TONGUES Glossolalia & Charismatic Renewal In The Light Of The Bible

TONGUES
Glossolalia &
Charismatic Renewal
In The Light Of The Bible
By E. L. Bynum

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world." I John 4:1.
The modern day "Tongues Movement" is spreading
throughout Christendom with amazing speed. It is creating
more excitement than any other religious movement of the
20th century. Thousands of people in almost every
denomination say they have spoken in "tongues". At the
moment it seems to be the most effective ecumenical
approach on the church member level. Since Pentecostals,
'Baptists,' Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians,
Methodists, and Roman Catholics are claiming to have
spoken in tongues, the time has come for this movement to
be examined in the light of the Bible. "To the law and to the
testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.
The Origin Of Modern Day Tongues
In 1900 Charles F. Parham opened the Bethel Bible School in
Topeka, Kansas. Under his teaching and ministry, Miss Agnes
Ozman was influenced to speak in tongues. Within a short time a
dozen more students had this experience. In 1906 the Azuza Street
Assembly was founded in Los Angeles with a heavy emphasis on
"seeking one's Pentecost." The Pentecostal movement became a
powerful religious force in America, during the first half of the 20th
century. A number of denominations were formed and have
flourished including the Assemblies of God, Foursquare Gospel
Churches, Church of God in Christ, United Pentecostal and many
other smaller groups. These groups have received a steady stream
of "converts" from the main line denominations.
The Spread Of Modern Day Tongues
The last half of the 20th century has produced something new for
our times. Especially in the last 10 to 15 years we have seen the
tongues movement move into the main line denominations. For at
least that many years we have been hearing Episcopalians,
Methodists, 'Baptists' and Roman Catholics speaking in tongues.
These tongues groups are now staying in these denominations and
through classes, prayer groups and home studies they now seem to
be making converts. The Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship
with chapters in hundreds of cities, is working on an inter-
denominational level to make converts for the tongues movement.
Their television programs, publications and meetings are paying
off in great numbers of people being influenced to accept their
teaching. The Deeper Life Magazine which features the ministry of
Morris Cerullo, openly urges 'Baptists,' Catholics and others to stay
in their own denomination and spread the tongues experience
throughout their churches. The April, 1971 issue of Deeper Life
features Pat Boone ministering with Morris Cerullo, and Boone's
picture occurs at least five times in this edition. Of course these are
only a few examples of the many "faces" of the tongues movement.
The FGBMF also works to keep their tongues converts in their old
churches to spread the tongues teaching. Oral Roberts, one of the
leading Pentecostals of our day, has now joined the United
Methodist Church.
Roman Catholics And Tongues
One of the amazing things about the modern day tongues
movement is its rapid spread through the Roman Catholic Church.
A few months ago, 12,000 Roman Catholics from all over the world
assembled on the campus of Notre Dame University in the interest
of the tongues movement. Multiplied thousands of Roman
Catholics claim to have received the baptism and to have spoken in
tongues, including many priests and nuns. Some of these have
testified that they are now better and more devout Catholics since
they have had this experience. There is no indication that these
people are going to leave the Catholic Church as a result of this
experience.

