians 11:5, which
allows women to pray and prophesy in church with their heads, covered. Second, women are not to
interrupt the preaching, but this context is not about preaching. Third, because women were
separated from men in New Testament services, they sat together in a designated
section and there was tendency to chatter and gossip during the service, but
this view is totally removed from the context of tongues and prophecy. Fourth, women are excluded from
tongues speaking only in the public service; that is, they can do anything
except speak in tongues. This view
might eliminate a lot of modern abuses of tongues, but the immediate context is
about prophecy. Fifth,
women are not to participate in the question and answer time which was provided
after the sermon in New Testament times, but this does not seem to fit the
context either.
Perhaps the best
perspective, therefore, it to take PaulÕs commands as prohibiting women from
participating in the final decisions about the legitimacy of any given
prophecy. This act would be
usurping authority over men who are to be the spiritual leaders. ÒI do not permit a woman to teach or to have
authority over a man; she must be silentÓ (I Tim. 2:12). Women are not to rule over or teach men
in a public setting of the church, and discerning of legitimate prophecy would
be a form of usurping authority over men.
This verse does not say a woman cannot prophecy in the public meeting of the church. Nor does this verse teach a woman can never teach adult men the Bible, for surely Priscilla taught Apollos. But what it implies is that women are not to be the final judges on the truth or error of prophecy.
ÒIf they want to inquire about
something, they should ask their husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a
woman to speak in church.Ó Apparently whenever a
prophecy was given, there would be a dialogue with the male leaders as to the
legitimacy of that prophecy. If a
woman had any questions, she should keep silent in the church and ask her husband
at home. In so doing, she would be
acknowledging the leadership of her husband.
Surely, this does not mean a
woman can never speak in church.
If so, then she could not pray, sing, read responsive readings, repeat
the LordÕs Prayer or the ApostlesÕ Creed or say ÒAmenÓ at the end of a
prayer. Obviously the Apostle Paul
had a particular situation in view and that was the woman should have no
authority over the issue of the legitimacy of prophecy.
ÒDid the word of God originate with
you? Or are you the only people it
has reached?Ó -- This is clearly satire,
for Paul gives a sarcastic statement about these Corinthians. They thought they were unique, having
special gifts. They were not the
only church around. No other
churches, however, were experiencing the abuses of tongues and prophecy like
the Corinthians. These abuses were
bringing confusion and disorder.
They should have been following the example of the other churches but
were not.
If anybody thinks he is a prophet
or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the
LordÕs command.Ó -- Those who spoke in tongues or those who prophesied in the Corinthian
Church thought of themselves as super-spiritual and superior to other
Christians who did not have these gifts.
They were to stop their pride and recognize what Paul has written are
the commands of the Lord.
Truly spiritual people will
always recognize the authority of Scripture. Today there are many Christians who are having experiences,
which are quite spectacular. Yet,
when you point out from the Bible that what they are experiencing is not found
in the Bible or even contrary to the Bible, they insist on their feelings or
experiences rather than conformity to the inspired, infallible Bible. We know that the Spirit of God never
operates contrary to the Word of God.
Those who are truly spiritual will recognize the authority of Scripture
and will bring all experiences to the touchstone of Scripture.
ÒIf he ignores this, he
himself will be ignored.Ó -- Literally, this says, ÒIf any one is ignorant, let him be
ignored.Ó If a person willfully
wants to stay ignorant and refuses to acknowledge these commandments of the
Lord concerning tongues and prophecy, let him stay in the state of ignorance
and do not try to dispute the point.
Ignore him. In other words,
do not pay any attention to him.
Paul would neither attempt to convince him or waste his time in
disputing the point.
While we must treat our charismatic brethren with love and respect, there comes a time when we must say to these dear brothers and sister, ÒWe love you, but we think your abuses in spiritual gifts are wrong and hurtful to the body of Christ. We ask you to take your experiences and put them to the touchstone of Scripture. If you will not do this, then we will ignore you in this one area of your Christian practice.Ó
ÒTherefore, my brothers, be eager to
prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.Ó -- Paul was not against
speaking in biblical tongues in the public assembly, but he would much rather
the people prophesy.
ÒBut everything should be
done in a fitting and orderly way.Ó -- Whatever is done in any church meeting is to be
done orderly and discreetly so as to bring the most glory to the Lord and to
edify the whole church. Any
worship service which is out of order and out of control is not of God. It does not glorify God but exalts man.