The Holy Spirit: The Use and Misuse of Spiritual Gifts
We have come to a greater awareness of the spiritual gifts God gives his people. We understand from Scripture some basic points:
- Every member has at least one Spirit-given gift, usually two or three.
- Every member should be using his or her gifts to serve others in the church.
- No member has all the gifts, so we need each other.
- No gift is given to all members.
- God decides who receives which gift.
Every member ought to be involved in some ministry, some area of service (“ministry” refers to all types of service, not just pastoral work). Every Christian should be using his or her gifts to serve others “for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 4:10).
This awareness of spiritual gifts has been a great blessing for members and congregations. However, even good things can be misused, and a few problems have developed in connection with spiritual gifts. These problems are not unique to us, and it is sometimes helpful to see how other Christian leaders have dealt with them.
For example, some people use the concept of spiritual gifts as an excuse to refuse to serve. For example, they say that their gift is administration and they refuse to do anything except try to meddle in how the church is administered. Or they may claim to be a teacher and refuse to serve in any other way. I believe that this is the opposite of what Paul intended – he explained that God gifts people for service, not for refusal.
Sometimes work needs to be done whether anybody is especially gifted for it or not. Activities need to be set up and cleaned up. Compassion needs to be given when tragedies strike, whether or not you happen to have the gift of compassion. All members need to be able to teach (Colossians 3:16) whether or not they have the gift of teaching. All members need to be able to explain the gospel (1 Peter 3:15) whether or not they have the gift of evangelism.
It is unrealistic to think that every member will do only those forms of service for which he or she is specially gifted. Not only do other forms of service need to be done, each member needs to experience other forms of service. Service often requires that we get out of our comfort zones, out of the area in which we feel gifted. God may want to develop in us a gift we did not know we had!
Each person has one to three major gifts, and it is best if the person’s primary area of service uses one or more of those gifts. But each person should also be willing to serve in other ways, as the church has needs. One large church uses the principle that, “you choose your primary ministry based on your own gifts, and be willing to serve in a secondary ministry based on the needs of others.” Such a policy helps members grow – and the secondary ministries are assigned only for limited periods of time. Those less-desired service roles are then rotated to other members. Some experienced pastors estimate that members can expect only about 60 percent of their service to be within their primary spiritual gifts.
The most important thing is that each member serve in some way. Service is a responsibility, not a matter of “I will accept it only if I like it.”
Finding your gifts
Now a few thoughts about how we determine what spiritual gifts we have. There are several approaches to this: 1) written tests, surveys and inventories, 2) self-analysis based on interests and experiences, and 3) confirmation from people who know you well. All three approaches can be helpful, and it is especially helpful if all three lead to the same answer. But none of the three is infallible.
Some of the written inventories are simply a method of analyzing yourself and others’ opinions about you. The questions might go like this: What do you like to do? What have you done well? What do other people say that you do well? What kinds of needs do you see in the church? (This last question is based on the observation that people are usually most aware of the needs that they are able to help with. For example, a person with the gift of compassion will think that the church needs more compassion.)
Often, we do not know our gifts until we have put them to use and seen whether we do well in that type of activity. Not only do gifts grow through experience, they can also be discovered through experience. That is why it is helpful for members to occasionally try different areas of service. They may learn something about themselves, as well as helping others.
Those are a few comments about gifts in general. But for the rest of this article, I want to focus on a particular gift that raises the most questions.
The gift of tongues
Historically, the most controversial spiritual gift has been tongues. It was controversial on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem; it was controversial a few years later in Caesarea; it was controversial later in Corinth. Throughout the centuries, some Christians have spoken in tongues, almost always with some controversy.
Today, millions of Christians speak in tongues. Some are in Roman Catholic churches, some in liberal mainstream groups, some in conservative evangelical churches, and many in Pentecostal denominations. Even though tongues-speaking has such diverse participants, it is still controversial. We need some perspective on this, to help people who are afraid of it, and those who think too highly of this gift.
The modern interest in tongue-speaking is generally traced to 1900. Charles Parham and a small group in Kansas began to speak in tongues after studying about this gift in the Bible. In 1906, Parham spoke at the Azusa Street Mission Revival in Los Angeles, and the movement quickly spread from there.
At first, most churches rejected tongues-speaking as crazy or demonic, and as one might expect, tongues-speakers left those churches and formed new denominations that encouraged people to speak in tongues. Pentecostal groups such as the Assemblies of God were formed.
In the 1960s, another wave of tongues-speaking occurred in more traditional churches. This time, many churches did not ridicule or drive these people away; they were accepted as charismatic groups within the churches. Nevertheless, tongues-speaking is still controversial. Some Christians teach that God does not give miraculous gifts to anyone today; yet others claim that all Christians ought to seek and practice the gift of tongues.
In the early years of our own denomination, we were opposed to tongues-speaking, even though we were in favor of other miraculous gifts, such as healing. But eventually, we recognized that some Christians do indeed speak in tongues. We are slower to criticize and more willing to consider tongues-speaking as an authentic gift of the Holy Spirit. Our members have visited tongues-speaking churches, and some members and ministers have spoken in tongues, usually in private.
