Tongues Speaking: A Sign of Blessing/ Judgment Summary

Title: Tongues Speaking: A Sign of Blessing and a Sign of Judgment
Author: Robert Sungenis, Ph.D.

TLDR: This book argues that while tongues-speaking was a legitimate gift of the Holy Spirit in biblical times, its widespread and unregulated practice today is a sign of spiritual misdirection and potential divine judgment. It examines biblical passages, historical accounts, and psychological research to support this claim, concluding with a call for discernment and a return to true unity in Christ.

Chapter 1: Pre-New Testament Times

This chapter establishes that the phenomenon of tongues-speaking predates the Christian era. Sungenis cites historical records and ancient texts to demonstrate the prevalence of ecstatic speech in various cultures and religious contexts.

• The Report of Wenamon (1100 BC): This document, originating from the Syro-Palestine coast, describes cultic figures exhibiting ecstatic speech during worship of certain deities. This suggests that tongues-speaking was known and practiced in ancient religious rituals.
• Plato’s Observations (429-347 BC): The Greek philosopher Plato, in works like Phaedrus, Ion, and Timaeus, discusses his encounters with individuals engaging in religious ecstatic speech. He notes their lack of awareness regarding the content of their utterances, suggesting a trance-like state. Plato also mentions accompanying manifestations like physical healing, further linking the experience to divine or supernatural forces.
• Virgil’s Aeneid (70-19 BC): The Roman poet Virgil, in his epic poem Aeneid, refers to the Sibylline priestess of Delos who employed ecstatic speech as part of her religious practices. This underscores the presence of tongues-speaking within the Roman Empire’s religious landscape.
• Greek Mystery Religions: Sungenis highlights the Osiris cult as a prominent example where glossolalia featured prominently. The use of Greek terms like “pneuma” (spirit) and “lalein glossais” (to speak in tongues) points to a conceptual link between the ancient practice and the later Christian phenomenon.

Key takeaways:

• Tongues-speaking, in the form of ecstatic utterances, existed centuries before the New Testament era.
• It was often associated with religious rituals, altered states of consciousness, and sometimes attributed to divine influence or possession.

Chapter 2: The New Testament

This chapter delves into the New Testament’s depiction of tongues-speaking, exploring its various manifestations and attempting to discern the form it took. Sungenis presents evidence suggesting both foreign languages and unintelligible ecstatic utterances as possible forms of biblical tongues.

• Prophetic Foretelling and Pentecost (Mark 16:17, Acts 2): Jesus prophesied the manifestation of speaking in tongues (Mark 16:17), and it first occurred at Pentecost (Acts 2). The tongues spoken at Pentecost were understood as foreign languages by people from fifteen different nations, demonstrating the gospel’s universal message.
• Cornelius’ Conversion (Acts 10): The Gentile convert Cornelius spoke in tongues upon receiving the gospel from Peter, further demonstrating the Holy Spirit’s work across ethnic boundaries.
• Ephesian Converts (Acts 19:1-6): Ephesian converts spoke in tongues upon their baptism, highlighting the recurring nature of this gift during the early church’s growth.
• Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 12-14): This church received the gift of tongues, but its manifestation raises questions about its form.

Evidence suggesting ecstatic utterances in Corinth:

• Tongues as “mysteries to God” (1 Cor 14:2): The private nature of communication with God suggests a language beyond earthly languages.
• Self-edification (1 Cor 14:4): Tongues spoken in private strengthened the individual’s relationship with God, suggesting a personal spiritual language.
• Need for interpretation (1 Cor 14:13, 27-28): The requirement of an interpreter implies a language unintelligible to humans without divine intervention.
• Tongues as “sound” not “language” (1 Cor 14:10-11): This contrasts with the “language” heard at Pentecost, suggesting a different nature.
• Used for thanksgiving (1 Cor 14:16-17): Tongues served a devotional purpose beyond evangelism, pointing to a personal connection with God.
• Private use by Paul (1 Cor 14:18-19): Paul’s private use implies a unique language between God and man, possibly akin to angelic communication.
• Potential perception of insanity (1 Cor 14:23): Unbelievers might perceive ecstatic utterances as insanity, more so than foreign languages.

