Why do Christians think speaking in tongues is only a sign to unbelievers?

Question

Think about it. When a person trust their voice to God, the Holy Spirit speaks from our heart praises or intercession for others.

Don't you see that this is more than a sing to unbelievers in the early Church?

What other purposes does this gift serve today?

Answer 1

1 corinthians 14:4 "one who speaks in a tongue edifies(strengthens) himself"

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.(1 corinthians 14:2)


Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes with groans too deep for words"

its not neccesary(1 corinthians 12:30), its another spiritual gift, that strengthens you so much, especially in your time of weakness. to me its a must have if your going through trials etc..

Answer 2

I never thought it was a sign only to unbelievers! The purposes of tongues is twofold: First, it served as a conduit for delivering a specific message to a specific body of people. If an unbeliever happened to be present, it only helped to demonstrate the nature of God's power (if the interpreter was present as the Scripture commands). Second, it served as edification of the fact that the speaker had received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was in unique, personal communion with God.

Answer 3

Paul said that speaking in a tongue that you don't personally understand, is a sign to the unbeliever, because they (the unbeliever) heard the believers praising God in their own language.

I've seen this happen once.

Other than that, speaking in tongues WITH an interpretation edifies the body.

I've seen this more often.

The other purpose for speaking in tongues is in your own private prayer time, when you just don't know how to pray for a given situation, or when the burden or need to pray comes upon you, and you don't know what to pray for. At these times, praying in the Spirit allows the Holy Spirit of God to use your own tongue to touch the throne of God, because the Spirit makes intercession, since the Spirit of God knows the mind of God.

Answer 4

You have been missinformed. Speaking in tongues is the ONLY sign listed to prove baptism in the Holy Spirit(Ghost). It is NOT for unbelievers. If you read I Corinthians 12, I think, it talks about order in the church service. Anyway, speaking in tounges is for the edification of God and a non believer in the midst of you might think you are crazy. There are proceedures listed for the use of tounges in services at church. Why don't most churches abide by them?

Answer 5

1 Corinthians 14: 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not...

The gift of tongues as it is in the Bible ALWAYS meant speaking in a KNOWN language. The speaker may not have understood it, but the hearers would. Remember a little thing called Pentecost? Huge crowd, people from ALL over, many different languages there. ALL of them HEARD Peter's words IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE!!!

So, what we see in churches today...is THIS the SAME gift?

Answer 6

Glossolalia is a practice that transcends Christianity and is found in many ancient and aboriginal religions. It's a kind of channeling or possession by God. And a lot of modern Christians now denounce it as demonic possession. (Just as many modern churches claim that miracles don't happen, hearing the voice of God is impossible and "new" books to the Bible have never been found.)

Answer 7

I Corinthians 14:4 says that he that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies (to instruct or improve spiritually) himself. I know, from my own experience, that I have been strengthened in my spirit and taught many things while praying in tongues. Jude 1:20 tells us, "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost."

Answer 8

Speaking "in tongues" originally meant speaking in FOREIGN tongues. The modern meaning is a distortion of what it is SUPPOSED to mean. Its really called "glossolalia" (sp?). I'd bet good money that if someone was well versed in spoken Klingon they could convince these people that they were speaking the "Lord's holy words". Believing that something is true doesn't mean that it is. This is no gift - this is a delusion.

Answer 9

Study your Bible...thats what the BIBLE says tongues are.

By the way, this gift STOPPED with the setting aside of the SIGN NATION, Israel. The purpose for tongues was so that all the different tribes and tongues of times PAST could understand the KINGDOM gospel in their own language. It served its purpose and is not necessary today. We are no longer in the prophetic program, but in "the preaching of Jesus Christ ACCORDING to the revelation of the MYSTERY..." Rom. 16:25

What you are describing is a tradition of MEN...and simply serves to fluff up mans "pride and ignorance of the scriptures as well as his FLESH"

We are to walk by FAITH In what God has said to US in OUR Instructions for today...NOT by sight.

Tongues are totally useless today and are a faked gift.

Answer 10

I just talked to someone about this. Speaking in tongues is a gift that helps get the message of christ out to people who dont speak our primary language. So it really is mostly a gift that serves the unbelievers....