“…an eleventh-century Indian yogi, one day unexpectedly met an old hag on the street. She apparently knew he was one of the greatest Buddhist scholars in India and asked him if he understood the words in the large book he was holding. He said he did, and she laughed and danced with glee. Then she asked him if he understood the meaning of the teachings in that book. Thinking to please her even more, he again said yes. At that point she became enraged, yelling at him that he was a hypocrite and a liar. That encounter changed Naropa’s life. He knew she had his number: truthfully, he only understood the words and not the profound inner meaning of all the teachings he could expound so brilliantly.” (Chodron, Pema. When Things Fall Apart (Shambhala Classics) (pp. 148-149). Shambhala. Kindle Edition.)

“According to linguists, speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables that lack any readily comprehended meaning, in some cases as part of religious practice in which it is believed to be a divine language unknown to the speaker.” (definition of “Glossolalia” from Wikipedia)

I am not sure there are many Lutherans who really understand the gift of speaking in tongues. But there are churches that see this gift as a vital gift of the spirit and their faith life – one that confirms the spirit is flowing in the church and in individual lives. Since Paul spoke of this gift directly, then we know that “speaking in tongues” has been seen as a gift to believers since the early church. Here is what is unclear to me: was speaking in tongues a divine gift given to someone to speak in a “known language” but unknown to the speaker; or is speaking in tongues the gift given to someone to speak in an “unknown language” and unknown to anyone else except the one who interprets (which then would also be a divine gift)? 

The gift of speaking in tongues is a gift that can be interpreted as a divine message – as a gift coming directly through the Holy Spirit. The trouble for me as a Lutheran is similar to the story above about the Indian yogi Naropa – I understand the idea but can only puzzle at the inner meaning and teaching that speaking in tongues provide. But here is one last thought:   speaking is a necessary gift of any church – the ability of the pastor to “speak” to the congregation, the ability of the church to speak its mission and ministry to the community and its individual believers.  So as I see it, whether you are speaking in an unknown language and need someone to interpret, or if you are speaking to the community about the message of the Grace, peace, love and mercy of Jesus Christ, the world needs more tongues wagging about Jesus.

Pastor Dave