IS  SPEAKING  IN  TONGUES  NEEDED  TODAY?

9.    Objections Answered

A.          Objection: Christ said that “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.” (Mt. 11:11)  And it is recorded of John the Baptist that “John performed no sign.” (Jn. 10:41)  We do not need the sign of tongues.

Answer:  We should read the whole verse of Mt. 11:11.  Concerning John the Baptist Jesus continued: “but he who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Why is it so?  It is because John the Baptist died before the coming of the Kingdom of God and he missed the full power.  The Kingdom of God came in full power when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts. 1:8)  Every one of the disciples who had experienced the power of the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues would be greater than John the Baptist.

B.   Objection:  “Christ told the nobleman of Capernaum that “unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” (Jn. 4:48)

Answer:   Jesus was not reprimanding the nobleman but rather stated a fact that it takes signs and wonders for those people to believe Him.  “The nobleman said to Him, Sir, come down before my child dies!  Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives.’  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him. . . . So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, ‘Your son lives.’  And he himself believed, and his whole household.” (Jn. 4:49-53)  This incident shows that through the nobleman’s faith and the miracle of Jesus his whole household believed in Him.  Christians must believe that Jesus can also perform the same miracles today that He did 2,000 years ago.  Christians will still speak with tongues.

C.   Objection:   “He told the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees that “a wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign” (Mt. 16:4)

   Answer:   The sign that the Pharisees and Sadducees sought after was not spiritual gifts.  They were not sincere seekers but only wanted to test Jesus.  They “asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.” (Mt. 16:1)  From subsequent verses we know that they wanted Jesus to show them a sign from heaven that He is truly the Messiah.  Our Lord’s response is that “no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Mt. 16:4)  We should not confuse the signs that the Pharisees and Sadducees sought after with the spiritual gifts that God wants to give to His Church. (1 Cor. 12:4-11)  “God bearing them witness both with signs and wonders with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Heb. 2:4)

D.   Objection:   “Christ also said that at the time of the establishment of the Kingdom of God some will say to Him: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  And in thy name cast out devils?  And in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:22-23)  So it’s possible to prophesy, to cast out demons, and to do many wonderful works all in Christ'’ name and still be a worker of iniquity.

   Answer:    I cannot agree with this objection more that miracle workers can also be workers of iniquity.  This happened when Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh’s “wise men, sorcerers and magicians.” (Ex. 7:8-13)  Before Simon believed in Jesus he “practiced sorcery” and astonished people for a long time. (Acts 8:9-11)  But read this: “Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.” (Acts 8:13)  What does that show us.  There are false miracle workers who are wicked and there are also faithful miracle workers who are sent by God.  It is absolutely wrong to teach that because workers of iniquity have used the name of Jesus Christ to do many wonderful works Christians should never use the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ to do any miraculous works for God.  Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself have said: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; . . .” (Mk. 16:17-18) 

Here is something worth our consideration.  In Mt. 7:23 the original Greek word for “iniquity” is “anomia” literally “lawlessness” (“a” = negative, “nomos” = “law”, is used in a way which indicates the meaning as being lawlessness or wickedness.  Its usual rendering in the New Testament is “iniquity,” which literally means unrighteousness. – Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary.  Sin is transgression of the law. (1 Jn. 3:4)  Iniquity or lawlessness can also be described as breaking the Commandments of God.  Any Christian worker who performs great miracles in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ but do not keep the Ten Commandments fall under the category of “workers of iniquity.” 

E.          Objection:  Miraculous signs, works and wonders are not the ultimate test of a person’s faith in God.  The ultimate test of a person’s faith in God is that person’s obedience to the written word of God:  “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20)

Answer:  I agree with this principle 100%.  Speaking with tongues is in accordance with the word of God.  Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; . . .” (Mk. 16:17)  Cessationists do not believe in our Lord’s statement.  In some of their Bibles they intentionally leave these verses out or print them in very small letters in the footnote.  There are numerous verses in the Bible that clearly state that speaking with tongues is of God. (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6; 1 Cor. 14:2, 14)

F.   Objection:   Once again, miracles, signs and wonders should not be made the ultimate test of one’s faith in God.  The soon-coming Antichrist will perform miracles, signs and wonders; yet he will say that he is God (2 Thess. 2:4,9)  If anyone is easily taken in by these things, they could easily follow an antichrist because “even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1 Jn. 2:18)

   Answer:   A warning of caution is reasonable, but over-reaction to the point of rejection of all miracles, signs and wonders as coming from the Antichrist is unreasonable.  Why?  It is like saying “Do not accept $100 bank notes from anyone because there are a lot of counterfeit $100 bank notes in circulation at this time.”  It is an established truth in the Bible that there are genuine miracles, signs and wonders.  Rejecting all miracles, signs and wonders and dogmatically teaching that they come from the Antichrist is extremely dangerous.  If these miracles, signs and wonders are genuine and they do really come from God, then those who reject them will be committing the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Please read the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ before dogmatically rejecting all miracles, signs and wonders. (Mk. 3:22-30)

G.  Objection:   Antichrists all have an “anointing,” or a charisma (Strong’s No. 5545); they are all charismatic individuals.  Unfortunately, their anointing – or charisma – is satanic in origin (2 Thess. 2:9).  Isa. 8:20 is always the ultimate test of an individual’s faith.

   Answer:   It looks like this statement is directed against all ministers in the Pentecostal or Charismatic Movement.  I hope that it is not.  Again, I would like to caution people not to make statements attacking other ministers.  The word of God states: “When they went from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to another people, He permitted no man to do them wrong; Yes, He reproved kings for their sakes, saying, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” (1 Chron.16: 20-22)  After David secretly cut off Saul’s robe he was worried about his action.  “And he said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” (1 Sam. 24: 4-6)  I have personally seen God’s chastisement of people who attack ministers in some form or other, and I do not like to see anyone getting hurt because of this.  Christian ministers may not agree with others on some doctrinal issues but they must at least have love and respect for them. (Jn. 13: 34-35)  This is the teaching of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

- to be continued -