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MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE "GIFT OF TONGUES"

  1.  THE MISCONCEPTION THAT "TONGUES IS THE LEAST OF THE GIFTS".

  Many people refer to tongues as "the least of the gifts".  Their attitude seems to be,  "least but not last!"  or "Not last, but least."  There is no place in the Bible where it is stated or implied, hinted at, or suggested, or insinuated,  J that "tongues is the least of the 9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit."  In the comparison of tongues with the gift of prophecy, the Bible states, that tongues, without interpretation, is not as good a public gift as prophecy, simply because not as many people are blest, because they cannot understand.  But the Scripture immediately explains that there is essentially no difference in value between the two gifts - if there is interpretation with the tongue.  The implication seems to clearly be:  "Tongues with interpretation - is equal to prophesy!"    T + I =  P.  Study 1 Corinthians 14:1-20.

  One reason these "anti-tongues" people give as "logic" for their "thinking" is that in a couple of lists, tongues is mentioned last or toward the last - and therefore - should be least.  But if this "logic" is followed, then the last item on other lists, should also be least - like love, in I Corinthians 13, or faith in Galatians 5, or love in 1 Peter 1.  Get the point?

  Think about this:  Suppose a lover gives a gift to his or her loved one, three gifts, and the receiver of these gifts is overheard saying, "Well, this particular gift is the least of them all".  All of God's gifts are important.  They are all wonderful.  I don't want God to hear me thinking, "Well, this insignificant, poor unimportant gift of God is just about the least gift I can think of."

  What is the best gift of the Holy Spirit?  Think about this for a minute.  I have asked this question of groups to whom we have ministered.  We get various answers, like "prophesy", or "love", or salvation", or whatever.  I like to think of the gifts of the Holy Spirit like spiritual tradesman's tools.  Thus, the answer to this question, "What is the best gift of the Holy Spirit?" would be: "The most important gift of the Holy Spirit is the one that is needed at any given moment, by the leading of the Holy Spirit."  Obviously, one does not need a hammer, when a board needs to be sawed, nor a saw, when a nail needs to be driven.  When the situation calls for a message in tongues, then tongues is the most important gift, etc.

  Let me state again: The Bible nowhere states, or implies, that the gift of tongues is the least of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

2.  THE LIE THAT: "TONGUES IS NOT FOR TODAY"

  TONGUES" = "Love (charity) 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.:  1 Corinthians 13:8.  The problem is that prophecies haven't failed. the knowledge hasn't vanished away - and that which is perfect has not yet come!!!  What on earth, (besides the devil), possesses people to believe that tongues should not be included in our every day working tools of the Kingdom!!!  There is absolutely NO place in the Bible where anyone can find any hint that tongues is not supposed to be for today.

  If I were the devil, I would make up a doctrine like "dispensationalism", that causes people to believe that miracles, supernatural healings, apostles and prophets. and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today!!!  By doing so, I would have just as damningly destroyed sections of the Bible as if I had taken an ax or a scissors to the Bible!!!  And if I would have wanted to destroy certain important ingredients to one's faith, I would have chosen these- the Christian's most important and effective tools to world evangelization and growth!!!

3.  THE MISCONCEPTION THAT: "THE PROOF OR EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TONGUES".

  There is a denomination I know, that believes that, before a person can claim to be "born again", that they must: 1) be baptized in water, 2) by immersion,  3) in or into the Name of Jesus only,  4) using the exact phrase "for the remission of your sins",  5) be baptized in or by the Holy Spirit, with, 6) the "evidence" or "proof" of the gift of tongues - - -.  I think that it also helps if a person has become born again, by asking Jesus to take over as Lord and Savior!  But I think they think that 7) it is also necessary to act, talk and dress legalistically, I think maybe that they think that 8) membership in their church is also necessary!!!  Reminds me of that joke about; we had to be quiet so as not to shock the Baptists (or whoever) who thought that they were the only ones in heaven.

  I disagree.  I believe the Scripture that says, "These signs shall follow them that believe - has reference to every one having, as part of their heritage and inheritance, the ability to speak in tongues, potentially.  But few of us live up to our potential.  Thus, only a small percentage of us enter into all God has for us, including these things we are discussing. 

  We do not believe that tongues is a proof of anything.  We personally know of people who "speak in tongues" but whose lives are a disgrace to the Name of Christ.  One can speak in "tongues" and be demon possessed, or a wife beater, or the worst of persons.  On the other hand, we know of the very best of Christians, whose lives are filled with grace and love and power and self-control, but who have not learned how to co-operate with the Holy Spirit in the speaking of another language, supernaturally.  Yet, this gift of tongues is very lovely, and is intended by God to be useful to the Kingdom.

4. THE "JIGGLE MY JAW" MISCONCEPTION

  One of the main hindrances to moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is the misconception that, in order to do so, God must first slap us silly, and then "jiggle our jaw"!  They believe that somehow, God must put us into a kind of trance, or at least, take over our will, and then make us do something contrary to our "normal" expressions and behavior.  There are those who have somehow become convinced that, in order to speak in tongues, they have to work themselves up emotionally, foam at the mouth a little bit, get almost out of breath, go higher in volume and pitch, faster in speed, shake and sway, roll their eyes back in their head, and then, scream or vomit out a message in tongues or interpretation or prophesy in King James' English.  The Bible says that "The spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets."  1 Cor.14:32.  This means that we are to be in full control of our faculties at all times, and that as co-laborers together with Christ, God speaks to our spirit and mind, and then we chose to speak, as we are led, much the same as when someone asks us to say the table prayer over our food.  The flow of inspiration, the mechanics, the flow of thoughts are exactly the same, and the words are to come, in exactly the same way.  The same thing is true of prophecy, the gift of interpretation, singing a psalm, bringing a word of wisdom or knowledge, etc.  Because of this misconception, that God must somehow "take over" our mind and mouth and tongue and will, is one of the greatest single reasons why more people do not move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.