The Apostle Paul was correcting his church in Corinth for their improper handling of the tongues issue... Many misinformed preachers do not understand this and they falsely teach that in order to show evidence of your spiritual being, you must possess the gift of tongues. This is a false doctrine and a great divider - which is of Satan!

I am going to show the entire chapter 14 of 1st Corinthians however I will underline the scriptures to which I am referring.

1st Cor, Chapter 14:

The Gifts of Tongues and Prophecy...

The first 5 verses below, which are underlined, clearly explain that the gift of tongues is one of the lesser gifts! To argue against this is to call the bible and the Apostle Paul a liar.

 1Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For if your gift is the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking to God but not to people, since they won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3But one who prophesies is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging and comforting them. 4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

    5I wish you all had the gift of speaking in tongues, but even more I wish you were all able to prophesy. For prophecy is a greater and more useful gift than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church can get some good out of it.

    6Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you talking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you some revelation or some special knowledge or some prophecy or some teaching--that is what will help you. 7Even musical instruments like the flute or the harp, though they are lifeless, are examples of the need for speaking in plain language. For no one will recognize the melody unless the notes are played clearly. 8And if the bugler doesn't sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? 9And it's the same for you. If you talk to people in a language they don't understand, how will they know what you mean? You might as well be talking to an empty room.

    10There are so many different languages in the world, and all are excellent for those who understand them, 11but to me they mean nothing. I will not understand people who speak those languages, and they will not understand me. 12Since you are so eager to have spiritual gifts, ask God for those that will be of real help to the whole church.

    13So anyone who has the gift of speaking in tongues should pray also for the gift of interpretation in order to tell people plainly what has been said. 14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying.

    15Well then, what shall I do? I will do both. I will pray in the spirit, and I will pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will sing in words I understand. 16For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don't understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don't understand what you are saying? 17You will be giving thanks very nicely, no doubt, but it doesn't help the other people present.

    18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in a church meeting I would much rather speak five understandable words that will help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

    20Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature and wise in understanding matters of this kind. 21It is written in the Scriptures,
"I will speak to my own people through unknown languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me," says the Lord.

22So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting and hear everyone talking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin, and they will be condemned by what you say. 25As they listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare, and they will fall down on their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is really here among you."

A Call to Orderly Worship

 26Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize what I am saying. When you meet, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in an unknown language, while another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in the Lord. 27No more than two or three should speak in an unknown language. They must speak one at a time, and someone must be ready to interpret what they are saying. 28But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

    29Let two or three prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can wait their turn. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the other churches.

    34Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35If they have any questions to ask, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

    36Do you think that the knowledge of God's word begins and ends with you Corinthians? Well, you are mistaken! 37If you claim to be a prophet or think you are very spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself. 38But if you do not recognize this, you will not be recognized.

    39So, dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking in tongues. 40But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

I, personally have been surrounded by dozens of misinformed, tongues-speaking-persons - all laying hands on me and caught up in a frenzy that would scare the hell out of a newcomer. I simply arose and told them to shutup. Through discernement I knew it was of the wrong spirit... I am not shy when it comes to calling down misinformed, preachers and practitioners of false doctrine... If I attend your congregation - be prepared for a rude awakening if you pull false Christian doctrine or practices out of your bag of tricks.

While I do not possess the gift of tongues I do not deny it. I do however know that the charismatic tongues-crazed congregations should apply the written word of God more wisely to avoid dividing Christians on this issue.

No hard feelings but I demand the true meaning of scripture and true Christian practices to be used in a meeting of Christians. So should you!

Now, let's deal with the teaching that the bible is the literal and infallible word of God... No exceptions! Take a look at verses 34 & 35 ... 34Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35If they have any questions to ask, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

Well, what do you think? Are you going to treat the bible as a buffet - where you pick and choose what you like? I for one believe that Jesus would have disagreed with Paul on the issue about women stating their witness or their minds in the congregation. Jesus had many women disciples who were outspoken and faithful... I am not trying to sow dissension or doubt but I believe the bible is the word of God conveyed through men who were less than perfect and some degree of understanding, concerning culture, time difference and translation should be considered. There are many translations since the original scrolls were written - - - are you going to base your eternity on which translation to accept? Take the bible in its entirety and the overall truth and meaning... and that is to encourage a personal relationship with The Father through His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Sorry if I stepped on a few toes but sometimes there is no other way to communicate a thought to a brother or sister in the Lord. After all - SOULS MAY BE AT RISK - NO SMALL THING!