The Ecumenical Movement And Tongues
"The reason I refer to the charismatic movement as a form of
ecumenism is that major doctrinal differences are often overlooked
by those in the movement as long as a person seemingly
experienced the gifts of the Spirit -- particularly the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues." Theodore Epp.
"Pentecostalism is doing more than anything else to bring
Catholics and Protestants together." Present Truth, Nov. 20, 1972.
The Catholic Digest quotes Catholic Bishop Alexander Zaleski as
saying: "Perhaps our most prudent way to judge the validity of the
claims of the Pentecostal movement (in the Catholic Church) is to
observe the effects on those who participate in the prayer
meetings..... They are attracted to the reading of the Scriptures and
to a deeper understanding of their faith. They seem to grow in their
attachment to certain established devotional patterns such as
DEVOTION TO THE REAL PRESENCE AND THE ROSARY."
(Emphasis ours)
"An Episcopal priest and an Assembly of God pastor will lead a
three-day Charismatic Clinic at St. John's Episcopal church..." --
From Ketchikan, Alaska, Daily News. According to Blu-Print, the
1972 World Tongues Convention sponsored by the Pentecostal Full
Gospel Business Men's Fellowship, met in San Francisco. One of
the speakers was Father Joseph Fulton, pastor of Blessed
Sacrament Catholic Church in Seattle, Washington, who is an
active spokesman for the Catholic Pentecostal movement.
Note the words of a Roman Catholic clergyman of Camillien
Monastery, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada: "I believe I'm saved as
much as you are. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I was baptized.
I'm sincere and I'm dedicated to Christ. So what if I remain a
Catholic? Nothing changes! To me, there is no difference between
Catholic and Protestant. What counts is that one believes in Jesus
Christ as his Saviour. When one meets those who have had the
Pentecostal experience, whether Catholic or from another
Christian Church, we unite together, we are one, for there is no
difference. It often happens that I go on Sunday evenings to pray in
a French Pentecostal Church. I first fulfill my obligations as a
Christian Roman Catholic by worshipping the Lord in my own
Church in the morning. Then I go pray with other Christians. I
don't wear my robes but I do wear my cross and also my ring." --
From The Gospel Witness, May 3, 1973. The writer of the above
article tells of attending a Pentecostal meeting at this Catholic
Monastery, "The friendly atmosphere sparked by Camillien Gaeten
Giroux and his helpers was quite contagious and newcomers were
quickly put at ease. Lively chatter and heavy cigarette smoke
dispelled any thought of formality."
"Last August, the Sixth International Conference on Charismatic
Renewal in the Catholic Church took place in Grand Rapids,
Michigan. Over 11,500 participated. The national advisor for the
Catholic Charismatic movement, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph
McKinney, told the group, 'We need Peter....We must love the
leadership of the Church even though it were a scoundrel who leads
the Church. This has happened....It is not the will of Jesus Christ
that the charismatic renewal movement result in factionalism,
division or alienation from the Catholic Church. We must be one
with the Catholic Church so He will be able to renew the Catholic
Church.'" -- From the Gospel Witness, May 3, 1973.
The Gospel Witness also quotes modernist Dr. Henry Pitney Van
Dusen of Union Theological Seminary as saying, "The presence of
the charismatic (Pentecostal) movement among us is said to make
a new era in the development of Christianity. The new Pentecost
will appear to future historians as a 'true reformation' (compared to
that of the 16th century) from which will spring a third force in the
Christian world (Protestant-Catholic-Pentecostal)."
"A 16-page paper entitled, 'Can the Pentecostal Movement
Renew the Church?' was released in February by the World Council
of Churches. Written by Emmanuel Sullivan, a Franciscan
Friar of the Atonement, it says the ecumenical movement should
look at the whole Pentecostal Movement, 'as one of the significant
signs of a way forward on the journey to rediscovering...full visible
unity in Christ.'" -- From The Gospel Witness, May 3, 1973.