Perspective on tongues
Most Christians can talk about almost any spiritual gift with nothing but praise, but as soon as tongues is mentioned, it is accompanied by various cautionary statements. All sorts of spiritual gifts can be misused, and cautions can be given for them all. But historically, and in the Christianity today, tongues is the most controversial gift.
All gifts given by the Spirit are good. However, various non-Christians have spoken in tongues. Tongues-speaking, in itself, does not prove anything. (Similarly, non-Christians may also have leadership, service, compassion, teaching and other abilities that are similar to spiritual gifts.)
Some tongues-speaking is called ecstatic speech. In normal speech, two parts of the brain work together. In ecstatic speech, one part of the brain tells the mouth and tongue to speak, but the conscious portion of the brain does not supply any guidance for what words to speak, so random syllables come out. This can happen if a person is startled, for example.
Also, some tongues-speaking may be done in imitation (perhaps subconsciously) of a respected leader. People who are seeking a particular experience are (like hypnotized people) very responsive to suggestions.
However, not all tongues-speaking can be explained in these ways, and some tongues-speaking is genuinely a gift of God. God sometimes works through observable phenomena, and just because some tongues-speaking can be explained by brain functions does not mean it isn’t a spiritual gift.
Tongues-speaking is often pleasant. It is liberating to get rid of some inhibitions. It is encouraging to put oneself in a responsive state, ready to respond to God working in our lives. Tongues-speaking is not the only way to do this, but it is one way, and it encourages people in their walk with the Lord.
Biblical data
Paul wrote, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). We should not “forbid speaking in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39). We also want to follow what Paul said in the next verse: “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (v. 40).
How can tongues be done in an orderly way?
Since Scripture is our ultimate guide for doctrine and Christian living, let’s look at what Scripture says about how tongues should be used.
Paul says that God divides his gifts among his people (1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 29-30). It is not realistic to expect everyone to speak in tongues. When a Christian says (or implies), my gift is better than your gift, it is an insult to other Christians, and a false witness to God. No one should feel superior about a spiritual gift, since no one deserves any of them. The gifts are given to serve others, not to feel superior to others.
We do not need to seek the gift of tongues. We need to seek God, and let him decide which gift is best for us. Paul says we should seek the “more excellent way”— which is love (1 Corinthians 12:31 and chapter 13). He encourages us to seek the gift of prophecy, which is speaking words of encouragement, comfort and edification (1 Corinthians 14:1-4).
It doesn’t matter whether you eat oats or rice for breakfast. Neither one makes you a better person. But it does matter if you turn your preference into a marker of betterness. “Everybody ought to do this because I like doing it.” Such attitudes are divisive and un-Christian. They also miss Paul’s point, that God has distributed his gifts among his people and he wants them to work together in their diversity.
If God gives you the gift of tongues, then use it to strengthen your relationship with God. Tongues is not a show of spirituality. It is to build up the speaker, not to impress others (1 Corinthians 14:4). If it encourages the speaker, that’s good. If it is done to impress others, it’s being used in a wrong way. Paul said he spoke in tongues a lot (v. 18). He knew what it meant to pray in words he did not understand (v. 14). But he also knew that this was not proof of spiritual greatness.
Far more important is what we do the rest of our lives. Without love, we are spiritually worthless, no matter what tongues we speak (1 Corinthians 13:1). Do we live and work in love? Do we use our other gifts to help others and build up the body of Christ? Do we walk humbly and give all glory to God?
What was the problem in Corinth?
The Christians in first-century Corinth had several problems, and one of them was the way they spoke in tongues. Paul told them to stop being proud and self-centered. He told them to grow up and be more sensible (1 Corinthians 14:20). But he did not tell them to stop speaking in tongues.
He did give some guidelines. For example: Only one person should speak at a time (v. 27). Church services should not be a competition to see who can talk the most. The Holy Spirit does not inspire more than one person to speak at a time. People can wait.
Second, people should speak in tongues only if an interpreter is present (v. 28). What if the speaker doesn’t know whether an interpreter is present? Then the speaker should remain silent. If the gift is genuine, the speaker will be able to control it (v. 32). God does not bypass a person’s willpower. Part of the fruit of God’s Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:23; 2 Timothy 1:7).
Balanced approach
In some churches, people who want to speak in tongues may do so — not during the regular church service, but in a small group meeting. There must be two or more interpreters present. The interpreters write down the interpretation, and then they see whether the interpretations match. Sometimes they do, but sometimes not, which means that one or both of the interpreters are mistaken. This cautions us not to be too quick to accept the messages.
It would be easier if people sought the gift of prophecy — speaking words that make sense and can help people — rather than tongues, which might not help anybody else (v. 5). Tongues and interpretations are often misunderstood. Even prophesy can be misunderstood, which is why Paul advises us, “the others should weigh carefully what is said” (v. 29).