Evidence suggesting foreign languages:

• Regional languages (Acts 2:5-11): Corinthians spoke Greek. Tongues could be God-inspired utterances in foreign languages, requiring interpretation.
• Isaiah 28:11 reference (1 Cor 14:21): This verse refers to foreign languages (Assyrian), and Paul doesn’t distinguish between these and Corinthian tongues.
• Consistency of terminology: The word “tongue” generally refers to known languages in the Bible, not ecstatic utterances.
• “Interpretation” refers to foreign languages: The Greek word “diermhneuvh” consistently refers to interpreting foreign languages in the New Testament.
• Ephesian tongues and 1 Corinthians: Both events occurred around the same time, making it unlikely for Paul to address two distinct forms without clarification.

Possible Resolution: Sungenis proposes that biblical tongues were Spirit-inspired ecstatic utterances, a heavenly language, which could be interpreted as known languages by the Holy Spirit’s direction, as at Pentecost.

Key takeaways:

• The New Testament depicts tongues-speaking in diverse contexts, serving both evangelistic and devotional purposes.
• The exact form of tongues remains debatable, with evidence supporting both foreign languages and unintelligible ecstatic utterances.
• Sungenis suggests a unified understanding where ecstatic utterances, inspired by the Holy Spirit, could be perceived as known languages at divine discretion.

Chapter 3: Post-New Testament Times

This chapter traces the history of tongues-speaking within Christianity after the New Testament era, highlighting the evolving perspectives and occasional manifestations of the phenomenon.

Early Church Fathers:

• Montanus (circa 156 AD): Montanus, a self-proclaimed prophet, and his followers practiced ecstatic speech, challenging the institutional church’s authority. The church, seeking to differentiate itself from fringe groups, rejected Montanism.
• Limited Mentions: Early church fathers like Polycarp and Justin Martyr, while acknowledging the continuation of spiritual gifts, didn’t specifically mention tongues. Irenaeus heard of tongue-speaking but didn’t witness it personally. Tertullian, initially associated with Montanism, prescribed tongues-speaking but didn’t offer personal testimony.
• Skepticism and Demonization: Eusebius ridiculed tongue-speakers, while Origen referred to “strange, fanatical, and unintelligible words.” As Montanist influence declined, tongues-speaking became less common and associated with demon possession in the Western church.
• Chrysostom’s Prohibition (5th Century): John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, formally prohibited tongues-speaking, attributing its obscurity to its cessation and considering it a relic of the past.
• Augustine’s Cessation Theory: Augustine, influential in shaping Western Christianity, viewed tongues as a temporary apostolic tool for evangelism, no longer necessary after the church’s establishment.

Middle Ages:

• Demon Possession: The Rituale Romanum (circa 1000 AD) listed speaking in an unknown tongue as a sign of demon possession, solidifying the Western Church’s negative stance.
• Isolated Instances: Despite skepticism, reports of tongues persisted. Hildegard of Bingen’s “concerts in the Spirit,” St. Dominic speaking German, and St. Anthony of Padua’s eloquent preaching were attributed to divine inspiration, though some contemporaries accused them of demon possession.
• Aquinas’ Conclusion: St. Thomas Aquinas acknowledged the historical occurrence of tongues but concluded that it no longer happened, echoing Augustine’s cessation theory.
• St. Vincent Ferrer (14th Century): This Dominican preacher was reported to have spoken in tongues, with people of various language backgrounds understanding him in their native languages. This event, corroborated by witnesses during his canonization process, suggests a divinely ordained miracle for evangelism.
• Saints Francis Xavier and Louis Bertrand (16th Century): Reports of these saints speaking in tongues further demonstrate the intermittent occurrence of the phenomenon throughout Catholic history.

Key takeaways:

• Tongues-speaking, while initially present, declined in prominence after the apostolic age and faced increasing skepticism within the institutional church.
• The Western church, influenced by Augustine, viewed it as a temporary apostolic gift that had ceased.
• The Eastern church, more mystical in its approach, displayed greater openness to charismatic experiences but lacked extensive documentation regarding tongues.
• Scattered reports of tongues throughout the Middle Ages, often attributed to saints, suggest its persistence despite skepticism and demonization.

