I do not have it out for my pastor. He just gives me good material to write about as he represents a gauge for what a majority of pastors hold as truth. I do pray for my pastor that he will do good works and receive knowledge from our Lord. Our pastor preaches seven sermons a week to about ten thousands church goers so he gets plenty of feedback. Occasional I send him feedback and less often he will respond.

This last Sunday was another sermon where I did not disagree with his main teaching rather his supporting thoughts. To make his point come across regarding the study of the book of Acts, he stated that speaking in tongues was no big deal and that he did it every night. I took issue with that.

I do not doubt that he believes he is speaking in tongues rather I doubt it is from God. The references of speaking in tongues in the Bible were to speaking in other language that the ones speaking did not know before. Their ability to speak in a languages not otherwise known to them was given through the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts gives this definition of speaking in tongues.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"

What many Christians believe is that speaking in tongues is to speak in a holy language given by the Holy Spirit. In speaking that language they feel that is a higher level of giving praise to God. Yet the Bible does not speak of any such holy language and only gives example to the practical and true meaning of speaking in tongues. The disciples in the book of Acts were not just heard speaking in one language as they spoke but several simultaneously.

A good example of being heard simultaneously in several languages (i.e. speaking in tongues) comes from science fiction and specifically Star Trek. In Star Trek the humans had universal translators so any aliens that spoke to them would be heard in their language. The aliens usually had their own universal translators and would hear their own language when the humans spoke to them.

I have no idea what my pastor considers speaking in tongues, but I am pretty sure his definition does not match the Bible’s. He said he spoke in tongues every night at prayer. I doubt he would be speaking to people of a non-english language every single night.

The other aspect of what my pastor said about speaking in tongues is that he said it was no big deal. I could not believe my ears when he said that. A gift from our Most High God through the Holy Spirit is not something to shrug your shoulders at. Spiritual gifts from God are most precious and should be treated with high regard and gratitude. He did his “speaking in tongues” daily so something that should have been considered extraordinary became ordinary to him.

The only holy language the Lord wants us to speak to Him in praise is the language of love for Him that comes from our hearts with all our strength. Speak it to Him daily in awe of His wonder. May all praise be to God!