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These days many Christians claim to be born again, because they speak in tongues. But this argument is lame, considering the fact that many tongue speaking folks appear not to have the Holy Spirit in their lives. We cannot hide under speaking in tongues as evidence of being born again.
There is no doubt that a born again Christian may speak in tongues, but tongue speaking is not a key sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a Christian. The reason is quite simple: many fake tongue speaking. This thing is common in most churches in Africa these days.
In fact, we have seen how some people speak in unknown languages by demons. In their prayers, these so-called believers utter monosyllabic tongues along with hand clapping and drumming. For example, while one person utters “hey” another says “ha”.
They say these things for minutes, claiming to be offering prayers in tongues. We know that genuine tongue speaking inspired by the Holy Spirit is not always monosyllabic, and it is not necessarily accompanied by clapping and drumming. It is not about joking and playing. It is about the Spirit of God inspiring your spirit to utter mysteries to God.
Besides, when one is born again and speaks in tongues, he must also produce or exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life. In other words, one cannot claim to have been recreated in Christ and speaks in tongues, but manifests the works of the devil. It simply does not follow that way.
However, in many churches today, people may pray in tongues continually, yet fail to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in their daily lives. (It is one fruit with many expressions—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control—revealing the character of Christ formed in us).
Will the Holy Spirit inspire you to pray in tongues and lead you to practise sin unrepentantly? Certainly not.
The truth is: when we speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives us utterance we will also bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit by His divine enablement. In other words, speaking in tongues, exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit and testifying about Jesus must go together.
By James Quansah