Chapter 4: Philosophical & Psychological Background

This chapter examines the philosophical and psychological underpinnings of the modern tongues movement, exploring the influence of Platonism, psychology, and social factors.

Platonic Influence: Modern proponents of tongues-speaking emphasize a Platonic worldview, arguing that humans can directly experience the non-physical world, contrasting with the Aristotelian emphasis on sense experience that dominated Western Christianity. They draw inspiration from Friedrich Schleiermacher, who viewed religious experience as primary, with doctrine stemming from it.

Psychological Theories:

• Subconscious and Altered States: Psychologists like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung’s emphasis on the subconscious provided a framework for understanding the psychological aspects of tongues-speaking. Jung’s concept of a psyche “above” consciousness, connecting with a non-material realm, resonated with proponents. He documented glossolalia in his patients and theorized that the unfamiliar subconscious content demanded a similarly strange language.
• Hypnotic Trance and Suggestibility: Studies suggest that modern glossolalia involves hypnotic trance and suggestibility, influenced by charismatic leaders and the group’s expectations. Physical manifestations like crying, trembling, and spasms observed during tongue-speaking are characteristic of altered states of consciousness.
• Learned Behavior: Extensive research indicates that modern glossolalia is a learned behavior, with individuals using existing phonetic material from their linguistic background. The coaching and coaxing prevalent in modern practices, alongside formulas and instructions for achieving tongues, further support this view.
• Psychological Factors: Oates and Sullivan’s comparison of tongues-speaking to children’s language development highlights the role of ego-centric speech and “parataxic distortion.” They suggest that glossolalia could be a response to communication breakdowns in society, providing a release from tension and confusion.
• Personality and Motivation: Psychological tests reveal that tongue-speakers tend to be more submissive, suggestible, and dependent on authority figures. Some studies link tongues-speaking to weak egos and psychological inadequacies, while others assert that tongue-speakers are generally as mentally healthy as others.

Key takeaways:

• Modern tongues-speaking draws on a Platonic worldview, emphasizing direct experience of the non-physical realm.
• Psychological theories, particularly those emphasizing the subconscious and altered states of consciousness, offer insights into the phenomenon.
• Extensive research points to modern glossolalia as a learned behavior, influenced by hypnotic trance, suggestibility, and social factors.
• Psychological analyses suggest a link between tongues-speaking, personality traits, and motivations, prompting further examination of its potential benefits and drawbacks.

Chapter 5: Recorded Experiences of Tongue Speaking

This chapter analyzes documented instances of tongue-speaking, revealing specific patterns and characteristics that shed light on the phenomenon’s nature and its potential psychological and social influences.

Case Studies: Sungenis presents detailed case studies from a Mexican church, transcribing and analyzing individual tongues-speaking experiences. These studies reveal recurring patterns:

• Repetition and Stereotyping: Tongues-speaking often involves repetition of similar syllables and limited variation in sound patterns, suggesting a reliance on previously internalized audio signals.
• Influence of the Guide: The sound patterns in individual utterances often mirror those of the person who introduced them to tongue-speaking, highlighting the role of social influence and learned behavior.
• Attenuation of Arousal: The intensity and volume of tongue-speaking tend to decrease over time, potentially correlating with a gradual reduction in hyperarousal and mental dissociation.
• Non-Communicative Nature: Tongues utterances lack a shared linguistic code, primarily serving as a marker of group commitment and ritual participation.

Similarities to Schizophrenic Speech: Studies reveal striking similarities between tongues-speaking and the vocalizations of chronic schizophrenic patients, suggesting a shared psychological mechanism.

Psychological and Social Factors:

• Self-Doubt and Disillusionment: Tongue-speakers often experience internal doubts about the genuineness of their experience, questioning their agency and feeling disillusioned when the initial excitement fades.
• Authority Figure Dependence: The continuation of tongue-speaking is often contingent on the approval and acceptance of the authority figure who introduced them to the practice, highlighting the role of dependency and social reinforcement.
• Group Dynamics: Tongues-speaking strengthens group cohesion by creating a shared experience and reinforcing in-group/out-group dynamics. However, it can also foster subtle disrespect for non-tongue speakers, potentially contributing to division within the larger community.

