Musings about the Holy Spirit and Speaking in Tongues

Reflections

When looking at the Pentecost as described in the second chapter of Acts, the controversial topic of “Speaking in Tongues” comes to mind. On the surface, this is a really cool passage that describes how the Holy Spirit came to rest on average Christians. Before this point in time, God would only speak to specific people, usually prophets, and these people would then carry the message from God to the people. After the coming of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost, this changed and now the communication channels are opened between God and any person who desires it.

The problem with this passage is that a few churches have taken this passage to mean that the only way that you can receive the Holy Spirit is to speak in tongues. For me, this feels very limiting and puts God in a box where he can’t adapt to the time and situation.

Just before Jesus’ ascension, he told his disciples that even though he was leaving, he would send the Holy Spirit, who would then baptize the disciples with his presence.

For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
Acts 1:5 (WEB)

This was distinct from the water baptism that John instituted as a sign of cleansing and renewal.

Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 22:16 (WEB)

In contrast, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was an opening of the communication channels between God and individual people.

¹Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. ⁴They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
Acts 2:1-4 (WEB)

There are several things going on in this passage: wind, light, and the ability to speak in foreign languages. The wind is a symbol of something coming. The light has some similarities to the pillar of light as the Israelites wandered in the desert after fleeing the Egyptians.

Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:
Exodus 13:21 (WEB)

These two symbols are then followed by an action. The Holy Spirit fills the disciples and they are given the ability to translate their words into other languages. How cool is that! Have you ever wanted to have another language downloaded into your brain? That is basically what God did!

So, the question becomes, is this method “the” baptism of the Holy Spirit or “a” baptism of the Holy Spirit? Do you see the difference? One implies that the baptism has to happen the same way every time, where the other gives more flexibility in the specifics. Church’s that focus on one way of baptism of the Holy Spirit insist that if you don’t speak in tongues, you have not been baptized by the Spirit. Church’s that allow for multiple ways of baptism conclude that a person may speak in tongues, but they may receive some other power from the Holy Spirit.

When you look at the purpose for why the disciples were speaking in tongues, it really doesn’t make sense that the Holy Spirit would baptize every person in exactly the same way as these particular disciples.

⁵Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. ⁶When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? ⁸How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
Acts 2:5-11 (WEB)

From this passage, we can see that the Holy Spirit was acting in a way that both showed his power and furthered the message of the Gospel. In this particular time and place in history, something really cool had just happened: the promised Messiah had come! Jesus was the Messiah: he died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will come back one day to finish what he started.

This message needed to be told and the disciples were the ones to tell it. The question is, who were they supposed to tell? The Holy Spirit answered that question when he gave them the gift of foreign language or “speaking in tongues.” Their first task was to proclaim the Gospel message to those who would carry it furthest from the city! By enabling the visitors to Jerusalem to be able to hear this message in their own language or tongue, it was much more certain that these people would understand the message and be able to enthusiastically share it with the people in their hometowns. What a great gift!

When we look at this gift today, it is still pretty cool, but not as cool as 2,000 years ago. In this day and age we have Bible’s printed in every major language around the world. Due to the efforts of Wycliffe Bible Translators and other organizations, even most of the minor languages have printed Bibles as well! And if we want to communicate additional messages, we have things like Google Translate. The need for the Holy Spirit to act in this specific way is much less than in the days after Jesus ascension.

My feeling is that when we insist that the Holy Spirit has to act in a particular way, we are putting him in a box and not allowing him to thrive. What are some of the cool things that the Holy Spirit could do in our time and place?

Give dreams or visions to those without access to a Bible. This is surprisingly common in the Muslim world.
Provide healing when doctors have given up all hope.
Transform our hearts and minds to be more like the heart and mind of Jesus.
Give us a strong feeling that we should make a particular decision.
Allow us to speak or understand foreign languages when we had no prior knowledge of that language.
Give us one or more of the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23.

I am in the camp of Christians that believes that any of these could be signs of baptism of the Holy Spirit. Sure, there are times when the power of speaking in tongues is quite useful and powerful, but it isn’t the only powerful thing that the Holy Spirit can do!

Reflection Questions

For Christians

Do you think that you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?
What are some ways that you have seen the Holy Spirit act, either in your own life or in someone else’s?
What is your reaction to the concept of speaking in tongues? Do you believe that this is a way that the Holy Spirit works today? Why or why not?
Read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Which of these gifts has the Holy Spirit already given you? Which could use a little more help from the Holy Spirit? Pray and ask for these gifts.

For non-Christians

Have you ever witnessed someone do something that they should not be able to do? Is it possible that this was the Holy Spirit?
Have you ever had a thought or an urge that seemed to come from something outside yourself? Is it possible that this was the Holy Spirit trying to convince you of something?
Read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Which of these gifts would you like from the Holy Spirit? Consider praying that he will give these gifts to you.

For Kids

Have you ever seen someone do something that they should not be able to do? Is it possible that this was the Holy Spirit?
Have you ever had a thought or an urge that could have been the Holy Spirit? What did you do?
Read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Which of these gifts has the Holy Spirit already given you? Which could use a little more help from the Holy Spirit? Pray and ask for these gifts.

Response Activity

As you consider the themes of speaking in tongues or other gifts of the Holy Spirit, are there any Bible verses that came to mind? If so, add a comment at the end of this post!