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                                   TONGUES

I.   Introduction

     If someone were to ask you to name the single most important issue
     facing Evangelical Christianity, what would you answer?  Assuredly
     there are many possible answers, but there is none more divisive or
     compelling than the Charismatic Movement.  No other issue crosses
     over denominational lines, reaching even into Christian Cults and
     Non-Christian religions, or has a broader global impact than the
     Charismatic movement.  Is it according to Scripture or not?  Is it
     valid for this age or not?  There can be no unity within the Body
     of Christ as long as Charismatics and Non-Charismatics hold to
     different views.  Both cannot be right.  This file will not examine
     all aspects of the Charismatic Movement but will only concern
     itself with the "Cornerstone" teaching--Tongues.

     Let me first state that I am not attacking anyone.  I am a firm
     believer that there is only one interpretation for each passage of
     Scripture but often many applications.  Therefore, the purpose of
     this file is to briefly examine the evidence and to allow the Word
     of God to declare the truth so we can put to death the divisions
     among us and get on with sharing the gospel to a lost and dying
     world.

     God's Word says, "The righteous [saved] hate what is false"
     (Proverbs 13:5).  God is a God of love but He hates sin and false
     teachings.  As we approach this study we need to also love the
     truth and to hate and reject what is false.

II.  Definition of Tongues

     Tongues as it is used in the Bible is the greek word "glossa" which
     has the simple meaning, "an organ of speech; language."  The word
     "tongues" has become the general term used by the church for the
     spiritual gift of the ability to speak in a "known language"
     without having first learned the language.  It was first displayed
     on the day of Pentecost by the Disciples as each one began to speak
     in a real language that he had not acquired.  These languages could
     be understood by those from various lands familiar with them.  It
     was not gibberish but intelligible language.  If Pentecost were to
     have happened today then the disciples would have spoken in
     Russian, Chinese, Japanese, German, etc.

     Most Charismatics would agree that "tongues," as it is known today,
     is the act of speaking in an "unknown language."  The speaker
     begins uttering sounds that do not readily make any sense to him
     but can sometimes be interpreted by someone having the gift of
     interpretations.  Tongues are spoken in both the Church and in the
     home: in the Church during certain services with someone there to
     give the interpretation and at home in private prayer to God.  Many
     Charismatics claim that the ability to speak in tongues is a sign
     of spiritual maturity and blessing.

III. History of Tongues Movement

  A. Tongues Began on Pentecost

     They were a "visible sign" to the Jews that the Apostles and
     believers were indwelled with the Holy Spirit.  The tongues that
     were spoken were "known languages" of the that day.  (Acts 2:1-13).

  B. Tongues Spoken by Gentiles

     While Paul was preaching the Gospel at the home of Cornelius the
     gentiles who heard the message began speaking in tongues (other
     known languages) and the Jewish believers who were present were
     astonished that even the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit.
     (Acts 10:23-48).

  C. Tongues Listed as a Spiritual Gift

     Paul in writing to the Corinthian Church, gives a listing of the
     valid Spiritual Gifts for that day and Tongues is the last listed
     (1 Cor 12:4-11).

  D. Tongues Misused in The Church

     Paul rebukes the Corinthian Church for an apparent misuse of the
     Gift of Tongues in the Church and gives some guidance on the proper
     use of the gift (1 Cor 14:1-40).

  E. Tongues Declared to Someday "Be Stilled"

     The Scriptures reveal that a day would come when tongues would "be
     stilled" (1 Cor 13:8).  They would stop in and of themselves.
     That is, no outside force would cause them to cease.  The verb
     translated "be stilled" is the greek word "pauo" which has the
     clear meaning that the activity will stop "in and of itself."  They
     will "be stilled" by no external action or event; rather, tongues
     will "die out" on their own.

  F. Tongues Ceased to be Mentioned in Scripture

     The gift of tongues does not appear in Scripture after Paul's
     discussion of their misuse in his first letter to the Corinthians.
     There is one other mention of tongues chronologically in the Bible
     but appears in the textually unsound and contestable passages
     of Mark 16:9-20.  These verses do not appear in the two most reliable
     early manuscripts of the gospel and most likely were added by a
     scribe.

