Expert: Brian Thompson - 4/7/2009

Question
HI there. I believe in biblical tongues. I am afraid that what we see today is potentially sub-biblical. Like i mean, that in 1 Corinthians 12-14 it is very explicit that speaking in tongues is a private language given to SOME (not others). But today people are preaching that you must have it and that it is evidence of spiritual maturity. That is not biblical. Another thing that is not biblical, and that leads to my question is that where in the bible does it support the idea that speaking in tongues should be used as a weapon?

Answer
In Ephesians six. When Paul expounds on the armor of God he talks of prayer in the spirit and of making all manner of requests. Tongues in my view is the seventh piece of the armor of God and is a javelin, a weapon of warfare. That God possesses a javelin and uses it is found in Psalms 35

You should be carefull not to make a doctrine out of one scripture but carefully look at all scripture regarding tongues and prayer. If you make a doctrine out of a single scriptue you are not open to the wonderfull way God has of of showing us fresh thoughts in the scriptures. Tongues is a gift and the Gifts of the Spirit should be seen as the ministry gifts as they facilitate ministry. Scripture tells us we are all competent ministers of the new covenant therefore the gifts are non exclusive but available to all who have the faith and maturity to seek them.

If you contact me a paraclete@universalmail.com I will send you a chapter from my book that deals specifically with this subject and encapsulates a preaching I did on it many years ago.