Tongues, Tongues, Tongues

By Elder (Apostle) Anthony Berry

From the very beginning we can see the importance of speech not only in creation: where God has said let there be, to the importance of the word (or the tongue for communication.  In the early biblical days all men spoke one language, and under the leadership of Nimrod, endeavored to create a tower that would almost reach Heaven (Genesis 11:1-9).

1.      And the whole earth was of one language, and one speech. 2. Andn it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.  3. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly.  And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man builded. 6. And the Lord said, Behold; the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7. Go to, let us go down and their confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech…

As you can see, in the beginning all people spoke the same language, but the only problem was that they did not know their place because of sin (the eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil).  God, in not allowing the adversary to be victorious by making God change his plan for man, would use the tongue (s) to be a sign of the indwelling of the comforter which is the Holy Ghost (John 14:16-31).  This same tongue that defiles a man, and is the smallest part of the body, that can speak big things; and can murder a person.  This same tongue that can lie, and steal from people by claiming their ideas, is used by God as a sign of salvation. 

On the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  This was where God unconfused the tongues, and performed a miracle.  There was the sound of a rushing mighty wind, and cloven tongues like fire sat upon each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was nosed abroad the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that EVERY man heard them speak in his OWN language.  Imagine how much confusion this caused.  Not because of the people that were speaking all speaking different languages, some ministries teach that even though the speakers were speaking in languages they didn’t know ie: some were speaking Parthian, some were speaking Greek etc.  This concept does not hold water because no one would have been able to hear because of all the languages being spoken at the same time.  It would be more miraculous if the hearers heard every person that spoke in the native languages of the hearers, which is what the bible actually says.  Imagine the confusion because of the disagreement concerning which language the hearers heard the speakers. The hearers all claimed that all of the speaker spoke in the native languages of the hearers.  Parthians heard all of the speakers speak Parthian. Greeks heard all of the speakers speak Greek; so on and so forth.  It amazed them even more knowing that the speakers were from Galilee and only spoke the language of the Galilians. 

There were three categories of people that were in this account.  There were the people that spoke with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance. There were the people that heard the speakers speak in their native tongues, and there were the people that did not understand a word that was said.  The later implied that the speakers were drunk (Acts 2:1-13).  God has used to tongue for his victory. 

Hollywood has had us believe, through movies like “The Exorcist”, that speaking in an unknown tongue was a sign of Demonic Possession.  How ignorant could this have been when the Holy Bible says that speaking with unknown tongues is a sign of the Holy Ghost.  It’s enough to make you laugh at people that believe “tongues” are a sign of Demonic Possession.  Does the Catholic church really believe this?  If it does then there is a need for correction.