     (Note: The following information listed in items G. through J. was
     extracted from the book "The Truth about Tongues," John MacArthur,
     Word of Grace, pp. 15-18, 1984).

  G. Early Church Fathers did not Mention Tongues as Valid in Their Day

     1. Clement of Rome - wrote a letter to the Corinthians in 95 A.D.
        discussing all of their spiritual problems.  Tongues were never
        mentioned.

     2. Justin Martyr - compiled a listing of spiritual gifts active in
        his time (A.D. 100-165) and did not include the gift of tongues.

     3. Origen - never mentioned tongues and even argued that the
        "signs" of the Apostolic Age were temporary and that no
        contemporary Christian exercised any of these early "sign"
        gifts. (A.D. 185-253).

     4. Chrysostom - writing on 1 Corinthians and the gift of tongues
        said, "This whole place is very obscure; but the obscurity is
        produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to and by the
        cessation, being such as then used to occur, but now no longer
        take place." (A.D. 347-407).

     5. Augustine - comments on Acts 2:4: "In the earliest times, 'the
        Holy Ghost fell upon them that believed: and they spake with
        tongues,'. . .These were signs adapted to the time.  For there
        behooved to be that betokening of the Holy Spirit. . .That thing
        was done for a betokening, and it passed away."

  H. Supposed Occurrences of Tongues Since the Apostolic Age

     1. Montanus and Tertullian - During the period of the early church
        the only people who were reported to have spoken in tongues were
        the followers of Montanus and Tertullian.  Montanus, a recent
        convert, claimed to be the spokesman for the Holy Spirit.  He
        believed that Christ would soon set up the Kingdom in the city
        of Phrygia, and tried to justify speaking in tongues as an
        occurrence of the end of the age.  Montanus was expelled from
        the church as a heretic.  Tertullian was a disciple of Montanus
        who advocated speaking in tongues as well.  He lived from A.D.
        150-222.  (After Montanus and Tertullian, the next eruption of
        tongues was not until the late seventeenth century.)

     2. The Cevenols - The gift of ecstatic utterance was claimed by a
        group of persecuted Protestants in southern France around 1685.
        They believed that their little children, who knew only the
        local dialect, were able to speak in perfect french while in a
        trance.  The group was soon discredited because of their night
        raids and military reprisals against their enemies.  And because
        all their prophecies went unfulfilled, they were branded as
        heretics and not considered to be a part of Mainline
        Christianity.

     3. The Jansenists - Around 1731, a group of Roman Catholic
        reformers called the Jansenists, were holding night meetings
        at their leader's tomb during which they supposedly spoke in
        ecstatic languages.

     4. The Shakers - The Shakers were followers of Mother Ann Lee, who
        lived from 1736-1784.  She regarded herself as the female
        equivalent of Jesus Christ--God in a female body.  She founded
        the Shaker community in Troy, New York, and claimed that she had
        received a revelation from God that sexual intercourse was
        corrupt. . .even within marriage.  It is said that in order to
        teach her followers to mortify the flesh and to resist
        temptation, she instituted the practice of men and women dancing
        together in the nude while they spoke in tongues.

     5. The Irvingites - About 1830, Edward Irving started a little
        group in London known as the Irvingites.  This group began to
        speak in tongues but was soon discredited for several reasons:
        Their revelations contradicted Scripture, their prophecies went
        unfulfilled, their supposed healings were followed by death,
        there were rumors of immorality, and some of their leading
        members were accused of fraud.

  I. The Pentecostal Movement

     Tongues became a part of mainline Christianity in 1901 at Bethel
     Bible College in Topeka, Kansas.  Agnes Ozman received what she
     called "the baptism of the Holy Spirit" accompanied by speaking in
     tongues.

  J. The Charismatic Movement

     In 1960, in Van Nuys, California, the modern Charismatic movement
     began in an Episcopalian church.  It soon spread across mainline
     denominations of all kinds.

     Today the Tongues movement has taken hold in nearly all
     denominations.  There are Evangelicals, Lutherans, Catholics,
     Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and even Mormons claiming the
     "unity of the Spirit" through the Charismatic movement.  Never have
     we seen such a unifying of the separated denominations as we have
     seen in recent years.

