“We’re so used to running from discomfort, and we’re so predictable. If we don’t like it, we strike out at someone or beat up on ourselves. We want to have security and certainty of some kind when actually we have no ground to stand on at all. The next time there’s no ground to stand on, don’t consider it an obstacle. Consider it a remarkable stroke of luck. We have no ground to stand on, and at the same time it could soften us and inspire us. Finally, after all these years, we could truly grow up.” (Chodron, Pema. When Things Fall Apart (Shambhala Classics) (p. 151). Shambhala. Kindle Edition.)

If someone has the gift of speaking in tongues, then for it to be a clear message from G-d, there has to be someone who has the gift of interpreting tongues. As a life-long Lutheran, I have never encountered someone speaking in tongues. It is a world of faith that is foreign to me. And yet, for many in the Christian church, it is just as legitimate as a “Christian Snake Handler”, and for some it is just as mysterious. But this is the kind of G-d we have – a G-d who will not stop at using any resource, any gift, any creature to tell people of G-d’s love for all.

Members of the charismatic movement believe that the nine spiritual gifts that Paul speaks about in I Corinthians 12 are just as present among Christians of the 21st century as they were in apostolic times. Other Christians, like Lutherans, believe that some of those “extraordinary gifts” such as speaking in tongues were given by the Holy Spirit to the first century church in apostolic times — but they have since disappeared from the church. Such differences of opinion have frequently caused tensions to arise among Christians – some stating that if the gift of “speaking in tongues” is not present in a church then it is not a legitimate expression of the Holy Spirit.

Why can’t we leave some things to the work of G-d and the mysterious element of the Holy Spirit rather than accuse each other of being more faithful, or more “spirit led”? The answer comes in Pema Chodron’s message: that we are so used to running from that which causes us discomfort – that we strike out at those things we just cannot understand. 

G-d uses many expressions to get the message of Jesus Christ across to all people – the same message is not heard by all people the same way. That is the beauty of the church. There are all kinds of services, styles of worship, and opportunities to share gifts that anyone can find a church community that fits their needs.  Someone who has the gift of “interpreting tongues” would not be able to use that gift in my church – and that is a waste of a gift.

When we die and move on from this life, then we will see in a mirror clearly – for now it is a smoky mirror and a cloudy understanding of what G-d is doing in the world and where we are all being led. But, wasting our gifts is wasting our gifts, period. If you feel your gifts are not being utilized, then find a church that embraces those gifts.

Pastor Dave

“…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