Key takeaways:

• Analysis of recorded tongues-speaking instances reveals distinct patterns of repetition, stereotyping, and influence from the social environment.
• The diminishing intensity and volume over time suggest a connection to altered states of consciousness and hyperarousal that gradually subside.
• Similarities with schizophrenic speech raise further questions about the psychological mechanisms underlying glossolalia.
• The role of self-doubt, authority figure dependence, and group dynamics emphasizes the complex interplay between psychological and social factors in tongue-speaking experiences.

Chapter 6: The Catholic Experience

This chapter focuses on the emergence and development of the charismatic renewal within the Catholic Church, detailing its historical context, key figures, and the ongoing debate surrounding tongues-speaking.

Origins and Influences: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal began in the 1960s, influenced by the Protestant Pentecostal movement. Vatican II’s ecumenical spirit fostered dialogue between Catholic and Protestant denominations, leading to interactions and shared experiences.

Duquesne University (1967): The first recorded instance of Catholic tongue-speaking occurred at Duquesne University, sparked by meetings between Catholic laymen and Protestant Pentecostals. The movement rapidly spread to other Catholic institutions like Notre Dame University.

Acceptance and Growth: The Catholic Church initially showed tolerance towards the charismatic renewal, with figures like Archbishop Leon Joseph Suenens actively promoting its growth.

• Malines Documents (1974-1986): Suenens authored a series of documents outlining his vision for the movement, emphasizing ecumenism, social action, and the controversial practice of “slaying in the spirit.”
• Kansas City Conference (1977): This multi-denominational gathering, attended by Catholics and various Protestant groups, focused on the “Baptism of the Spirit” and aimed to foster Christian unity.

Contemporary Catholicism:

• Celebrate Jesus 2000 (2000): This ecumenical conference, organized by Franciscan University of Steubenville, further solidified the charismatic movement’s presence within Catholicism, attracting thousands of attendees, including prominent Protestant speakers.
• Ongoing Debate: While the Catholic Church hasn’t formally condemned tongue-speaking, it remains a subject of debate, with some advocating its authenticity and others expressing skepticism or concern about its potential for abuse.

Key takeaways:

• The Catholic Charismatic Renewal emerged in the 1960s, spurred by interactions with the Protestant Pentecostal movement.
• While initially accepted and even promoted by some within the Catholic hierarchy, tongues-speaking remains a contentious issue.
• The movement’s emphasis on ecumenism and social action raises questions about its relationship with traditional Catholic teachings and practices.
• The Catholic experience reflects the ongoing tension between institutional authority and charismatic expressions within Christianity.

Chapter 7: Social Movements & Behavior Associated with Glossolalia

This chapter explores the sociological factors that contribute to the emergence and spread of glossolalia, examining various theories that attempt to explain its appeal and its prevalence in different social groups.

Early Theories:

• Economic and Cultural Deprivation: Prior to the 1960s, theories attributed glossolalia to economic hardship and social marginalization. Pentecostalism, with its emphasis on personal experience and emotional expression, was seen as appealing to those seeking solace and community amid challenging circumstances.
• Crisis and Social Disorganization: Researchers like Anton Doisen and John Holt linked tongues-speaking to “crisis situations” and “social disorganization.” Migration from rural to urban settings, leading to cultural shock and a sense of anomie, was cited as a contributing factor.

Shifting Demographics and Perspectives:

• Neo-Pentecostalism: The rise of Neo-Pentecostalism in the 1960s challenged earlier theories, as individuals from educated and affluent backgrounds embraced tongues-speaking.
• Ecumenical Acceptance: Mainline Protestant denominations and even the Catholic Church displayed increasing openness to charismatic experiences, contributing to their wider acceptance.
• Psychological Reassessment: Negative psychological evaluations gave way to more neutral assessments, with researchers like William J. Samarin emphasizing the learned nature of glossolalia and its potential harmlessness.