     Though the Charismatic Movement is widespread the question we need
     to answer is, "Is it Biblical?""  Lets begin our investigation with
     a look at the purpose of tongues.

IV.  The Purpose of the Gift of Tongues

  A. Confirming Sign Gift

     1. Chronology of Sign Gifts

        During three specific periods of prophetic revelation, the
        period of Moses and Joshua, the period of Elijah and Elisha, the
        period of Christ and the Apostles, God has accompanied His
        revelation by confirming miracles.  We do not see miraculous
        events occurring in the Bible apart from new Scriptural
        revelation.  Tongues were part of the many miracles that
        occurred during the time of Christ and the Apostles (A.D. 28-
        90).  These miraculous gifts were to confirm the authenticity of
        the messages and preachers as being from God.  The last recorded
        miracle in the Bible is found in Acts 28:7-10 with the healing
        of Publius' father by the Apostle Paul.

     2. Chronology of New Testament Tongues

        Tongues have their beginning at Pentecost, where the Disciples
        received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and displayed the
        ability to speak in known languages of their day which they had
        never "learned" beforehand, and this remains typical of the
        passages found in Acts.

        a. Acts 2:4

           "All of them [the Disciples] were filled with the Holy Spirit
           and began to speak in other tongues [languages] as the Spirit
           enabled them."

           It is critical to understand that the gift of tongues was in
           its purest state here without man's misuse or distortion.
           Let's note what the God-fearing Jews from at least 15
           different nations had to say about the type of "tongues" they
           heard that day, "Utterly amazed, they asked: 'are not all
           these men who are speaking Galileans?  Then how is it that
           each of us hears them in his own native language?. . .we hear
           them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!'" (Acts
           2:5-11).  Tongues were unlearned known languages which could
           be understood by Jews of corresponding backgrounds.

        b. Acts 10:44-46

           "While Peter was still speaking these words [the Gospel], the
           Holy Spirit came on on all who heard the message.  The
           circumcised believers who had come [to Cornelius' house] with
           Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had
           been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them
           speaking in tongues and praising God."

           Again as the confirming sign of the Gospel message tongues
           are spoken, this time by Gentiles, as the Holy Spirit
           signifies the equality of Gentile believers with Jews through
           their faith.

        c. Acts 19:6

           "When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on
           them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied."

           This occurred in Ephesus, a Gentile city in Asia Minor after
           disciples of John the Baptist were instructed about the Lord
           Jesus.  Again, the Holy Spirit confirms through tongues that
           the message was true and the believers of every background
           are equal by faith.

        d. 1 Corinthians 14

           A study of 1 Corinthians 14 reveals that speaking in tongues
           had already caused disturbances and disorder.  Paul writes to
           try to straighten out the problem and lists some basic facts
           about the gift of tongues.

           In Corinth the miracle of the gift of tongues had deteriorated
           from that seen in Acts.   As Paul's instructions unfold we
           see that tongues were being counterfeited by unknown
           "mystery" languages; that tongues were being exalted above
           even prophecy; that tongues were being spoken without
           interpretation in the worship service; that praying in
           tongues had become common; that too many tongue speakers were
           vying for attention during worship; and that women were
           taking a dominant role in church through tongue speaking.  No
           longer are tongues being used properly.

  B. A Sign of Judgment for Israel

     In 1 Corinthians 14:21 Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11,12 and says,
     "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners
     I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to
     me."  God had spoken to Israel in clear language for centuries and
     yet she did not listen and ultimately executed her own Messiah.
     Now God shows that He has turned from the Jews to the Gentiles with
     the message of salvation.  He gave the gift of tongues to Christians
     to serve as a rebuke against unbelieving Jews.  Nowhere in the
     Bible is the gift of tongues mentioned as occurring apart from the
     presence of Jews.

  C. Tongues were a Sign for Unbelievers

     The gift of tongues was never intended for Christians for
     themselves; it was intended as a sign for the unbelievers,
     "Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers "
     (1 Cor 14:22).  The Jews of that time were brought up to have
     "faith in signs."  Thus Jesus said in Matthew 12:39, "A wicked and
     adulterous generation asks for a sign. . ."  And Paul writes in 1
     Cor 1:22, "Jews demand miraculous signs. . ."  The accounts of
     tongues in the Scriptures took place in the cities of Jerusalem,
     Caesarea, Ephesus and Corinth, which all had large Jewish
     populations.  Through the gift of tongues God signified to the Jews
     that His blessing and power was upon those who claimed Christ as
     Savior and Lord.

