Speaking in Tongues

No. We encourage all to seek the fullness of the Spirit and to be open to all the Spirit’s gifts, including tongues, without making any single gift the measure of salvation or maturity. The Spirit distributes gifts as he wills for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7–11, 29–30).

Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is a Spirit-enabled act in which a believer speaks, prays, or sings in a language unknown to them. These may be human or angelic languages (1 Corinthians 13:1), but they are always inspired by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:10).

At Church on the Living Edge, we are unashamedly Pentecostal. We believe in the ongoing, active work of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church today, and speaking in tongues is not merely a relic of the early church — it is a present gift and practice, a vital expression of worship, prayer, and edification within our gatherings.

Devotional tongues deepen dependence on the Spirit, widen the church’s intercessory life, and cultivate humility and praise. Interpreted tongues, like prophecy, strengthen, encourage, and console the body, prompting obedience and mission.

We believe that speaking in tongues is both a gift and a discipline — a means of prayer, worship, and alignment with God’s Spirit. When exercised in love, guided by Scripture, and expressed in the Spirit of unity, it brings life to the church. We welcome all to explore this gift with humility, reverence, and openness to the Spirit’s work.

Pentecostal theology recognizes two primary expressions. The first is public use with interpretation: it functions analogously to prophecy and must be accompanied by interpretation when it is addressed to the gathered body (1 Corinthians 14:5, 27–28). The aim is the edification of the church, so intelligibility is required.

The second is private devotional use, or a prayer language: a Spirit-given mode of personal prayer or praise directed to God (1 Corinthians 14:2). Interpretation is not required, because its immediate effect is personal edification, which in turn strengthens one’s participation in the body.

We value both freedom and order (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). We encourage believers to pray in tongues during worship as an expression of personal surrender, spiritual sensitivity, and holy desire. We also teach spiritual maturity, the honoring of the gathered body, and the following of pastoral leadership in the service.

Leaders steward the flow of worship so that spiritual gifts are exercised “decently and in order,” integrating fervor with intelligibility. Love is the governing ethic; edification is the governing aim.

Paul’s concern is confusion, not suppression. When tongues are used as prayer to God amid corporate worship, they need not be interpreted. When a tongue is addressed to the congregation, it must be interpreted.

Clear teaching and pastoral guidance help visitors understand what is occurring and why, so that “God is really among you” becomes the testimony (1 Corinthians 14:25, 39–40).

In many of our worship gatherings, you may hear people praying or singing in tongues. This is not meant to be disruptive, confusing, or performative. It is an overflow of the Spirit-filled life. We affirm with Paul: “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

If a tongue is directed to God as an act of worship or prayer, interpretation is not required, since it is not a message to the body but a prayer of the spirit to God (1 Corinthians 14:2). If a tongue is directed to the congregation, it must be interpreted so that all may be edified.