My Theological Rant of the Day, Part II

Part I, for your convenience.

Pentecostal Idol
Many times, Evangelicals in general (not just Pentecostals) sort of eschew Catholic tradition because of all of the liturgy, ritual, icons, and “worship” of people we don’t consider divine; in fact, some would even call it idolatry. However, it was pointed out to me quite eloquently by a guest speaker at church last night that Pentecostals have an idol of their own. Speaking in tongues. We have made tongues our idol. Before any feathers get ruffled up, let me backtrack for a second.

In Defense of Tongues
As a professing practitioner of glossolalia (the scientific term for ‘speaking in tongues’), let me just lay some groundwork.

In the Bible, tongues first appeared in Acts 2 when the Holy Ghost was poured out for the very first time on the day of Pentecost. At that time, it was a Jewish thing. In fact, the converted Jews didn't even believe non-Jews could receive the Holy Ghost until it was poured out upon the Gentiles for the first time in Acts 10. In the middle of Peter’s preaching to a group of Gentiles, the Holy Ghost fell. Acts 10:45 and part of 46 says, “And they of the circumcision (Jews) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” So, why were the Jews so surprised? Because they realized this Holy Ghost thing was not “Jews only.” How did they know the Gentiles were receiving the Holy Ghost? Because, according to scripture, they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. To me, this scripture is important because this is another confirmation (the first being on the day of Pentecost) that speaking in tongues is a sign that one has received the Holy Ghost.

So, in sum, I believe that tongues is the initial sign that someone has received the Holy Ghost. And I believe that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit (capital ‘S’) that Jesus referred to in John 3:5. And as an aside, speaking in tongues is one of the most awesome spiritual experiences in the world. Can you truly knock what you’ve never experienced? But read the first sentence of this paragraph again. I said that speaking in tongues is a sign that one has received the Spirit. I did not say that it is the Spirit. And therein lies the source of my rant.

Speaking in tongues DOES NOT = The Holy Ghost
So many, many times, my A/P (Apostolic/Pentecostal) brothers and sisters focus too fervently on the phenomenon of speaking in tongues. We extol it as Catholics extol Mary (and for the record, Catholics do not officially “worship” her). Especially when it comes to people who are new converts and are new to the Holy Ghost thing. We want to pat them on the back and proclaim, “They got it!” if we hear any utterance resembling gibberish come out of their mouths. On the positive side, perhaps getting excited about “getting it” builds peoples’ faith. But on the negative, it may make people feel rushed and pushed into something, and perhaps we get ourselves into the sticky situation of proclaiming over someone what they themselves have not claimed to have experienced. So, back up, brothers and sisters. Let people breathe. Allow people to know that they know for themselves.

Doesn’t the scripture also say that “the fruit of the Spirit (capital ‘S’) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” (Gal 5:22-23)? Doesn’t Jesus say in Matthew 7:20 that “by their fruits ye shall know them”? So, as far as I’m concerned, you can run around spouting “heavenly language” 24/7 and still not “have it.” If you aren’t bearing the fruit of the Spirit in your life, what’s the use? What good is tearfully belting out monosyllables at altar call and then being a miserable, impatient, self-serving person who wouldn’t know the love of Jesus if it slapped you in the face when it’s all said and done?

Okay, enough with the ridiculous rhetorical questions. lol. All I’m saying is that tongues is a sign. But it isn’t the only sign. And it most certainly shouldn’t be conflated with the Spirit itself.