V. Doctrine of Tongues

  A. Biblical Teachings

     1. The Gift of Tongues Will Be Stilled  -  1 Cor 13:8

        The Bible says, "Where there are prophecies, they will cease;
        where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is
        knowledge, it will pass away" (1 Cor 13:8).  A careful study of
        the Greek reveals that the three verbs used here, "cease,
        stilled, and pass" are not the same greek words.  The two words
        translated "cease and pass" are the same greek word (katargeo)
        and carry with them the meaning "that the action they describe
        will stop as a result of an outside force or event."  However,
        the word translated "stilled" (pauo) referring to tongues has
        the clear meaning that the activity will stop "in and of
        itself."

        Therefore, prophecies and knowledge are classed together and
        will be terminated when "something" acts on them.  Tongues is
        separate and will "be stilled" not by an external action or
        event; rather, tongues are to "die out" on their own.  An
        analogy could be to view the three gifts as three fires.  The
        fires of prophecies and knowledge will be extinguished by
        "someone" with a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water.
        However, the fire of tongues will "go out" all by itself with no
        external action needed.  The context of the passage even reveals
        another distinction about the three, "For we know [knowledge] in
        part and we prophesy [prophecy] in part."  Tongues are not
        mentioned, and prophecy and knowledge are shown to be less than
        complete, "know in part; prophesy in part."  The very next verse
        says, "but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears."
        Notice that the "imperfect" is something not complete, something
        that lacks completeness, i.e., prophecy and knowledge.  They
        disappear when the "perfection comes."  Whatever this perfection
        is it was future to Paul day.

        So tongues were expected to "die out" at some time future to the
        Paul's writings.  This leads one to understand that tongues
        would at some point in history no longer be needed.  After
        Chapter 14 in the book of 1 Corinthians the mention of Tongues
        disappears from Scripture.

     2. Tongues can be Counterfeited  -  1 Cor 12:3, 14:2

        "Therefore I tell you that no one speaking who is speaking by
        the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,' and no one can say,
        'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 12:3).

        "Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God.
        Indeed no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his
        spirit" (1 Cor 14:2).

        This cannot be the true gift of tongues that we saw in Acts 2
        where the Disciples spoke to men (foreign God-fearing Jews)
        praising God and edified others, not themselves.  Paul is here
        exposing a false tongue movement had that had arisen in Corinth.

     3. To Prophesy is Better than Tongues  -  1 Cor 14:5

        I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would
        rather have you prophesy.  He who prophesies is greater than one
        who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church
        may be edified."

        It was the Apostle's desire that all the Corinthians speak with
        the true gift of tongues, but he would rather that they preach
        God's Word in their natural language (Gift of Prophecy).

     4. Tongues without Interpretation is Forbidden  -  1 Cor 14:6-13

        This Scripture states that whenever someone speaks in a tongue
        there must be an interpretation which provides some revelation,
        knowledge, prophecy, or word of instruction to the church.

     5. Praying in a Tongue is Condemned  -  1 Cor 14:14-17

        Here Scripture says that when a person prays in a tongue his
        spirit prays but his mind is unfruitful.  Paul says "no" to this
        type of praying and says we must pray with both our spirit and
        our minds.  This is simply praying in a language that is
        intelligible to our minds and to others who may hear us.

     6. Limited Number to Speak Tongues in Church  -  1 Cor 14:26-28

        Again Scripture teaches that if the true gift of tongues is to
        be used in the church a maximum of only three persons may speak
        and then only one at a time.  There must also be someone who can
        interpret what was spoken.

     7. Women Not to Speak in Tongues in the Church  -  1 Cor 14:33-35

        Here God clearly forbids women from having a "speaking role" in
        the formal church service.  Tongues are not to be spoken by
        them.  The context and intensity of the restrictions are such
        that woman are not to have any leadership role in the church
        service, because women are never to exercise spiritual authority
        over men (1 Tim 2:12).  In fact, Scripture states that if they
        have questions they are to wait to discuss them until they are
        at home with their husbands.