Social Cohesion and Division:

• In-Group/Out-Group Dynamics: Tongues-speaking strengthens group solidarity by creating a shared experience and reinforcing boundaries between those who embrace it and those who don’t.
• Potential for Division: While fostering a sense of belonging within the group, tongues-speaking can also contribute to division within the larger community, as members might view non-tongue speakers with subtle disrespect or judgment.

Key takeaways:

• Early theories linking glossolalia to economic and social deprivation were challenged by the emergence of Neo-Pentecostalism, attracting individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• The increasing acceptance of charismatic experiences within mainline churches and even the Catholic Church contributed to their mainstreaming.
• Psychological research shifted towards more neutral assessments, emphasizing the learned nature of glossolalia and downplaying its potential psychological harms.
• While tongues-speaking fosters group cohesion, it can also reinforce in-group/out-group dynamics and contribute to division within larger communities.

Chapter 8: Biblical Analysis of Tongues

This chapter analyzes biblical teachings on tongues-speaking, examining relevant passages to understand the nature, purpose, and potential cessation of the gift, while considering its contemporary relevance.

Cessation or Intermittent Manifestation?

• No Explicit Cessation: Scripture doesn’t definitively state that tongues-speaking ceased permanently after the apostolic age. While 1 Corinthians 13:8 mentions its eventual cessation, it lacks specificity regarding the timing and permanence.
• Catholic Perspective: The Catholic Church holds that while general revelation (Scripture) is complete, private revelation and miraculous gifts continue, albeit with less frequency. It acknowledges both the possibility of legitimate tongues-speaking and the potential for demonic mimicry or psychological delusion.

Purpose and Significance:

• Evangelism and Edification: Biblical accounts depict tongues as serving both evangelistic and devotional purposes. At Pentecost, it facilitated cross-cultural communication, while in Corinth, it fostered personal connection with God.
• Limited Prominence: Tongues receive limited attention in the latter New Testament books, with lists of spiritual gifts and offices often omitting it. This suggests its decreasing prominence in the early church.
• Rarity in Scripture: Only a small percentage of Christians mentioned in Acts received the gift of tongues, and Paul restricted its practice in Corinth to two or three individuals per gathering, contrasting with the mass participation in modern movements.

Warnings Against Abuse:

• 1 Corinthians 14: Paul addresses abuses of tongues in Corinth, including simultaneous speaking, lack of interpretation, and women assuming leadership roles. He emphasizes that God is not the author of confusion, implying that some Corinthian instances stemmed from demonic influence or personal ambition.
• Sign to Unbelievers: Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11, stating that tongues are a “sign to unbelievers,” suggesting that their proliferation in Corinth signaled their unbelief and potential judgment.

Key takeaways:

• While the Bible doesn’t explicitly deny the continuation of tongues-speaking, it emphasizes its limited prominence and potential cessation.
• The Catholic Church maintains openness to legitimate charismatic gifts while acknowledging the need for discernment and caution.
• Biblical accounts highlight the evangelistic and devotional purposes of tongues, emphasizing its rarity and its subordinate role to prophecy.
• Warnings against abuse in Corinth, coupled with the “sign to unbelievers” passage, suggest that the mass proliferation of tongues in modern times might indicate spiritual misdirection and potential judgment.

Chapter 9: The Abuse of Tongues: 1 Corinthians 14

This chapter focuses specifically on Paul’s warnings regarding the misuse of tongues-speaking in the Corinthian church, analyzing the potential sources of these abuses and their implications for contemporary understandings.

Corinthian Abuses:

• Simultaneous Speaking: Multiple individuals spoke in tongues concurrently, creating chaos and hindering understanding.
• Lack of Interpretation: Tongues were often spoken without accompanying interpretation, rendering them meaningless to most present.
• Women in Leadership: Women engaged in tongue-speaking and assumed authoritative roles, violating Paul’s instructions for their silence in the assembly.