A Powerful Argument Against Tongues
The above examples of the influence of the modern day tongue
movements in the various denomination is one of the most
powerful arguments against the unscriptural tongues movement. If
Catholics and members of modernistic denominations were really
receiving a scriptural Holy Spirit experience from God, THEY
WOULD BE COMING OUT OF THESE UNSCRIPTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS just as the Bible teaches in II Corinthians 6:17,
18. If these people were really receiving the Holy Spirit, they would
be led to obey the Word of God.
"(17)Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18)And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (II Corinthians 6:17- 18)
Definitions of Words
If we are to properly understand the Bible teaching on
tongues, as well as the speech of the tongues movement
we must understand the meaning of certain words.
"CHARISMA" is found 17 times in the Greek New
Testament. It is translated "gift" 15 times, and "free gift" 2
times. With one exception, it is found only in the epistles of
Paul. He uses it in Romans 6:23, "...the gift of God is eternal
life...." He also used it 5 times in I Corinthians 12, where he speaks
of the "gifts" of the Spirit, including the gift of tongues.
We are hearing much today about the "Charismatic" revival
or renewal. They usually emphasize tongues and healing,
and ignore the other gifts mentioned in the New
Testament.
"GLOSSA" is found 50 times in the New Testament and is
translated "tongues" all 50 times. Sixteen times it refers to
the tongue as an organ of the body. One time it refers to the
tongues "like as of fire" on the day of Pentecost. In the
other 33 places it refers to languages as in Revelation
10:11, "...before many peoples, and nations, and
tongues...." The glossalalia movement claims to have the
power to speak in tongues as on the day of Pentecost.
"UNKNOWN" tongues are not to be found in the Bible at
all. Not one time is "unknown tongues" to be found.
"unknown" is printed in italics in I Corinthians 14, and this means
that it was not in the Greek manuscripts at all, but was
added by the translators. (In this instance they do not
clarify but confuse the subject). Every tongue spoken in
the New Testament was a known language to some race or
people. There are no instances of a heavenly language,
unknown language or gibberish spoken in the N.T.
I. Three Examples Of Tongues In The Bible
To listen to the talk of the tongues movement people, you
would think there would be many instances of speaking in
tongues in the Bible. However, we have only 3 examples of
God giving people power to speak in a tongue (language)
that they did not already know.
1. Jerusalem On The Day Of Pentecost. Acts 2
The day of Pentecost was an annual feast day of the Jews
that came every year 50 days after the Passover. The Holy
Spirit came to empower the local Church for her mission of
world evangelism. There has never been another
Pentecost like the one in Acts 2, and we are not taught to
look for one. On the day of Pentecost, the prophecy of
John the Baptist was fulfilled, "he [Christ] shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost..." (Luke 3:16). Peter said in Acts
2:16-21, that the events of that day were a fulfillment of Joel
2:28-32.
Devout Jews from many nations were gathered in
Jerusalem. These people had lived in the various nations
and had learned the native languages of these nations. The
preaching and teaching that they heard on the day of

Pentecost was done by Galileans, yet "every man heard
them speak in his own language." (Acts 2:6-8). Sixteen
nations and tongues (languages) are mentioned in verses
9-11, and these all heard the messages by the Galileans in
their own language.
"(6)Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (7)And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8)And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2:6-8)
No one but Galileans received this gift of tongues on the
day of Pentecost. Everybody did not speak in tongues. In
fact is seems almost certain that only these Galilean
Apostles of Christ received this ability. There is no record
that any other people sought the gift of tongues. In
fact the Bible does not give us even one example of
anybody ever seeking the gift of tongues at any place or
any time!!
Tongues served two purposes on the day of Pentecost.
(1) They were for a sign to the Jews (who seek after a sign).
I Corinthians 1:22. (2) They served to communicate with and to
evangelize the foreign born Jews who were at Jerusalem
for the feast. What better way could be found to get the
attention of these Jews and to evangelize them before they
returned to their various countries. Every tongue that was
spoken and heard on the day of Pentecost was a known
language to some of them there. There was no "unknown
tongue." Those who spoke in tongues did not all speak at
the same time, or no one would have understood what they
said.
There is no record that the Jerusalem Church ever had
another service where the gift of tongues was exercised.
Much is said about this Church and her services, but
nothing more about tongues.
2. Three Years Later At The House Of Cornelius.
Acts 10:34-48
Cornelius was an unsaved Italian gentile who was a
centurion of the Roman army. Peter was sent to tell him
how to be saved. Acts 11:14. When he preached the gospel
to them, they believed and were saved. (That is, Cornelius
and others of his household). At that very moment they
received "the gift of the Holy Ghost", and began to "speak
with tongues, and magnify God." Acts 10:45, 46. They did
not pray for, ask for, or even long for, the gift of tongues.
Most likely they had never heard of tongues as a gift.
This event represents the giving of the Spirit to the
gentiles as He was given to the Jews at Pentecost. More
than anything else, these tongues were a "sign" to the 7
Jews present that God was concerned about the gentiles
as well as the Jews. Acts 10:45, 46; 11:12. They went
back to the Jerusalem Church and testified to the Jews
what God had done among the gentiles. Acts 11. However,
they did not call this event a gentile Pentecost, and those
who do so today are in error. No doubt but what a number
of different languages were represented here, as there
were at Pentecost.
3. Twenty Two Years Later At Ephesus. Acts 19:1- 7
Twelve men in the city of Ephesus claimed to be disciples
and to have received the baptism of John the Baptist. Paul
asked them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since
[when] ye believed?" (V. 2). These were sincere but ignorant
of John's preaching and all that followed. This is proven by
their answer, "We have not so much as heard whether there
be any Holy Ghost." Had they known John's preaching and
John's baptism, they would have known about the Holy
Spirit and Jesus, for John preached both. See John 1:26-
34.

