31/01/2026
Common Challenges to Speaking in Tongues
And How Scripture Responds
Today I want to walk through some common challenges people raise about speaking in tongues—not to argue, but to respond graciously and biblically. Many believers who love Jesus and honor Scripture wrestle with these questions, and that deserves respect.
So let’s take these challenges one at a time and ask a simple question throughout:
What does the Bible actually say?
Challenge 1: “Tongues were only for the apostles or the early church.”
That’s an understandable conclusion. Many sincere Christians have been taught that.
But when we look carefully at the book of Acts, that conclusion doesn’t quite hold.
In Acts 2, the apostles spoke in tongues—but they weren’t alone. The gathered believers were present as well.
In Acts 10, tongues fall on a Gentile household—not apostles.
In Acts 19, tongues are spoken by disciples of John, ordinary believers who had just received the Spirit.
And when we move into 1 Corinthians 12–14, Paul speaks of tongues as one of many gifts given broadly to the church.
Paul never limits tongues by office.
He regulates them by love and order, not by an expiration date.
That idea—that tongues were only for apostles—is something Scripture never explicitly states.
Joel’s prophecy says the Spirit would be poured out in the “last days.”
Those last days began at Pentecost and continue until Christ returns.
And decades after Pentecost, Paul doesn’t say the gifts are fading away.
He gives detailed instruction on how tongues are to function in the gathered church.
So the fair question isn’t,
“Did tongues happen in Acts?”
It’s this: Where does the Bible say they stopped?
Challenge 2: “Tongues were only foreign languages, not prayer or private use.”
Acts 2 clearly shows tongues as known human languages—and we affirm that.
But Paul shows us that tongues have more than one function.
In Acts 2, tongues are public and missional.
But in 1 Corinthians 14:2, Paul says the one who speaks in a tongue speaks to God, and no one understands him.
In 1 Corinthians 14:14, Paul speaks of praying with the spirit.
And in Romans 8:26, we’re told the Spirit helps us pray beyond our understanding.
Same gift.
Different contexts.
Challenge 2b: “Tongues were just known languages for evangelism.”
Acts 2 does include known languages for evangelistic purposes—but Paul expands the category.
In 1 Corinthians 14, tongues sometimes require interpretation, which wouldn’t be necessary if they were always understood.
Paul also speaks about private prayer in tongues.
And in 1 Corinthians 13:1, he distinguishes between tongues of men and of angels.
Scripture itself presents tongues as broader than missionary linguistics.
Challenge 3: “Tongues ceased when the Bible was completed.”
This is a common argument—but notice something important.
It’s a theological inference, not a direct biblical statement.
The argument usually comes from 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul says gifts will cease “when the perfect comes.”
But Paul defines “the perfect” as seeing face to face.
That language points to Christ’s return, not the closing of the canon.
As long as knowledge and prophecy remain partial, the gifts remain operative.
Challenge 4: “Tongues cause division and confusion.”
Here’s the key distinction:
Abuse causes confusion—not obedience.
Paul doesn’t say, “Forbid tongues because people misuse them.”
He says the opposite: “Do not forbid speaking in tongues.”
And in the same chapter, he says everything must be done decently and in order.
The solution is not elimination—it’s biblical order.
Paul doesn’t remove tongues because of misuse.
He corrects their use.
Abuse does not nullify proper use.
Challenge 5: “Tongues are emotionalism or learned behavior.”
It’s true—misuse exists.
But misuse never disproves authentic use.
In Acts 10, tongues surprised everyone.
In Acts 2, there was no instruction, just overflow.
And in Mark 16, tongues are described as a sign accompanying belief.
Biblically, tongues are Spirit-initiated, not human-manufactured.
Challenge 6: “I’ve seen fake or emotional tongues.”
Sadly, that’s true—and Scripture anticipated misuse.
But counterfeit money doesn’t prove real money doesn’t exist.
It proves it’s valuable enough to imitate.
So our response isn’t rejection.
It’s discernment, teaching, humility, and obedience to Scripture.
Closing Thought
This isn’t about chasing experiences.
It’s about honoring what Scripture allows, instructs, and commands.
The Bible never tells us to forbid tongues.
It tells us to love deeply, pursue maturity, and walk in order.
That’s not extremism.
That’s faithfulness.
From Jim Ike
