By Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi
A popular podcaster lately proved to be out of his depth while trying to question what Jude verse 20 describes as the believer’s most holy faith. Citing 1 Corinthians 14:23, 27–28, where Apostle Paul recommended the presence of an interpreter whenever the Church erupts in tongues, the social media personality wondered why most Churches are glossing over that requirement as they lavishly speak in tongues. In his viral Facebook post, man conveniently omitted verse four of the same chapter, which was unequivocal that “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
But then, why should the Church eavesdrop or even be carried along when the worshipper in tongues is addressing God and their predicament? Shouldn’t other congregants be engrossed with their own supplications and burdens rather than what their fellow is praying about? According to 1 Corinthians 14:2 (NLT), “For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.”
It is hoped that many, especially the gullible, went beyond the influencer’s post to check out the comments where his ignorance was exposed. Insightful interlocutors were quick to point him to the difference between praying in tongues and speaking in tongues. They convincingly answered his challenge by reconciling “the two verses of the Bible about SPEAKING IN TONGUES that most Pentecostal Churches doesn’t seem to care about” with “what goes on in majority of the Churches”. Let’s not go hard on the popular blogger, since by his own admission: “Anyways, what do I know”.
There is, however, a need to set the record straight to counter those who discredit praying and speaking in tongues. If not for the sake of the natural man, then to neutralise the influence of his thought leadership. “But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].” (1 Corinthians 2:14 AMP).
This scripture should dissuade the uninitiated from trying to make sense of what is clearly beyond their head knowledge. Either way, we are not going to parry or deflect from the aforementioned jibe by relying on semantics. Actually, Churches and the saints speak as much as they pray in tongues. Both go pari passu such that the believer inadvertently switches from praying to speaking in tongues as led by the Spirit.
You may have come across Christians who speak in tongues outside a Church setting, as if soliloquizing and during normal conversations. They even announce their presence with tongue-talking. In our university days, a classmate so commonised speaking in tongues that he was nicknamed “Skalabosh”. Provided that the tongue-talker embodies the love of Christ as stipulated in 1 Corinthians 13:1, their proclivity shouldn’t be deemed showy or out of place. It’s essentially about who and what they’re addressing. Let’s ram this point home by using an analogy to explain why the influencer’s scriptural crutch doesn’t hold and can’t contradict the prevalent speaking of tongues in and outside Churches:
Imagine yourself seated in an intercontinental restaurant waiting to be served. When the waiter comes around, you start addressing them in your native dialect. The language barrier will definitely cost you time and premium service. You would only be spared the embarrassment if the waiter is from your neck of the woods or there’s serendipitously a nearby polyglot kind enough to bridge the language gap. But why bank on chance when you can cash in on certitude? Per the parable, the believer’s angel is the waiter. Yes, angels are waiters assigned by Heaven to ensure the well-being and safety of the believer. This is why Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” See also Exodus 23:20.
With this as the case, what better way should believers (those who will inherit salvation) hand instructions to their celestial servants? They don’t have to pray about it when there is the “tongues … of angels” (1 Corinthians 13:1), which the Holy Spirit grants them utterance.
Granted that angels excel in strength and comprehend all languages, communicating with them in the heavenly cuts off the demons that are out to intercept and upend what you want accomplished. The kingdom of darkness has listening posts dutifully monitored by demons and sundry agents for disclosures, confessions and assertions made by the children of God. Such prized Intel becomes the raw material for their nefarious acts.
Speaking in tongues is therefore the ideal and foolproof way to keep devils in the dark (where they belong anyway). That express supernatural expression applies to the “Who”, as it does to the “What.” Having established its utility in communicating with angels, speaking in tongues is equally useful in issuing commands and decrees to things. Inanimate objects have intelligence; they can hear and respond to the Word of God spoken by man. With Jesus, assuring that the believer whose faith is as minute as a mustard seed can relocate a mountain, don’t you think the natural will speedily heed a supernatural command than the one issued in plain language?
The fact that your senses are suspended when speaking in tongues makes it easier for your faith to come alive to achieve the seemingly impossible. Then again, there is the added advantage of cutting off Satan and his agents, who would want to counter and sabotage your miracle.
In the manner of using one stone to strike two birds, the foregoing thoughts are tangential to the validity of the recent remark by Apostle Arome Osayi, which has drawn criticisms and amusement from the Nigerian social media. The preacher has been trending after being caught on tape saying, “If you are up to 21 years old and you never spoke in tongues straight for six hours, your life is a joke!” He maintained that speaking in tongues is a vital spiritual discipline that signals growth, breakthrough, and alignment with God’s purpose. Apostle Arome encouraged young Christians to dedicate time to the practice, warning that neglecting it could hinder their destiny and overall life success.
Based on the hermeneutics and some benefits of speaking in tongues already outlined above, you are better informed to agree or disagree with the Apostle’s assertion. We can only advise bloggers to exercise restraint in dragging what was said in the pulpit to the digital market square. Since the sermoneer is only addressing his flock, it smacks of mischief and clout-chasing when comments of internal and eternal value are presented as public information. Such an ambush didn’t start today. As of July 2020, the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye had to issue this caveat, “Occasionally, there are things you say to your children that would annoy outsiders but I am not talking to you, I am talking to my children.”
Meanwhile, as outsiders stay in their lane, let’s hope that Apostle Arome, being a General Overseer, has programme(s) in his assembly where praying and speaking in tongues go on for a minimum of six hours. We are not talking about the prayer department’s meetings, but a general gathering in Church with the stirring that sees attendees interact with God for at least a quarter of the day.
Until worshippers are provided such an atmosphere where the deep calls unto the deep, there’s no blaming the 21-year-old who hasn’t yet spoken in tongues for six straight hours.
*VIS Ugochukwu, a Sage, Storyteller and Media Trainer, replies on X via @sylvesugwuanyi