When Paul preached, these people believed and were
saved. At that very time Paul "laid his hands upon them, the
Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues,
and prophesied." They did not seek to speak in tongues,
but rather it was a sign to the Jews as were the other two
instances.
4. Why Are Tongues Not Mentioned Elsewhere?
Other than the abuse of tongues at Corinth (which we
will deal with later), there is not one other single instance of
the gift of tongues in the whole Bible. At the time that I
Corinthians was written in 57 A.D., there were only 4 New
Testament books written. They were Matthew, Mark, and I
& II Thessalonians. ONLY two books of the New Testament
mentions the gift of tongues and these are Acts and I
Corinthians.
Acts was written in 65 A.D. and only mentions tongues
these three times. Romans, II Corinthians and Galatians
were written in 60 A.D. and there is no mention of the gift of
tongues. Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians were
written 64 A.D. and there is no mention of tongues. I & II
Timothy and Titus were written at an unknown date, but
there is no mention of tongues. Philemon was written in 64
A.D., Hebrews in 70 A.D., and James in 62 A.D., I Peter in 60
A.D., II Peter in 66 A.D. and there is no mention of tongues
in them. I, II & III John were written in 90 A.D., Jude in 66
A.D. and Revelation in 96 A.D. and none of these mention
the gift of tongues.
It seems incredible if tongues were to continue, that all of
these inspired books could be written with no mention of
the gift of the tongues. Many of Paul's experiences in missionary
travel are given in Acts and his Epistles, but none of these
accounts mention tongues, except the ones we have
already listed.
II. The Importance Of Tongues
The gift of tongues was only meant to be temporary, for it
is only listed in the two early lists found in I Cor. 12:8-11 &
28-30. In the two other lists which were published several
years later, tongues are not mentioned at all. See Ephesians 4:8-
12; Romans 12:4-8. Neither are tongues listed as being the
"fruit of the Spirit", in Galatians 5:22, 23.
"(8)For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (9)To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; (10)To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (11)But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." (I Corinthians 12:8-11)
"(28)And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (29)Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30)Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" (I Corinthians 12:28-30)
Even in I Corinthians 12 where tongues are included, they are at
the bottom of both lists, which shows us their importance
in the plan of God!
III. The Ceasing Of Tongues
"(8)Charity [love] never faileth: but whether there be
prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they
shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish
away. (9)For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (10)But
when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in
part shall be done away." I Corinthians 13:8-10. A few words of
explanation are in order for certain words found in the
above Scripture.
"prophecies" refers to office of the prophet who
received a direct revelation of the future from the Lord.
"fail" does not mean that some prophecies given by Divine
inspiration would not come to pass, but rather that there
would be no need of prophecies when the Word of God was
complete. John wrote the last prophecies in 96 A.D. on the
isle of Patmos. Now there is no need for prophecies and
prophets for John finished that work.