Sources of Illicit Tongues:

• Demonic Influence: Paul warned of Satan’s ability to masquerade as an angel of light, suggesting that some instances of tongues in Corinth might stem from demonic mimicry designed to disrupt and deceive.
• Personal Ambition: The Corinthians’ tendency towards pride and competition, evident in their factionalism, might have motivated some to feign tongues-speaking to gain status and recognition.

Tongues as a Sign of Unbelief:

• Isaiah 28:11: Paul’s use of this passage, describing God speaking to Israel through the “strange tongues” of their Assyrian oppressors, implies that the Corinthians’ excessive tongue-speaking signaled their own unbelief and potential judgment.
• Childlike Immaturity: Paul’s admonition to “not be children in your thinking” suggests that the Corinthians’ fascination with tongues stemmed from their spiritual immaturity and their pursuit of showy displays rather than genuine spiritual growth.

Destroying God’s Temple:

• 1 Corinthians 3:10-17: Paul compares the church to God’s temple, warning that building with “wood, hay, straw” (symbolic of division and false teachings) leads to destruction. The Corinthians’ prideful divisions, fueled by their misuse of tongues, threatened the church’s integrity and invited God’s judgment.

Key takeaways:

• Paul’s warnings in 1 Corinthians 14 highlight the potential for tongues-speaking to be abused, stemming from demonic influence or personal ambition.
• The Corinthians’ excessive and disordered tongue-speaking, coupled with their divisive behavior, signaled their spiritual immaturity and unbelief, drawing a parallel with Israel’s judgment through the “strange tongues” of their enemies.
• Paul’s analogy of the church as God’s temple emphasizes the destructive consequences of building on a faulty foundation or using improper materials, with the Corinthians’ misuse of tongues contributing to their spiritual downfall.

Chapter 10: Future Implications Regarding Tongues

This chapter connects the biblical warnings about tongues-speaking to potential future implications, exploring the concept of judgment through “strange tongues” as prophesied in both the Old and New Testaments.

Judgment Through Tongues in Scripture:

• Deuteronomy 28:49-50: Moses prophesies God bringing a nation with an unintelligible language against Israel as a form of judgment for their disobedience.
• Jeremiah 5:15; 23:16: Jeremiah reiterates the theme of judgment through a foreign-speaking nation, linking it to Israel’s rejection of God’s word and their reliance on false prophets.
• Daniel 8:23-25: Daniel describes a future “king of bold countenance” who will understand riddles and cause destruction, potentially signifying the Antichrist’s rise, empowered by Satan to deceive the world through signs and wonders.

The Man of Sin and the Great Deception:

• 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10: Paul warns of the “Man of Sin” (Antichrist) who will oppose God and deceive the world through supernatural displays, with God actively permitting this deception to judge those who have rejected the truth.
• Revelation 13:14; 16:14; 19:20: John’s Revelation describes the “dragon, the beast, and the false prophet” performing signs and miracles to deceive the world, targeting the Church with their deception.

Tongues as a Sign of Apostasy:

• Parallels with Corinth: Sungenis draws parallels between the Corinthians’ misuse of tongues as a sign of unbelief and the potential for future judgment through “strange tongues” associated with the Antichrist’s reign.
• Modern Proliferation as a Warning: He suggests that the mass proliferation of tongues in modern movements, often disregarding biblical directives and exhibiting psychological manipulation, could be a sign of widespread spiritual misdirection and a precursor to God’s judgment.

Key takeaways:

• Scriptural prophecies repeatedly depict God using foreign tongues as a tool for judging those who reject His word and follow false teachings.
• The future rise of the Antichrist, empowered by Satan to deceive the world through signs and wonders, echoes the biblical theme of judgment through “strange tongues.”
• The widespread and often unregulated practice of tongues-speaking in modern times, coupled with its disregard for biblical guidelines, might signal a similar spiritual deception and a potential harbinger of God’s judgment.

Chapter 11: The Tower of Babel

This chapter revisits the Tower of Babel narrative from Genesis 11, drawing parallels between the ancient account and the Corinthian church’s misuse of tongues-speaking, highlighting the theme of human pride and divine judgment.

