Legacy · Q&A
Speaking in Tongues in Public

Question:
Hi, Lary. I came across your site tonight, and something is troubling me about the concept of speaking in tongues in public worship and prayer. I saw in your question/answer section that in your meetings, some will pray silently, others in tongues aloud, and others quietly in tongues. I haven't completely made up my mind yet about whether or not speaking in tongues is acceptable or necessary. I was brought up in the Baptist church, so this doctrine is a bit foreign to me, and I am prayerfully seeking the Scriptures, trying to look past my biases and my upbringing. Let's assume for the sake of argument that I agree with your view of speaking in tongues and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. What troubles me is this: "If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God." (I Corinthians 14: 27-28) I don't want to sound antagonistic, but if it is true that you wish to examine the Scriptures outside of the context of traditional Chrisitianity, how can you justify the kind of meeting you described? I could find nothing in the context of these verses to negate them or give them a different meaning. Again, I do not wish to be antagonistic, but to discern the truth from the Scriptures,
April
Answer:
Hi April,
Thank you for taking the time to write. Your question is a good one and it sounds to me that you are honest and only want what is right, meaning what is from God. I don't interpret anything you've said as antagonistic or anything like that. In I Cor. 14, the Apostle Paul was dealing with an assembly that was zealous of the things of the Spirit, but were going about things in a disorderly manner. In this case he was talking about people that were actually ADDRESSING the congregation in tongues, in the same manner that someone would get up and preach or testify to a congregation. That is why he stated that they should speak one at a time, and only two or three of them at that; again ONLY if there was an interpretation, so that the congregation could be edified. As he said, if I were to get up and start SPEAKING TO a congregation in tongues, and there was no
interpretation following, then I would be as a barbarian to them because no
one would know what I was saying to them.
On the other hand, if the Spirit moves us to pray, then everyone is going to PRAY TO God in whatever way they feel comfortable with. When we pray, we are not praying for one another to hear us, nor should we be focused on or listening to what someone else is praying; seeing we all SHOULD BE praying with our minds and focus ON THE LORD. If someone comes into one of our meetings, that hasn't been around the Spirit before, whether they see someone praying in the Spirit (tongues - I Cor. 14:14) or in their own words, or even silently; the impression that will be left with them is that these folks really mean what they're praying about, and its not a formality with them.
Paul made the statement about prayer in the spirit and in the understanding also, as I referenced above, simply to show that believers have the capacity to pray either way; and therefore they have the capacity to address the congregation in language that can be understood, and should do so unless a message in tongues is interpreted. In fact, with twenty five years of experiencing the holy Ghost in my life, I often find more effectiveness by praying in tongues, BECAUSE no one else can understand it. It actually makes it more private and less of a temptation for others to just be listening to what I am saying, or for my mind to wonder what
someone else thinks about what I'm praying. It truly is less distracting to others who are trying to pray themselves, to not be able to understand the next person's words. Congregational prayer is a totally different situation than one or even two people addressing the congregation in tongues as if they were speaking a message to the people.
I might also add that I have experienced, witnessed, and ministered many miraculous and glorious things in the Spirit of God through praying for people and with people, in tongues. Its all a matter of what's coming from the heart. If that part is in line with God, then praying in the Spirit only enhances the effect of the prayer. Not only that, but the Spirit ALWAYS prays through us (meaning in tongues) according to the will of God (Rom. 8:26,27). Of course praying in one's own words is great too, when the Spirit is leading that way. I hope this helps some. I know if you keep seeking the Lord with an open and willing heart, He will show you the way to go in. May God bless you in a mighty way!
Sincerely,
Lary Hale



