Nougat 30

Of course, any reflection on spiritual gifts which takes a scriptural approach may be considered incomplete until tongues are mentioned. In today’s Holy Nougat we shall attend to this:

“He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.”

1 Corinthians 12:10 NLT

Firstly, let’s note; ‘still another person is given …’; which indicates Not everyone who manifests the gifts manifests with tongues. Yup. It’s not necessarily given to every single person as proof of God’s Spirit. At least, not in response to the edification of God’s body. As it relates to our individual prayer lives, we may use our prayer language; and God’s Spirit may transform our sighs into Heavenly language sent directly to God’s throne of Grace. But when we speak at spiritual gifts given for us to help each other; it’s not compulsory.

I know that this is not necessarily the popular answer; nevertheless it is a response generated from the Nougat.

We may recall that Paul introduced the message of spiritual gifts in both Romans and Corinthians (our focus in recent nougats). Please note – Nowhere in his exposition in either epistle does he insist that speaking in unknown language (aka tongues) is mandatory or proof of God’s Spirit being with us. In fact, it’s not discussed with the Roman congregation at all!

I begin with this extended qualifier as in my experience; the gift of tongues has been given special status and even used to exclude others from fellowshipping. It is correct to state that this was the first manifested gift – but it definitely is not the only gift; nor is it the standard. God’s Spirit is available to all and is manifested in all who believe. Speaking in tongues is one way.

In Acts 2; we are introduced to this phenomenon. The Unlearned possibly unkempt Disciples of Jesus (having waited for the Advocate for some Fifty Days after Christ’s resurrection) were the first to experience the manifestation of God’s Spirit. In that moment there were other powerful proofs of God’s presence – the sound of a ‘whirlwind’ as well as visible ‘tongues of Fire .

Both manifested ‘proofs’ were somewhat reflections or references to Jewish (Hebrew) collective experience – God’s Spirit was like fine in the night throughout the Exodus from Egypt; and Elijah’s ascension was marked by what was described as a whirlwind. Additionally, one could argue that the parting of the Red Sea (or Sea of Reeds) was via the same Mighty Rushing Wind. These then could be considered the confirmation in a context where what happened next was unknown.

Acts 2:4 notes that the gift of Tongues was by God’s Spirit and in the ensuing verses we note that the different languages seem to have been correlated to the languages spoke by the different ethnic languages of the gathering. For me, this suggests that the Tongues of Acts 2:4-12 were both for a sign AND for the sharing of the Gospel. Considering that the word used to describe what happened on that Faith-filled jubilee of jubilees (ie Pentecost) is the same used in the nougat, I suggest that the gift of tongues ought to do likewise. Even in the absence of Whirlwind and Fire.

Otherwise, the gift of tongues is for personal growth and connection with God. Paul intimates as much in 1 Corinthians 14; by stating that one should rather the gift of Prophecy which benefits the wider community. Thus Tongues which edifies the community is either gifted for evangelical outreach for people whose language is different from our own (as in a truly foreign language) or it must be accompanied by Interpretation.

And that’s the subject of tomorrow’s Holy Nougat

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May all we seek be found in Christ