Why I Left The Tongues Movement - By Alfred H. Pohl

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REASON # 8

THE TEACHING THAT TONGUES-SPEAKING IS A SIGN OF SPIRITUALITY OR EVEN OF SALVATION

A man who had just experienced tongues speaking said that he was sure now that he was saved. We could ask the question then, "How can we really know that we are saved?" What is reliable assurance that we have passed from death unto life? Is it a certain kind of experience? If so, can we completely trust experiences? In this case, we know that tongues speaking can and is being counterfeited. Heathen, Spiritists, Mormons, etc. also experience tongues speaking. Apparently there are Charismatics today who obviously have never repented, have exhibited no change or transformation of life, and yet are tongues speakers. Many Roman Catholic Charismatics continue to worship and pray to Mary, attend Mass, pray to "saints" etc., etc. Are we to accept them as our brethren in Christ simply on the basis of tongues speaking? Can they, or can we safely build on the foundation of an "experience"?

Basically, the assurance of our salvation must rest upon the unchanging and ever-dependable Word of God—His promises to the believer. One such promise and word from God to us is 1 John 5:13: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." How can we know that we have eternal life? This verse tells us plainly that our assurance rests upon the written Word of God.

Experiences, emotions, feelings all may change or pass away, but the solid rock of God's Word remains. By faith we rest on His promise. Did He not say: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (Jn. 5:24)?

I have heard His Word; I have believed on Him, therefore I have everlasting life! How do I know? Not because I feel something, not because I saw a vision or heard a voice, or spoke in tongues, but simply and basically because HE SAID SO! I simply take Him at His Word. I do have His Word for it! And it is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18). That is assurance! Do I need more? By simple faith in His Word I received salvation. By simple faith in His Word I have the assurance of my salvation!

Certainly there will be other corroborating evidences, and these are also mentioned in God's Word, that reveal the reality of the new nature within us. There should and will be a change in our lifestyle, just as we read in 2 Cor 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

This is more fully developed in the epistle of 1 John where we read such words as these: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 Jn. 3:14); and, "And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments," that is, His Word (1 Jn. 2:3). If we really know the Lord, there will be a change of attitude toward God's Word, and a developing love for it and obedience to it. We will desire to do God's will. But time does not permit us to pursue this topic further here.

IS TONGUES SPEAKING EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUALITY?

Secondly, is tongues speaking an evidence of greater spirituality? Really, now, how can we know that we are spiritual? Can everything be based on a once-for-all, a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Is that the whole proof? Or is it possible that there will be evidences of an inward spirituality manifested in our daily walk and living?

To take tongues speaking as the evidence of a Spirit-filled, Spirit- controlled spiritual life is to disregard the teaching of 1 Corinthians.

Please notice that the Corinthian believers came "behind in no gift" (1:7).

They had the gifts of the Spirit in their church and laid particular emphasis upon the gift of tongues as we see it in chapters 12-14. Yet, in spite of all this, Paul calls them "carnal" four times in chapter three.

And "carnal" is the opposite of "spiritual". Besides this, Paul reminds them that they had contentions, divisions, fornication, quarrels, disorders at the Lord's Table, etc., in their church that all their tongues speaking could not cover. They were carnal in spite of it. Then, we might ask, what were they missing?

They did not realize, as many also don't today, that spirituality is not determined by the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, but by the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit! That is why, I believe, Paul "sandwiched" the "Love Chapter" (ch. 13), between the two chapters dealing with the gifts, chapters 12, 14. It wasn't that he changed the subject and suddenly decided to write about love, but, rather, he is trying to show the Corinthians, so taken up with their emphasis on tongues, that they were missing the "more excellent way" (12:31), that they did not have the fruit of the Spirit in their church and in their lives. They were missing the fruit of the Spirit which is the evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit actively producing Christlikeness in the life of the believer, in other words, the Spirit-filled, controlled, fruitful, spiritual life.

Paul begins chapter 13 with these words: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing."

What is love? It is the basic fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Though I once believed and taught that tongues speaking was the evidence of being Spirit-filled and of spirituality, in the light of the teaching of God's Word, I had to completely change my viewpoint.

In closing this section I want to point out briefly what I now believe the characteristics (or evidences) of a Spirit-filled, spiritual Christian really are:

1) A crucified, self-denying life (not just a one-time experience, but a LIFE), Gal. 2:20; 6:14.

2) A surrendered life—submissive, yielded to the Lord. The will subjected to His will, Romans 6:13, 19; 12:1-2.

3) A Christlike life—Gal. 2:20b; Rom. 8:29.

4) A fruitful life—the fruit of the Spirit in manifestation, John 15:5,8; Gal. 5:22-23.

5) A life effective in Christ's service and witnessing—Acts 1:8; 4:31.

6) A life that glorifies God—John 15:8; 1 Cor 6:20.

Here are two more Scriptures that should be considered in this connection:

Matt. 7:20: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them," and John 13:35: "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Please note that it does not say, if you speak in tongues or have some gift in manifestation in your life, but "love," the basic fruit.

This is also the clear teaching of 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

Reason #9--Sign-seeking instead of faith