Now, brothers and sisters, if I come
to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you
some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the
case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will
anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the
notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready
for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your
tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking
into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet
none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what
someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a
foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the
Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. For this reason the one
who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For
if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall
I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I
will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise
when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put
in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do
not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one
else is edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But
in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others
than ten thousand words in a tongue. I Corinthians 14:6-19
What is appropriate in private is
not necessarily appropriate in public. The spiritual gift of tongues is a
mysterious and beautiful gift from God. It aids the spirit to find words for
what the heart cannot put into words. Speaking in tongues is like playing an
intriguing piece of music, but it should only be a solo when one is solitary.
When in community, spiritual gifts are a symphony. Each gift has it's distinct
tone that contributes to the overall movement. Tongues are only beautiful to
the ears of others when they are interpreted so everyone can enjoy the benefits.
The spirit and the mind are not
enemies. They both respond to God in their own way. The mind embraces
understanding and wisdom of those things which can be fathomed by the human
intellect. The spirit embraces the mysteries of the kingdom that are incomprehensible.
We must engage the spirit in order to accept a God whose ways are above our
ways and whose thoughts are above our thoughts. Yet God created us in His image
as intelligent beings. We cannot hunger and thirst for righteousness without
feasting on the Word of God and digging for the gems of truth found therein.
Knowledge, wisdom and understanding from God are invaluable tools to guide the
believer in life, love, worship and service.
The mind without the spirit is
cold and calculating. The spirit without the mind is flighty and fickle. Both
are needed to balance out the believer and create stability, sustainability,
life and breath to our faith.
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