If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 1 Corinthians 14:27
I don’t intend to debate here whether or not tongues are still a gift given to the church today. Nor do I really even want to discuss the nature of tongues—whether it is speaking in foreign languages or a secret language known to God. Today I simply want to consider why Paul was so passionate about making sure the Corinthians had an interpreter. Paul goes on to say that if they don’t have an interpreter then they shouldn’t even express this gift.
His reason is given in the surrounding context. First, he wants the words spoken in worship to be comprehensible to outsiders. If you speak in a language that nobody understands they will leave thinking you are simply out of your minds. Secondly, he doesn’t want there to be confusion. His desire is that the message be clear to both outsiders and insiders.
This leads me to the brief point I’d like to make today. Even a cessationist preacher (one who believes gifts like tongues have ceased) needs to obey the general thrust of this text. And specifically we preachers need to obey these words whenever we are preaching, otherwise we are just as guilty as the Corinthians of speaking in tongues without an interpreter.
I’m all for using important theological terms. This is not an argument to only speak as a simpleton. In fact, I even used the term overrealized-eschatology in my sermon last week. But I made sure to pause and explain what that big word meant. So, I don’t believe we should discard big weighty words like propitiation. They are important, specific, and helpful. We must keep them. But we also must interpret them.
And in our post-Christian society there are going to be even more words that aren’t sensible. Even a words like holiness likely needs to be defined. Just because your hearer might understand the sound of the word you are saying it doesn’t mean they know the full weight of it. To some a call for holiness might equate to getting in a picket line with Westboro Baptist Church. And that’s hopefully not even close to what you mean by pursuing holiness.
So here is my encouragement to my fellow preachers. Go over your sermon (assuming you write it out) and scan through all the big words, technical words, or Christian jargon phrases that you use. Treat these like speaking in tongues. Interpret accordingly.
Thank you so much for your gentle way of saying things – I may use that post a number of times. “Christianese” has been one of my front and center issues since I became a Christian after years of animosity to the church for its “secret language” only the insiders knew.
I work with a few addicts and street people, and ecclesiastical language makes their eyes glaze over.
That is also the root of my disdain for the King James.
Follow Jesus – KEEP it simple, saint – SHOULD be the first years course in Bible College.