"tongues...shall cease[.]" Tongues here means the
gift of tongues. Tongues (languages) have to be learned
today, they are not received as a gift. If they could be
received as a gift, it would save the missionaries a lot of
study on the foreign field. God said that "tongues...shall
cease", and they have. Why? Because they are no longer
needed, since we now have the complete Word of God!
"knowledge...shall vanish away." "knowledge"
here means revelatory knowledge necessary for
completing the Word of God. After the last book of the
Bible was finished this "knowledge" vanished away,
because there was no more need.
This interpretation is confirmed in verse 9, "For we know
in part, and we prophesy in part." At the time that Paul
wrote this only small parts of the New Testament had been
written by "prophecy" and by "knowledge", so there was
need for these gifts to be continued until it was completed.
"But when that which is perfect is come, then that
which is in part shall be done away." (V. 10). "perfect" does
not here refer to Christ, as some would have you to believe.
"This adjective (used as a noun) is in the neuter gender.
Therefore, it is a reference to the finished (perfect) or
completed Word of God. If it referred to Christ, it would be
in the masculine gender." -- William G. Bellshaw, Th.M.
When the New Testament was completed, prophecy,
tongues and knowledge were no longer needed. This
interpretation of V. 10 is also confirmed by Merrill F. Unger
and Roy L. Laurin in his commentary on I Corinthians.
IV. The Regulation Of Tongues
We have just established that tongues have ceased,
according to the Bible. However, we must remember that
tongues HAD NOT ceased when Paul wrote to the Church
at Corinth. Tongues were still permitted, but this church
was abusing the use of tongues. Remember, that this
church was one that had to be often corrected. They had
turned the Lord's Supper into a drunken banquet. In fact
Paul had to correct something that was wrong in this
church in every chapter of I Corinthians.
In I Corinthians 14, Paul gives some very strict rules concerning
the use of tongues. The modern day tongue movement
violates almost every one of these rules. We repeat
TONGUES have CEASED! However, if they were in effect
today, then these rules would apply. The very fact that the
tongues people today ignore these rules, makes a powerful
argument against modern day tongues! Now let us notice a
few of those regulations. (Remember that "unknown" is in
italics and not in the Greek manuscripts).
1. Paul sought to show them that prophecy was much
more edifying than tongues. V. 1-6.
2. He also taught them that an uncertain sound from the
trumpet or a tongue that was not understood, would only
result in confusion. V. 7-17.
3. Five words that can be understood are better than ten
thousand words that could not be understood. V. 19.
4. Tongues were for a sign (to the Jews I Corinthians 1:22), to the
unbeliever and not for the enjoyment of the believer. V. 22.
5. Gibberish flowing from the mouth only confused the
unlearned and turned them from the truth. V. 23.
6. No more than three people were to speak in tongues at
the same service. Even then, only one could speak at a
time. V. 27. The modern day tongues movement ignores
this time and time again!

7. If there was no one present who could interpret every
word to every person in the audience, then they could not
speak in tongues! V. 28.
8. There was to be no confusion in the service, for "God
is not the author of confusion..." (V. 33). Confusion best
describes many modern day meetings when they speak in
tongues.
9. Women were not to speak in the churches, either in
tongues or their regular language. V. 34, 35. It is well
known fact that the tongues movement today sanctions
women talking in tongues and preaching. Whatever they
are doing in this respect, you may be sure that it is not of
God!
10. "All things [were to] be done decently and in order."
(V. 40). This writer has been present in services where people
who spoke in tongues uncovered their nakedness while
under this power!
If tongues were in effect today, then the above
regulations would have to govern their use.
V. Conclusion
If tongues today are unscriptural, why is there so much
emphasis on this subject? There are several possible
sources for tongues. (1) Divine. We have already ruled this
out. (2) Satanic. (3) Psychological. (4) Fakery. We believe
that every tongues experience today is one of the last three
listed.
Where Tongues Flourish Today?
(1) Where the Bible is not taught and/or understood. (2)
Where people are seeking experiences, visions and
feelings, rather than the truth of the Bible. (3) Among
people who have been exposed to the cold, dead preaching
of modernistic churches. (4) Where orthodoxy has become
cold and dead. (5) Among the lost who are seeking a
religious experience.
To seek after an experience that is contrary to the
teaching of God's Word, is one of the most dangerous
things a person can do. Why? Because they are wider open
for demonic invasion and delusion. "...in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils;" (I Timothy 4:1). Satan is an
imitator. See II Cor. 11:13-15; I John 4:1; Isa. 8:20. Satan is
ready to help people imitate the tongues of the Bible, since
there are so many who are seeking this experience!
"(13)For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (14)And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15)Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (II Corinthians 11:13-15)
There is no need for anyone to seek the "baptism of the
Spirit today." Every born again believer already has the
Holy Spirit! See I Cor. 6:19, 20; Rom. 8:9. Yes, we need to
"be filled [controlled] with the Spirit", but this is not done by seeking,
tarrying or begging, but by simply yielding and
surrendering to the Lord!
"(19)What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (I Corinthians 6:19- 20)
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9)

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