Many today believe that the “miracle/sign” gifts were given only during the creation of the early church and are no longer applicable or valid for today. Of course, the office of Apostle, by definition, was kept for those specifically called by Jesus to minister with Him in person, and that office stopped at the death of the Apostle John, the last of the 12 Apostles.

The ‘tongue’ gifts are a bit more questionable as there are believers today that state they speak in tongues with, and to, God during their individual worship time, when they are alone in their own private time with God. I cannot deny that happens. I can state that in scriptural context (I Corinthians 14), a person’s quiet time of worship with God is the only time that speaking in such a tongue is valid.

Denominations distort scripture when claiming that every believer must speak in tongues when saved to prove they have been saved. It is often called the “second work or baptism of the Holy Spirit.” There is no scriptural basis for this teaching. It is a false doctrine.

First, God does not give the same gift to all believers. Second, as scripture is clear in how tongues are to be used in personal worship, there should never be any form of uninterpreted tongues publicly spoken. Third, there is zero scriptural evidence that tongues ever had people in hysteria or acting in an abnormal or crazy fashion. Fourth, in the only three passages of scripture where tongues are public, it was only for the purpose of fulfilling the news of the Gospel to the Jews (Acts 2), then the Samaritans (Acts 8), then to Gentiles (Acts 10).

Such events are only recorded as happening one time with each group as God’s plan moved from first the Jews, then outward to the rest of the world, following the pattern in Acts 1:8 — Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world. And these three specific events related to people hearing the Gospel in their own language (not in babbling), and only when Peter was present.

Why is that important? Because Peter was given “the keys of the kingdom” (Matthew 16:19–21) by Jesus and these three events, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised in Acts 1:8 to His disciples, only happened once Peter was present. Those acts symbolically released the Holy Spirit into the lives of all believers, regardless of whether they were Jews, Samaritans, or Greeks/Gentiles.

This is not the only time that the Bible references symbolism. Following the thread of scripture, Adam’s initial sin passed on to all of mankind. With Jesus’ atonement for all of mankind’s sin on the cross, He is identified as the second Adam, giving life over death to all who receive it. These events occurred once and passed on to all. The three events of public display of tongues in scripture happened only once to each of the people groups as God’s salvation becomes available to all. Anyone taking these passages out of historical and Biblical context end up believing and preaching false doctrines.

I am not falling on my sword as to whether tongues are still applicable for today. I am saying that the Bible is clear — no additional interpretation of any man to make it say something else is needed — regarding tongues as a language (the three events in Acts) and any form of speaking in tongues as a person. It is never to be used in a public worship environment and those who do misunderstand or are just ignorant of what God’s word says on the subject. Whether it’s a church member or those pastors suddenly breaking out into babble during a sermon, it is outside of God’s will to display such babbling.

Nowhere in scripture is there evidence that another person has ever been available to interpret such babbling. It is only in those three events in Acts in which there was interpretation by people who were hearing the Gospel in their own formal, structured language.

Other miracle/sign gifts include the working of miracles and healing. I lean toward the thought that specific individuals do not have either of these gifts. They were marked for the Apostles to perform to confirm that they were representing God prior to the completion of our New Testament. However, I won’t put God in a box — the Bible says He gives the gifts as He wills.

I do not believe (personal opinion) specific people are given miracle gifts to raise the dead or to part the seas, nor are there specific people that must be called on to “heal” people, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. God is the one who heals and any believer, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can pray and seek God for healing. Through ministry gifts, believers can help other believers with emotional and spiritual support as every believer’s gift is to be used to benefit, recharge, and refresh other believers in their struggles and trials. 

Always follow scripture in context and believe it for what it says. God’s word is clear and can be understood without another person adding comment, opinion, or interpretation to try and make it say what it does not. No one needs to pursue or seek speaking in tongues — if it is still valid for today, it is a spiritual gift. Not everyone receives the same gift.

A person with this gift is to use it as directed by scripture: if it is the gift of language so there are others present who can interpret and understand, that is scriptural; if it is the gift of a “worship language” then it is to be used only in private in personal worship between that person and God. Those who want others to believe they have the gift of tongues and openly/publicly babble at will with no interpreter, they are seeking their own prideful benefit and serve no Godly purpose in such a public display. They are neither more “spiritual” than others nor do they edify/encourage others with such babbling. Paul states they are simply making themselves look and sound crazy to unbelievers and destroy any testimony they may have.

One final thought: these gifts are never to be used for personal gain or notoriety. Anyone claiming to have any of these gifts and requires another person to “pay” for exercising any of these gifts is, according to scripture, a charlatan and false teacher. In the Old Testament, God said to put false prophets to death (Deuteronomy 18:20)! In the New Testament we are instructed to mark them, call them out, avoid them, and rebuke them (I Corinthians 5:11; I Timothy 5:20: II Timothy 3:5; II Peter 2:1–22).