     8. Do Not Forbid Speaking in Tongues  -  1 Cor 14:39

        Paul clearly states that the church is not to forbid speaking in
        tongues.  However, it must understood that his statement is in
        regards to the true gift of tongues as manifested on Pentecost
        and in accordance with the guidance Paul had related in the
        previous 38 verses.  Also, we must remember that no one must
        forbid the speaking in tongues as long as the gift is valid;
        but, if it is determined that the gift of tongues has ceased as
        a spiritual gift then the church must forbid using them.

  B. Charismatic Teachings

     1. Tongues Valid Gift of Spirit Today

        Charismatics will claim one of two explanations for the current
        tongues movement;

        a. Tongues Never Ceased

           Charismatics trace their roots back to Pentecost through the
           historical, heretical incidents.

        b. Tongues Started Up Again

           "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
           Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will
           dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Even on my
           servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in
           those days" (Joel 2:28,29).

           Using Joel the Charismatics maintain that tongues, which did
           cease, have started up again because these are the "last
           days."  However, the content of this passage refers to the
           "great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Joel 2:31), or the
           Second Coming of Christ.  Also, Joel's prophecy did not
           mention tongues as part of the outpouring of the Spirit in
           the last days.  It is true that at Pentecost Peter quoted
           Joel 2 to explain the outpouring of the Spirit, yet because
           of the correct interpretation of Joel, he cannot have been
           referring to the Millennial Kingdom.  Rather, he was saying
           that the Jews at Pentecost were merely glimpsing some of the
           power that will occur in the Kingdom after Christ's return

     2. Tongues are Universally Available

        Charismatics teach that tongues are one of the gifts of the
        Spirit available to anyone who has been Baptized in the Holy
        Spirit (Luke 11:13, Acts 2:39).  This baptism is not just
        conversion but a "second blessing" subsequent to conversion.
        This concept denies Scripture which states that all believers
        have received the Holy Spirit upon conversion (Acts 2:38).  A
        second filling of the Spirit is a Biblical concept, but a second
        baptism is not.  Also, Paul writes in 1 Cor 12:29, that not all
        have the gift of tongues.

     3. Tongues Will Edify You

        "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself. . ." (1 Cor 14:4).

        Charismatics teach that anyone who speaks in a tongue does so
        for his own benefit, yet the Bible says tongues were given to
        edify others, as can be understood by the commandment that
        interpreters must be present whenever tongues were spoken (1 Cor
        14:5).  Furthermore, Paul also says in 1 Cor 10:24 that, "Nobody
        should seek his own good, but the good of others."

     4. Tongues are Valid as a Prayer Language

        Charismatics quote several passages to support a tongues prayer
        language; "I will pray with my spirit. . ." (1 Cor 14:15).  "For
        anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God"
        (1 Cor 14:2).  "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels.
        . ." (1 Cor 13:1).

        The context of the 1 Corinthians 14 passages refer to the misuse
        of tongues.  1 Cor 14:15 goes on to say, "I will pray with my
        spirit, but I will also pray with my mind," stressing one's need
        to be aware of what one is saying in prayer as well as being led
        by the Spirit.  The passage in 1 Cor 13:1 about the "tongue of
        angels" is widely regarded as being hyperbole, or Paul's
        exaggeration of exotic speech without love, because this
        expression is found nowhere else in Scripture.  We are never
        told about an angelic language or even that men are able to
        speak in an angelic tongue.

VI. Dangers of the Tongues Movement

  A. Creates Disrespect for Scripture

     1. Disregards Scripture

        a. Ecumenical Movement

           This movement, which claims a oneness of the Spirit between
           Christians, non-Christians, heretics and the orthodox, is
           against clear Biblical injunctions (1 Cor 14:38; 2 Cor
           6:14,15). It makes the basis for Christian fellowship to be
           experience, not doctrine and common practice.

        b. Women Speaking

           The Bible teaches that a woman's role is submissive, that is,
           she is not to take pre-eminence in the worship service.  Yet,
           often it is the women who speak tongues in Charismatic
           meetings.

        c. Vain Repetitions

           The Bible commands that Christians pray without using "many
           words" (Matthew 6:7).  Yet Charismatics use repetition of
           words as the main tool for acquiring the gift of tongues.

