What to Do When Tongues Are Misused

Context of Spiritual Gifts and Love

If you remember the context, which is exceptionally important to understanding 1 Corinthians 14, it goes back into chapter 12. Spiritual gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit to anyone He wills. Not everyone receives the gift of tongues because the Holy Spirit gives that gift. If the Holy Spirit wants someone to speak in tongues, that person will speak in tongues.

The conclusion of chapter 12 introduced a more excellent way of functioning within the church, which gives meaning and value to spiritual gifts. If you are not loving, you are not giving anything of value to the church. Love is the more excellent way. If you are loving but not speaking in tongues, you are not failing in ministering effectively to the body of Christ. You haven't gone outside appropriate Christianity by loving someone instead of speaking in tongues or healing them.

The more excellent way is better because genuine 1 Corinthians 13 love builds up. It edifies the church, marks maturity, and promotes unity. If everyone in a local congregation loves each other, that demonstrates spiritual maturity and unity.

You, no matter your age, can demonstrate a congregation's maturity and spirituality. You contribute to the church's function and well-being by loving the people in a 1 Corinthians 13 way—not your own invention, but as God intended.

The goal in Corinth was to address spiritual immaturity, disunity, and misuse of spiritual gifts. Pursue greater gifts, but love is even more excellent, bringing maturity and unity. When the perfect comes—maturity and unity in that church—tongues and other gifts cease for that church. This relates to a specific congregation expected to fulfill it in their lifetime if they achieve unity and maturity.

Chapter 14 starts: pursue love aggressively and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. Paul corrects the misuse of tongues, a lesser gift, compared to prophecy, a greater gift. Everything in this chapter corrects misuse of tongues and encourages cessation when the church reaches maturity and unity.

Paul gives instructions for using tongues with interpretation, but in context of an immature, divided church. This wouldn't apply the same to a mature church where the perfect has come and tongues stop. He's telling them: you're doing tongues wrong; here's how, but prophecy is better, love trumps all, and pursue greater gifts related to Scripture—the prophecies, apostolic office, and teachings.

The Proper Way to Build Up the Church

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

What happens when tongues are not used correctly? Paul instructs on the proper way to build up the church. In Corinth, people spoke in tongues not understandable by the congregation. Whether an actual language or not, verse 9 calls it unintelligible speech. Nobody understood without interpretation.

Imagine an English-speaking congregation where someone speaks a foreign language with no interpreter—it does nothing. This contradicts the purpose of spiritual gifts and tongues. Tongues originally broke language barriers, as in Acts 2 at Pentecost. Jews from various regions heard the apostles in their own languages. Peter preached in tongues, supernaturally enabled by the Holy Spirit, so people understood.

It makes no sense to speak in a congregation where nobody understands, especially given how tongues were used correctly. Either use the gift of interpretation from 1 Corinthians 12, or pray to interpret yourself.

The purpose of church is to build each other up, pouring into lives to make others more like Christ, advancing sanctification and maturity. Pastors equip saints to build the body. If nobody understands, even a legitimate gift fails its purpose.

Later, Paul says if no interpreter—not even you—be silent. Exercise privately or with someone who understands. Prophecy is greater than uninterpreted tongues. Even interpreted tongues are less than prophecy if not beneficial.

Here, "prophesy" means proclaiming inspired revelation. From chapter 13, new revelation fades, but Paul urges preaching the word and committing to prophecy, apostles, and teaching. It refers to proclaiming existing inspired revelation from Scripture, not new revelation post-canon.

Paul wants everyone to prophesy—proclaim inspired revelation from God's Word. The proper way to build up the church is the Word of God, not indistinct sounds.

The Probable Way to Baffle the Outsider

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also. I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

Unintelligible worship baffles the outsider, who can't say amen or get on board. We shouldn't structure church solely for unbelievers, but if services distract from or obscure the gospel, we're doing it wrong.

In Corinth, division—"I follow Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ"—distracted from the gospel, as did elevating baptism. Paul wasn't sent to baptize but to preach Christ crucified. Misused biblical practices give unnecessary offense.

Without interpretation, even a gifted congregation must restrain tongues. Instead, prophesy: proclaim the gospel—bad news of sin, good news of Christ. Outsiders should leave understanding they're sinners needing Jesus, either repelled or drawn.

The Preeminent Way in Church

The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church... I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Tongues without understanding build up only the speaker internally, not the church. Prophecy communicates understandable inspired revelation.

Paul spoke tongues more than them—likely to audiences who understood, advancing the gospel on missionary journeys. But in church, he prefers five intelligible words to instruct over 10,000 in tongues—even angelic.

Church requires uniting spirit and mind. Unintelligible speech is unfruitful. Five mindful words that build up, encourage, or console are better.

Conclusion: Applications for Loving Christians

1. True nature of spiritual gifts: Focus on what God has revealed. Prophecy is more important than uninterpreted tongues. Gifts draw people to God's revealed will, providing building up, encouragement, and consolation. Misused gifts are counterfeit.
2. Growth and unity: As loving Christians focused on God's Word, we see real, meaningful growth and unity.
3. Avoid hindrance: Don't engage in activity that hinders fellow Christians (or yourself) from growing. Instead, assist spiritual growth.
4. Concern for perception: Be concerned about what believers, outsiders, or unbelievers think of ministry not focused on the gospel. Proper ministry repels the reprobate and draws the elect.