Tongues: Scripture vs Experience

Do you really believe Scripture to be the final authority on all matters to which it speaks? While many verbally concede this biblical authority, a discussion on some matters will quickly reveal just where one's allegiance rests, and “Tongues” is one of those issues. Such was the case as I taught a Sunday School class way back in the mid-1980's. As we waded through First Corinthians, we eventually crossed those passages often riddled with controversy, Chapters 12-14. When we got to the topic of tongues and as I started my elementary refutation of the modern Tongues movement, I was challenged by another preacher in the class.

His challenge, a not so well-intended one I discovered, came when he asked a simple question to which I gave a simple answer. In his question resided not only his position on tongues, but also his view of how truth itself was determined. In fact, it became obvious that he believed experience to be the "best" teacher on the subject and thus proceeded to give me the proverbial third degree. In a militancy unbecoming a typical Sunday School member, then, he asked, “Have you ever spoken in tongues?” Now, by the expression on his face coupled with his confident tone, he thought he had me and thus awaited either my concession or retreat from the discussion. Of course, he got neither.

"No I haven't," I said, as I awaited his follow-up.

Anticipating my answer, he continued with what he believed would be the argumentative "knock-out-punch" to my position. "Well," he replied, "if you've never experienced it, how can you deny it?"

Needless to say, the class was shocked by the man’s brazen challenge, but then seemed pleasantly relieved by my answer. I simply responded to his question with a question of my own, "Charles, have you ever experienced Hell?" At that point, his demeanor changed as he answered with an obvious "No."

"How, then," I pushed, "do you preach on the topic, or any other topic, for that matter, if you have never experienced it?"

"Because," he sheepishly answered to his own argumentative demise, "the Bible addresses the issue."

"Well, my position on tongues is no different," I continued. "My position comes from a biblical study and not from either my experience or my observation of somebody else's."            

While this incident found quick resolve, it also gave me the perfect opportunity to discuss and declare Scripture as our ultimate authority. We never, I reminded the class, determine truth by our experiences, but rather, truth must validate our experiences. We must submit ourselves to the authority of the inerrant Word of God on all matters. So, basically, the most important issue facing the Church regarding tongues is not the variety of experiences we might have had or witnessed, but instead, what the Bible actually says about those experiences. We must, as did the Bereans, receive "the word with all readiness of mind" and search the Scriptures daily, “whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Apparently, the Bereans revered Scripture and granted it its rightful place as the final authority in every matter, and our task is no different.

So, I ask again, do you really believe Scripture to be the final authority, even on the tongues issue?

Tony

(Excerpt taken from my book, Tongues Shall Cease).