Even if an interpreter is present, it is best not to speak in tongues in the church service. The gift of tongues is for self-edification, not for edifying others (v. 4). It doesn’t make sense for one member to interrupt everyone else and say, “Wait a few minutes while I edify myself. Listen to me, even though it won’t do you any good.” Tongues, since they help only the speaker, are appropriate for private prayers, but not for public assemblies.
Tongues are also a distraction. Public tongues-speaking usually focuses attention on the speaker, not on God. Some non-Christians find tongues-speaking fascinating, and some even consider it to be proof of divine blessing, but most do not. It is confusing, and if the person realizes that various non-Christians also speak in tongues, it is also inconclusive.
Paul warned the Corinthians not to allow tongues to get out of control in their worship services, since it could confuse unbelievers: “If…the entire church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (v. 23).
People need to be impressed by the gospel and by the way we live, not by unusual phenomena. If the person is convinced by emotional impressions rather than truth, the person has an unstable foundation for belief. Emotions are important, but they should be a response to the gospel, not a substitute for it.
Our practice
However, Paul was not against tongues-speaking. He spoke in tongues himself (v. 18). But he did have a lot to say against tongues-speaking in church assemblies. “In church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (v. 19).
In our meetings, we want words that can be understood. Some people in our fellowship speak in tongues, and they are welcome to do so in private or in small groups where everyone agrees to accept it. Even then, it needs to be done according to Paul’s guidelines.
If people find tongues to be self-edifying, that’s good, but we encourage them to seek and to use another spiritual gift, too.
Even some Pentecostal churches do not allow tongues-speaking in church services. Many also recognize that it is unscriptural to allow everyone to speak at once, to speak without an interpreter present, etc. If the pastor were giving a sermon, for example, and someone in the audience began to speak in tongues, the pastor would tell the person, “Control your gift. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of prophets. If you cannot control your gift, the ushers will escort you out.”
Interrupting the sermon would be just as inappropriate as a person trying to sing a hymn in the middle of the sermon. It is good to sing hymns, but only at the right time and place. Similarly, we do not allow tongues-speaking in our regular worship services.
Expressing joy in Christ
In many nations, Pentecostal churches are the fastest-growing segment of Christianity. Perhaps one reason for this is that Pentecostal churches encourage people to express their emotions rather than suppress them. This can be bad, if people’s faith is built on emotions, but it is good if those emotions are a genuine response to the good news of Jesus Christ.
If people really understand the depths of their sinful state, of how harmful and disgusting sin is, and of the greatness of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, of how astonishing his grace toward us is, then it is natural to respond with joy and exuberance — and this emotion does not need to be hidden, though how it is expressed may vary from person to person. We have something worth singing about, something to be happy about. We have experienced something wonderful in the love of Jesus Christ, and we share it.
Pentecostal churches are generally freer in how they express this joy. Visitors who attend a Pentecostal church are likely to see people expressing joy and happiness because of their faith in Jesus Christ. This example is a good context for evangelism and church growth.
Pentecostal churches are not the only ones who express joy in worshiping their Savior, and they are not the only churches that are growing, but as a group, they seem to do it more actively than most. We applaud them for the things they are doing well.
Seeking experience
Scripture is the ultimate authority for what we do. If growth in numbers was proof of truth, then we might all become Mormons. Experience may be helpful, it may be impressive, but it is not authoritative.
Consider the situation of people who attend a church every week, but rarely (if ever) experience the presence of God. They have doubts about their own walk with the Lord. They want to have tangible, observable evidence that the Lord is with them. Then they attend a church in which the preacher confidently, dogmatically says that “you can have confidence if you speak in tongues. That assures you that God is in your life.”
The people want this experience. If it comes, it is self-authenticating and reinforcing. The people wanted reassurance, were told in a confident way that the experience would give them that assurance, and then they had the experience, and true enough, they gained assurance! The people become sold on the experience and sometimes even become an “evangelist” for the experience.
This has happened within our fellowship, just as it has happened in other denominations. People who were spiritually yearning, and not grounded doctrinally, were impressed with a particular experience. The experience was no doubt powerful. It may have been an enormous spiritual boost, or the highlight of one’s life. But that does not mean that it is true, or that everyone should have the same experience, or that Christians should be looked down on if they do not have the same experience. The treatment that helped one patient is not the right medicine for the next patient.
If you have a particular gift, be thankful and rejoice, but do not be divisive. Whatever gift you have, use it to serve others, keeping Scripture as your ultimate authority for faith and practice.[1]
[1] For those who want further study on this subject, see https://archive.gci.org/articles/what-the-bible-says-about-speaking-in-tongues/,
Also see Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views, edited by Wayne Grudem (Zondervan, 1996). We will not enter the detailed arguments addressed in the book, but we will affirm that God still performs miracles today, and that sometimes includes speaking in tongues.
Author: Joseph Tkach; edited by Michael Morrison in 2026