           As an example of this, a Lutheran minister announced at a
           Missionary Conference that he was, "a spirit-filled minister,
           and that the Lord has commissioned me to speak at the
           conference."  He was refused the opportunity to speak and
           then started counter meetings to which he invited people.
           About 40 missionaries went along, some merely out of
           curiosity.  At the meeting the minister had spoken and sung
           in tongues for a long time without anyone interpreting.  One
           of the missionaries had the courage to ask him personally how
           one could receive this gift.  The answer was typical, and it
           showed the kind of "spiritual gift" the minister had.  He
           said, "You must think of a short prayer, perhaps the phrase
           'Lord help me,' and repeat this prayer five to eight hundred
           times.  Then your tongue and consciousness will get used to
           it and suddenly you will speak in 'tongues.'"

     2. Distorts Scripture

        a. "Open Your Mouth"

           Charismatics believe that if you "pray to receive Jesus
           Christ as your Savior" then you can begin to manifest the
           gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The first one is usually the gift
           of tongues.  They say, "By faith, open your mouth and begin
           to speak whatever new words or sounds that come to you (p.14,
           "Receive All God Has To Give," Woman's Aglow Fellowship,
           1971, Lynnwood, WA.)  The proof text they use is Psalm
           81:10b, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."  The
           clear context of that verse has nothing at all to do with God
           putting words or strange sounds in our mouths; rather, God
           refers to the fact that He brought Israel up out of Egypt
           (Psalm 81:10a), and will provide her with food, "you would be
           fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I
           would satisfy you (Psalm 81:16).

           The Charismatics state, "Speaking in tongues (your new
           spiritual language) begins with an act of the will. . .YOU
           MUST CHOOSE TO SPEAK. . . GOD WILL GIVE THE UTTERANCE" (p.14,
           "Receive All God Has To Give," Woman's Aglow Fellowship,
           1971, Lynnwood, WA.).  They are clearly advocating a "private
           prayer language" used when conversing with God.  Jesus said,
           "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they
           think they will be heard because of their many words.....This
           is how you should pray: 'Our Father in Heaven. . . '"(Matthew
           6:7-9).

           The word translated "babbling" is the greek word "battalogeo"
           which literally means to speak with a stammering, stuttering
           gibberish (much like the pagans did to their gods).  Jesus
           even gives an example how to pray, "Our Father. . .," notice
           that it is in the language of the people, not a "spiritual
           prayer language."

        b. Train Yourself to Speak in Tongues

           Charismatics teach that one must must learn his or her new
           language and train oneself to speak in tongues through
           repetition.  This is not the type of language we see at
           Pentecost, nor do we see the disciples urging others to seek
           the gift by any means.  Yet we find Charismatics urging
           others to do this.  For example, a woman who belonged to the
           Charismatic movement was the leader of a girl's class.  She
           herself spoke in tongues and wanted the girls to learn how to
           pray and sing in tongues as well.  She explained to those
           members of the class who followed her unquestionably, that
           one could be prepared to receive the gift of tongues by the
           constant repetition of certain phrases out loud.  She would
           speak and the others would repeat in chorus after her.  And,
           in fact, a few weeks later some of the girls could speak in
           tongues.

        c. Slain in the Spirit?

           In California, a woman went to a meeting held by a member of
           the tongues movement.  The speaker spoke about the necessity
           of the gift of tongues, and in an after-meeting she allowed
           hands to be laid on her in order to receive the Baptism of
           the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues.  At that
           moment she fell down unconscious.  On coming round again she
           found herself lying on the floor with her mouth still opening
           and shutting itself automatically without a word being
           uttered.  She was terribly frightened.  Standing around her
           were some of the people who were followers of this evangelist
           and they exclaimed, "O sister, you have really spoken
           wonderfully in tongues.  Now you have the Holy Spirit."  But
           the victim of this so-called baptism of the Holy Spirit was
           cured.  She never again returned to this group of tongues
           speakers.