Babel’s Disobedience and Judgment:

• Human Pride and Unity: The people of Babel sought to build a tower reaching heaven, aiming to centralize their power and defy God’s command to disperse and fill the earth.
• Confusion of Tongues: God intervened by confounding their language, creating division and forcing them to scatter, effectively halting their ambitious project.

Corinthian Parallels:

• Building God’s Temple: Paul compares the Corinthians to builders constructing God’s temple, warning them to build on the right foundation (Jesus Christ) and with proper materials (sound doctrine and unity).
• Faulty Construction: Their prideful divisions, fueled by their misuse of tongues, represented building with “wood, hay, straw,” leading to destruction.
• Judgment Through Division: Just as God divided the people of Babel through language, Paul warns that the Corinthians’ divisive behavior invites God’s judgment.

Lessons for Today:

• Humility and Obedience: The Babel narrative serves as a cautionary tale against human pride and rebellion against God’s will.
• True Unity in Christ: Genuine unity stems from building on the foundation of Christ and adhering to His teachings, avoiding divisions based on personal ambition or misinterpretations of spiritual gifts.

Key takeaways:

• The Tower of Babel narrative highlights the dangers of human pride and the consequences of defying God’s commands.
• The Corinthians’ misuse of tongues-speaking, leading to division and false teachings, parallels the Babel account, showcasing the potential for spiritual gifts to be misappropriated for personal gain.
• The chapter emphasizes the importance of humility, obedience to God’s word, and pursuing true unity in Christ, avoiding divisions based on misguided interpretations of spiritual experiences.

Chapter 12: Conclusion

This final chapter summarizes the book’s key arguments and reiterates Sungenis’ conclusion that while the Bible doesn’t explicitly prohibit the continuation of tongues-speaking, its misuse and mass proliferation in modern times constitute a sign of spiritual misdirection and potential divine judgment.

Summary of Arguments:

• Limited Biblical Prominence: Tongues-speaking receives less attention in latter New Testament books, suggesting its decreasing significance in the early church.
• Rarity and Spontaneity: Biblical instances depict tongues as a rare and spontaneous gift, contrasting with the widespread and often learned behavior in modern movements.
• Warnings Against Abuse: Paul explicitly addresses the abuse of tongues in Corinth, highlighting its potential for disrupting unity and stemming from demonic influence or personal ambition.
• Sign to Unbelievers: Paul’s use of Isaiah 28:11, linking tongues to unbelief and judgment, suggests a similar dynamic at play in the modern proliferation of glossolalia.

Modern Tongues as a Sign of Judgment:

• Disregard for Biblical Directives: Modern movements often disregard Paul’s instructions regarding order, interpretation, and women’s roles, suggesting a departure from the biblical model.
• Psychological Manipulation: Extensive research demonstrates the learned nature of modern glossolalia, influenced by hypnotic techniques and social pressure, raising concerns about manipulation and delusion.
• Parallels with Biblical Warnings: The mass proliferation of tongues in modern times, coupled with its disregard for biblical guidelines and its manipulative elements, aligns with the scriptural theme of judgment through “strange tongues” as a consequence of unbelief and apostasy.

Call for Discernment and Caution:

• Legitimate Manifestations: Sungenis acknowledges the possibility of legitimate tongues-speaking guided by the Holy Spirit but emphasizes its rarity and the need for discernment.
• Focus on True Unity: He urges readers to prioritize humility, obedience to God’s word, and the pursuit of genuine unity in Christ, avoiding divisions based on misguided interpretations of spiritual experiences or the pursuit of personal status.

Key takeaways:

• While the Bible doesn’t explicitly deny the continuation of tongues-speaking, its widespread and often unregulated practice in modern times raises serious concerns.
• The disregard for biblical directives, coupled with the evidence of psychological manipulation and the historical connection between tongues-speaking and divine judgment, suggests that the modern phenomenon might be a sign of spiritual deception and a precursor to judgment.
• Sungenis emphasizes the need for discernment, caution, and a renewed focus on biblical teachings and genuine unity in Christ, avoiding the pitfalls of spiritual pride and the pursuit of spectacular displays over true spiritual growth.