Should Every Believer Speak in Tongues?
Charismatic teaching often encourages or requires every believer to seek an opportunity to speak in tongues. Such teaching claims that this experience is the necessary evidence of being filled with the Spirit, or of having the indwelling, baptizing ministry of the Spirit. In another blog post, I explore what the Bible teaches about Spirit baptism, especially as it relates to conversion (click here). I also provide an in-depth study of what the Bible teaches about speaking in tongues (click here). In light of these posts, I will not address these topics at length here but will refer you to what I have already provided. Instead, I would like to answer a simple but important question. Should every believer speak in tongues?If God requires every believer to speak in tongues and if this experience is an evidence of having the ministry of the Holy Spirit at work in your life, then speaking in tongues becomes necessary for every professing believer, regardless of whether he or she has been baptized by immersion in water (Matt 28:18-20). Not only would this be a necessary experience, but it would be an urgent need as well. Every professing believer would need to have such an experience to ensure that his or her assurance of faith within and testimony of faith to others.
If this experience is an evidence of having the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life, then it becomes necessary for every professing believer
Thankfully, Paul answers this question outright (1 Cor 12:30). He asks, "Do all speak with tongues?" The answer is no; every believer does not speak with tongues. We know this for one reason, because he asks this question in a rhetorical way, expecting a negative answer. We also know this for a second reason, which is the other rhetorical questions he asks in addition to this one. Altogether, he asks, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" (1 Cor 12:29-30). We know that not every believer is an apostle, or prophet, or teacher. Therefore, we also know that not every believer is able to perform miracles, speak in tongues, or interpret tongues when somebody speaks them.
"Do all speak with tongues?" The answer is no.
In addition to recognizing these things, we must also recognize that it is neither a bad nor disconcerting thing that not all believers speak in tongues. It is entirely appropriate that not every believer is an apostle. It is entirely appropriate that not every believer is gifted as a prophet or teacher. In the same way, it is entirely okay that not every believer speaks in tongues. To not speak in tongues is a sign neither of spiritual immaturity nor of a false profession of faith. In fact, Paul urges believers to strongly desire gifts that are better and more excellent (1 Cor 12:31). What is this more excellent way? It is the pursuit of love (and faith and hope) (1 Cor 13:1-13). Paul repeats this guidance again in 1 Cor 14:1, while refusing to disparage the value of speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:2-5).
It is entirely okay that not every believer speaks in tongues.
Whatever you believe about speaking in tongues, it is impossible for this experience to be a necessary mark of conversion. It is also impossible for it to be an indicator of your spiritual maturity or of whether you have the ministry of the Spirit at work in your life. So then, should every believer speak in tongues? According to Paul, the answer is no.