     B. Discourages Spirituality

        1. Tongues Replace the Bible?

           Charismatics claim to adhere strictly to the Bible but in
           practice scrutinize Scripture through their emotional
           experiences.  This can and does lead to an eventual disregard
           of the Bible in preference to their subjective revelations.
           For instance, at a Bible college the Charismatic movement
           broke out with a number of the professors and students
           speaking in tongues.  A student who was deeply involved in
           this new movement declared that he did not need to read the
           Bible anymore,  God the Father would himself appear and speak
           to him.  However, six other students who had first sought
           this "second blessing," discounted it when they felt
           something weird was going on.

        2. The Second Blessing Brings Joy?

           Charismatics teach that the "second blessing" is the source
           for the Christian joy.  Yet, because of the "letdown effect"
           of loss of euphoria or of never having acquired the "second
           blessing" some Christians are not finding any joy at all.  As
           an example, another Bible college is the scene where a woman
           student wanted the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  She had hands
           laid on her by a preacher from a Charismatic church.  But
           because the expected blessing did not come, the girl went
           another five times within that week to have hands laid on
           her.  She then experienced a warm feeling that she regarded
           as the second blessing.  And the result?  She no longer finds
           it a joy to be a Christian.  Today she has slipped so far
           that she completely disregards praying and reading God's
           word.

        3. Give me Tongues or I die

           A doctor's daughter had been influenced by some friends who
           spoke in tongues.  She then began to pray for the gift
           herself.  For weeks she begged earnestly for this so-called
           proof of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  When her prayer
           went unanswered, in desperation she tried to commit suicide.

     C. Creates Division

        1. Churches

           Some missionaries went to a conference and were praying and
           fasting so as to receive a new blessing.  After a few days
           speaking in tongues broke out among the group.  Then all 18
           were seized by it and they called it the "second blessing."
           After the conference they returned to their churches.  They
           explained to their congregations that to prove one had the
           baptism of the Holy Spirit it was necessary to speak in
           tongues.  Their followers asked, "Well, which is right, what
           you told us originally or what you are telling us now?"
           There was such confusion that all 18 churches were ruined by
           splits over the doctrine of tongues.

        2. Individuals

           Two Christian friends had been believers for some years when
           one day they were invited to the meeting of a tongue speaking
           group.  The atmosphere of the meeting affected them so much
           that afterwards they prayed for the second blessing of the
           baptism of the Holy Spirit.  After intensive prayer it was as
           if something hot came over them.  They felt very excited
           inside.  For a few weeks they revelled in this new
           experience, but slowly these waves of feeling abated.  One of
           the individuals lost all desire to read the Bible and to
           pray.  He then examined his experience in the light of the
           Scriptures and realized that it was not of God.  He repented
           and denounced it and got back his original assurance and
           peace with God.  His friend, on the other hand, continued in
           these "tongues."  Today he will not even consider the idea of
           going on further as a Christian: tongues destroyed him.

     D. Preaches False Doctrine (leading to possible false professions)

        1. A Tongue Speaking Prophetess

           A woman was converted and for the first few years was a
           faithful follower of Jesus and lived a well balanced life.
           Then one day she listen to an evangelist who told her that
           unless she spoke in tongues she had not received the baptism
           of the Holy Spirit.  The woman then sought the laying on of
           hands.  Since then she has spoken in tongues and has led
           other Christians to speak in tongues also, bringing them into
           a similar experience as hers.  She believes that she is a
           prophetess of God with the gift of discernment.  It is her
           practice to look directly at non-Charismatic Christians and
           say, "I can see in your eyes that you have not received the
           Holy Spirit."  She also uses the laying on of her hands for
           healings and for conversions.  This type of conversion means
           that people do not have to recognize, confess, and repent of
           their sin and surrender their lives to Christ through faith;
           all that is necessary is that this prophetess lays her hands
           on them.  By her deception she is unwittingly condemning many
           to believe that they can be saved without Christ.

