14:20 Brethren, do not
be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding
be mature.
21 In the law it
is written:
“With men
of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this
people;
And yet, for all that,
they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord.
22 Therefore
tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but
prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who
believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one
place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who
are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your
mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed
person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And
thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down
on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among
you.
Continuing along the same teaching Paul goes one step further
to illustrate to them how much they have missed the mark. Quoting a promise
from the Old Testament he shows that the gift of speaking other languages was
given by God to reach unbelieving foreigners. Language is both a bridge and a
barrier. A language that is understandable is a bridge. An unknown language is
a barrier. God promised that He would overcome the language barrier. He would
provide a way for those of other languages to hear the gospel even some still
would not listen.
Paul is demonstrating that the gift of tongues (languages)
was given for a very specific and practical reason. It was to take down the
barrier of language and build a bridge of understanding and gospel opportunity
to those from other places who could not understand Hebrew, Aramaic, or the
Greek language. On the other hand prophecy was a gift designed for believers.
When we think of the prophets in the Bible their calling was always to lead,
guide, and instruct those who already believed.
Then Paul turns the tables to show how badly they have been
abusing the gift of tongues. He says imagine if a visitor walked into your
church and everyone is speaking in a different language all at the same time?
They won't learn anything. No barrier will be taken down. No bridge will be
built. They will leave convinced you have all lost your minds.
On the other hand if they came in and heard a prophetic
teaching in a language they understood they would be convicted by what they
heard and maybe even drawn to worship our God who knows the end from the
beginning.
So a gift meant for believers could make an unbeliever
believe if uses properly while the very gift designed to reach that same
unbeliever will turn him away if uses the wrong way.
The lesson is again obvious. It's not so much about what
gift(s) you have or don't have but how, when, and where you use them. Remember
we were gifted to serve God and others, not to serve ourselves. Selfishness in
any form turns others away. The church does not exist to please itself. A
selfish church focused entirely inwardly is perfectly positioned to turn every
visitor back out the same door they came in.
Whenever God rebukes His church it is for the sin of
selfishness and the ignoring of those in need. This tongues mess was exactly
that in Corinth. They gathered to show off their "holy talents" while
the confused and lost community looked on in bewilderment and walked away empty
and more lost than before they came.
Do you draw lost people or repel them? If you repel them you
may want to reconsider how you are using your gift(s).
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