I attend a “Charismatic” Anglican Church and our Bishop has said that we are not to speak in tongues during any church service. In which we honor him and don’t.

I know the 39 articles say the service must be taken in a known language, and I have heard that tongues are not to be spoken because of what is said in the 39 articles, however it is my understanding that is there in relation to the mass being spoken in “latin” wheras the common people could not understand what was being spoken.

Paul commands his Church, 1Co 14:39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

I wonder if our tradtitional denominational churches including the Anglican Church are going against Pauls commands.

1Co 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
1Co 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
1Co 14:28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
1Co 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
1Co 14:30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
1Co 14:31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
1Co 14:32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
1Co 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
1Co 14:34 As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.
1Co 14:35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
1Co 14:37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
1Co 14:38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.[9]
1Co 14:39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
1Co 14:40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

The other question I ask is are we truly eager to prophecy, and can we really make a case out of these scriptures that prophecy spoken of here is the same as preaching especially when Paul includes “ ”1Co 14:26 a word of Instruction”

What is Paul really saying here when he says “Do not forbid the speaking in tongues”?

craig

G’day Craig,

Just to clarify - what were your bishop’s exact directions? No speaking in tongues at all, or no speaking in tongues without interpretation or in a disorderly fashion (as per 1 Corinthians 14:27 as you quote)? Not knowing who your bishop is or what was said, the major problem most Anglican clergy I know (and myself) have with the way speaking in tongues is carried out is that it is so often the exact opposite of what Paul aks for - orderly and interpreted.

The few charismatic services where I have been to where I have seen/heard talking in tongues, I have never heard an interpretation - yet these same churches would undoubtedly insist that their practice is in line with the Bible. This really frustrates me, as it strikes me as such a selective reading of the passages concerning speaking in tongues.

I think you are right when you say the main intention of the 39 articles was to make sure that people could understand what was being said. See the 24th article:

“It is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God and the custom of the primitive Church, to have public prayer in the Church, or to minister the sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people.”

This applies, just as Paul writes in 1 Cor 14, for tongues as well, for if the words are not interpreted the bulk of the Christians (let alone the non-Christians) will have no idea what is being said. The meeting may just as well be conducted in Swahili if any words in a foreign language, earthly or heavenly, are not interpreted into the common language of those assembled. See 1 Cor 14:6-11, 23:

6 Now, brothers, [1] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me ... 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

Cheers,

Timbo

G’day Timbo, blessings.

You are right about speaking in tongues without interpretation, in fact at the Pentecostal Bible College I went to, it was drummed into us that tongues were to be only spoken in a service if interpretation was to be spoken.

We were told “No Tongues at all”

I do believe though tongues are OK at a prayer meeting behind closed doors so to speak, as often it leads to praying with our mind and spirit.

I guess I’m trying to come to grips withown our own Sydney dioscees stance on the Bible is the word of God and we need to be careful in following it’s directions, and part of the 4 processes of the mission is to pray for spiritual renewal, and it’s stance of what I observe to be “Anti tongues and prophecy etc”.

As one who loves the word of God, and tries to live up to what it says and coming from being trained in a Pente College, how is it that we can interprete the Bible so diffrently?

craig

Craig,

Thanks for the clarification. Once again, as removed as I am from your circumstances, I can’t comment fairly on what’s going on, but from 1 Corinthians 14 I can’t see why speaking in tongues should (or indeed could) be forbidden from any church meeting - regular services just as well as prayer meetings - so long as the things you were rightly instructed in Bible college (from the Bible!) are followed.

Timbo

*whistles loudly* Oy ho Luke?! I reckon this thread belongs in the General discussion area or something… I could be wrong, but how does bible study help differ to general discussion? This topic strikes me as about a situation rather than about a specific passage… ;)