        2. No Tongues then No Baptism

           Charismatics teach that tongues are the sign of spiritual
           blessing and proof of salvation.  This teaching may be
           damaging to unsuspecting mature Christians and also to more
           recent converts.  For example, a student in college was
           invited to Charismatic Church by his friends.  The message
           had the usual slant: only the person who has spoken in
           tongues has been baptized by the Holy Spirit, i.e., has truly
           been saved.  The student prayed for this gift.  Some days
           later one of the speakers from the church laid his hands on
           him.  He then experienced a warm sensation going through him
           and began to speak in tongues.  He had no idea what he was
           really praying at the time, but he felt his emotions being
           stirred up.

           After a few weeks the student no longer had any desire to
           read his Bible or to pray, and his original assurance of
           salvation disappeared.  It was only after he had denounced
           this experience which he had had that he received back the
           assurance of salvation and peace with God.

     E. Blasphemes Holy Spirit

        1. Exalts the Holy Spirit above other members of the Trinity.

        2. Challenges Holy Spirit's work at conversion, i.e., says we
           need a "Second Blessing."

        3. Attributes Satan's counterfeit tongue to the Holy Spirit.

     F. Turns Off Unbeliever

        1. Behavior in Church Service

           "So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in
           tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers
           come in, will they say that you are out of your mind?" (1 Cor
           14:23).

        2. Witness is Compromised

           The scandalous behavior of some Charismatic leaders, as
           evidenced in the recent PTL Club and Oral Roberts
           controversies, has brought great discredit to the Name and
           Work of Jesus Christ.  It has created suspicion among
           unbelievers and many now question the creditability of all
           Christians and Church leaders.

VII. Conclusion

     The Tongues of the Charismatic movement are not Scriptural.  The
     Bible must be disregarded or reinterpreted to support the claims of
     its proponents.  History does not support the movement, nor does the
     outworking of its practitioners.  And since there is no Scriptural
     basis for the tongues movement we see today we can only conclude
     that the source is not God.  Emotionalism certainly plays an
     enormous part of the movement, but since Christians and non-
     Christians alike share in this experience the source must be
     Satanic.  Thus Satan has presented the Church and the world with
     another lie, a counterfeit of what was authentic among 1st Century
     believers, to discredit her and to neutralize her power of prayer
     and effective witness.  1 John 2:21 reminds us that, "no lie comes
     from the truth," and the Gospel of John says that the false teacher,
     "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).

     We may well ask, "If it is not Scriptural, and is Satanically
     inspired, why is it so popular among both Christians and non-
     Christians alike?"  Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community
     Church, in his book, "The Truth About Tongues," suggests five
     reasons for its popularity; (1) Spiritual Hunger - people want to
     be Spiritual and are told this is the proper way; (2) Spiritual
     Expression - people are seeking a way to express themselves
     spiritually because they don't feel involved at church; (3) Instant
     Spirituality - since tongues is considered a sign of spiritual
     maturity, those who seek external affirmation will seek this; (4)
     A Reaction to Society - in response to a "cold" society a person
     can feel involved in something supernatural; (5) A Need for
     Acceptance and Security - a drive to be "in" or superior brings
     people to a place where they can belong and "have it."  Why speak
     out against the Charismatics?  We must because the Charismatic
     Movement must be seen for what it is, a false teaching that is not
     of the Truth, Jesus Christ.  It does not bring glory to God, but
     rather--dishonor.

     Yet, for those who would be brave enough to speak out against the
     Charismatics there are criticisms and charges that, "you are not
     loving and you cause division."  It is really the opposite.  The
     above examples show vividly that the Charismatic movement does
     tremendous harm to the church.  Some would argue that since the
     Charismatics preach the same gospel as the fundamentalists why
     bother them over this issue.  The answer is because God cares about
     false doctrine and its impact in the mission of the church.  In the
     Book of Revelation, Jesus is judging the churches and He tells
     Pergamum that she is doing some things right but that there is some
     false teaching in her midst.  Jesus does not say, "Well, since you
     do some things right I will overlook the false teaching."  No, in
     fact, He says He will come and fight against them if they do not
     correct the problem.  We need to correct this problem among us
     before we find our Lord fighting against His own.     God's Word
     declares that, "The Righteous Hate that which is false."  May we
     all be like our Master and hate what He hates, but love what He
     loves--the people caught in the net of false doctrine--The
     Charismatic.

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 130
Shreveport, LA 71110
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