I recently read some articles by very well known Christian leaders on the hot topic of the Charismatic movement. Wow, it is sometimes hard to keep encouraged after reading respected, sincere men of God publish such things contrary to clear Scripture. These articles were, in effect, justification for their distaste for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is grievous because first, there is no scriptural basis to uphold their opinion. Instead of offering chapter and verse to uphold their position, they quote scripture that clearly and literally says that speaking in tongues etc. is good and to be sought after. They then "prove" that the converse must be true because in the orignial Hebrew and Greek (that only "special" people know), the real meaning of the verse was saying something different. They proceded to give testimonials of men they consider heretics who speak in tongues, how naughty they are, and therefore, all who speak in tongues are just as bad. I pray Lord, forgive my brethren. They don't know what they are doing.
These men seriously claim that "speaking in unknown tongues" really (in the secret Greek) means "speaking in known tongues". Aside from blatantly contradicting scripture, if this verse is to be interpreted the opposite of literally, then how is it that there is a gift of the Holy Spirit called "interpretation of tongues" that accompanies speaking in tongues? - a gift I might add that is supposedly as miraculous as prophecy, healing, etc. If there is, as these men claim, no gift of speaking in tongues outside natural earthly languages, there can be no gift of interpretations. Both non-believers and believers can do that without a Holy Spirit. But even if such logic fails, we have a sure foundation: 1 Cor.14:2 NO ONE understands speaking in tongues outside of the gift of interpretation of tongues. The tongues given on the day of Pentecost are, Biblically, a different variety of tongues - one in which some others are able to understand without the gift of interpretations.
These men, at least in word, correctly imply that all our interpretations and actions must be in accordance with the Scriptures, not our own opinions. And that is exactly why the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is valid - because it is scriptural in Old and New Testament, multiple locations, no dissenting passages. The gifts of speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing, visions, dreams, etc. are along with the five-fold ministry, without exception endorsed by multiple chapter, verse, and context. And according to chapter, verse, and context, tongues will not pass away until knowledge itself is done away with.
Now in regards to these mens' claims that being filled with the Holy Spirit meaning merely that run of the mill Christian salvation that you get once and no more, in Acts 2:1-4 the apostles, with over 100 other disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Jerusalem. Yet in Acts 4:31, this same group of disciples was filled again by the Spirit. In fact, we see in the book of John, chapter 20, verse 22, the disciples first received the Holy Spirit. How is it that they only receive the Spirit at salvation unless they somehow all lost their salvation - multiple times?! Yet I have never heard of anyone suggesting such a ludicrous idea. It is clear that none of the apostles repeatedly lost their salvation and needed to get saved over and over again. They only needed to be Spirit filled again. To imply that the Holy Spirit is received only at salvation is directly contradictory to multiple, literal chapter and verse.
These brothers in Christ point out how the Corinthian church was "abusing" the gift of tongues. Such abuse is not easy to find as chapter and verse. Although we find the apostle Paul continually teaching the proper and biblical approach to tongues, it is nowhere stated that the Corinthian church was out of line in their use of speaking in tongues. This fault-finding attitude has been embraced, however, by most recent Bible interpreters. (Paul does rebuke the Corinthian church, make no mistake, but not for abusing tongues.) Paul actually compliments them on their use of the gifts in 1 Cor.1:4-7. However, even if we presume from 1 Cor.14:33 that the church at Corinth was, as some people "feel in their heart", taking the gift of speaking in tongues to an extreme, this has no bearing on the truth of God's word for His desire that all His people speak in tongues and prophesy (1 Cor. 14:5). No more than does the existence of false apostles discredit the ministry of apostleship (or false Christs nullify the true Christ).
Who will deny that the Charismatic movement may have, at certain times and places, taken the ministry of speaking in tongues to an extreme, e.g. leading some to do things forbidden by scripture, such as becoming disorderly or proud? Who can deny that certain in the church (e.g. Jude:4) abused even the grace of the Lord Jesus. And yet, who among us will say therefore that it is "safer" to abandon His grace altogether?
These brothers claim a convenient "special interpretation" (i.e. non-literal) of 1 Cor.13:8 in order to "prove" that tongues have passed away. Yet the Bible says here that tongues will not cease until knowledge itself is done away with. We know that knowledge will increase (e.g. Dan. 12:4) until the end of time. But until then, there is NO indication in scripture that any of His gifts will diminish. If we cannot trust the common agreement of legitimate translations (KJV, NASB, NIV, RSV) to provide accurate access to God's will, then we all are without Christ who are not able to speak both Greek and Hebrew. Yet shockingly (and at the expense of being branded heretics) the early church had no Bible, only the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Having now His word, are we so puffed up in perfect knowledge that we also claim perfect understanding of it? Are we finally free from the "chains" of being led by His Spirit? Are we so pure as to need nothing but head knowledge of the Bible (if indeed it is "the perfect")?
It seems to take years of training to teach people why the Bible doesn't mean what it says. Yet our very life in Christ depends upon being able to hear and believe His word. It is tragic that these Christians cannot even admit that there is a possibility that the scriptures are true as stated in the Bible; tragic because they, in all sincerity and desire for Christ, fight against the very thing for which they pray - that the kingdom of Jesus might come on earth as it is in heaven. The apostles had no PhD, no Bible schooling, no recognition from any denomination, only the Holy Spirit to enlighten their "ignorant and untrained" mind. Would to God that I and all His people might be so untrained and ingorant as the apostles. Would that we could lay aside our college degrees and fleshly pride and fix our eyes on the clear and undeniable truth of the Bible - that which needs no education, no excuses, no hidden meanings, that is no private interpretations.
Today, we must be willing to yield our entire life into the ability of God to purify and lead us in perfect harmony with His Word, and therein to lay hold of the power of God promised in scripture so clearly, so often and so uncontrovertably.