speaking in tongues

By Edwin Christiaan

Are the tongues that we hear people speaking in the Christian/Charismatic churches really given by God’s Holy Spirit, or are they actually just speaking gibberish? As someone who was in this world for almost 30 years, and who has now unlearned many unbiblical doctrines, I have come to the conclusion that gibberish tongues, that are not an actual language, are demonic, and not the real gift of tongues. Rather, it is a learned behavior that has come from being among others who speak in gibberish tongues.

First off, the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthian church that tongues are a sign for UNbelievers:

“So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers.”

1. Corinthians 14:22 NLT

In Acts chapter 2, we see the very first time believers were filled with the Spirit and began speaking in tongues. 

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. How can this be? they exclaimed. These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”

Acts 2:1-11 NLT

The whole point of speaking in tongues is God’s way of giving unbelievers an incredible and undeniable sign that God is real so that they will believe in God.

Secondly, the believers were speaking in tongues about God doing wonderful things, and people standing around them from many different countries could understand what they were saying because they were speaking in real foreign languages! The believers weren’t speaking some unintelligible gibberish like the alleged tongues spoken in the Christian/Charismatic churches nowadays. 

The Apostle Paul taught very clearly that speaking in tongues means to speak in a language foreign to yourself:

“There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me.”

1. Corinthians 14:10-11 NLT

But he also taught that foreign tongues need to be interpreted:

“Anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.”

1. Corinthians 14:13 NLT

If believers speak in gibberish tongues that are not real languages that can be understood by foreigners, unbelievers will not benefit from it. 

“If unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.”

1. Corinthians 14:23 NLT

And, unless there is an interpreter present to share what the person speaking in tongues is saying, it is better for them not to speak in the church at that moment. 

That is why Paul instructs:

“No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.”

1. Corinthians 14:27-28 NLT

To sum it up, it is a strange phenomenon that has developed in the Christian/Charismatic church, where believers pretend to speak in tongues. Once you realize that it is fake, it makes sense that speaking repetitive phrases and words is not the true, God-given gift of tongues, but a demonic or soulishly generated counterfeit production of empty words. Unbelievers watching in will make fun of the nonsensical and laughable performance of these Charismatic Christians, giving the Church a reputation of being completely ridiculous.

Speaking in tongues must be a real, foreign language that someone can understand and interpret.

Speaking in tongues is a divine gift given by God, and it is not something that can be learned or mimicked. It does not come by “activation” or by practicing speaking words.