What does it Mean to Speak in Tongues? Why Did Paul Refer to It As Being Angelic?

Tongues? What kind of language is that? Whether you’re in church, or you’re passing by an individual that is deeply devoted to their spiritual being, you may witness them worshipping. Worshipping is the act of giving praise or thanks to a being or an object. On several occasions, Apostles were recorded praying out loud. The demonstration by Apostles have continued all the way up to the twenty-first century. The common manner of “praying out loud” is known as speaking in tongues. Stated in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I have not love, I am a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.” You must have a connection with a spiritual being whom you are directing your message to. This method is the phenomenon of speaking in unintelligible utterances- often as part as religious practices. Initially, the sound can be confusing and unpleasing if the listener is not familiar. Dependent upon the listener, the verbal language of tongues will be recognized as one of three things: glossolalia, xenolalia, or as demonic language. Some would consider that ability as a “charismatic gift” or a completely psychotic trait.

Glossolalia is the uncontrollable speaking of tongues language. It derived from a combination of the Greek words glossa, which means tongue, and laleo, which means to speak. When a person is speaking glossolalia, they are not actually forming words, instead it is a string of sounds. Research shows that the individual’s native language will affect what those strings sound like all together. For example, if an English speaking worshipper were to speak in glossolalia, then there words would form almost identical to how we form sentences. If you listen closely, it may sound as if the individual is using words that you are familiar with. The speaker looks for repeated sequences when speaking. Glossolalia has been referred to as gibberish and a falsified language.  Technically, the language is only supposed to be understood by the individual speaker and the Holy Spirit. When in deep devotion, the ability to speak the language will come naturally at the drop of a hat. If you attend worship services or have attend one before, you may have witnessed the random outbreak of the acknowledgement of the Holy Spirit. If it is true that this is the direct communication from Earth to Heaven then everyone has the ability to speak this language. Most people choose to not speak the language because they feel strange or awkward. That alone causes controversy. It causes non-believers to question if it is either meaningful or beneficial. If this unknown language is automatically instilled into everyone who accepts Christ, then how can an individual select when and where they would like to speak? This language can has be associated with brain abnormalities by those who don’t quite understand it. In the November issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, Dr. Newberg found that during the state of speaking glossolalia there was a major decrease in the function frontal lobe. “That part of the brain that normally makes them feel in control has been essentially shut down.”

Another spiritual connection with the language of tongues is Xenolalia. It is the blend of the Greek words xenos, which means foreign, and lalia, which means language. Xenolalia is also a like glossolalia, a form of unknown communication between a divine spirit in Heaven and the Earth. The only difference is that the language is an actual human language, just unknown to the speaker. This language is naturally understood no matter the speaker. It is considered to be another foreign language that everyone who accepts Christ has the ability to speak, but the individual hasn’t learned it yet.  According to Peter D. Neumann, in order for early Pentecostals to conduct mission and evangelisms they must have received the spiritual baptism. “That means that tongues, as xenolalia, would enable missionaries to minister effectively in foreign cultures without having to takethe time to learn new languages.” The gift to use your personal relationship with God and to influence those around you was considered angelic. Those that oppose glossolalia, oppose the subcategory xenolalia as well.

The final viewpoint of the action of speaking in tongues is as a demonic ability. If speaking in tongues is a supernatural ability then one be able to communicate to either Satan or God. Satan is capable of hearing and understanding human language just as God is. Instead of conducting a conversation is one’s native language, speaking in tongues allows a person to speak to Satan exclusively. The “made-up” sounds are spoken purposely so that outsiders will not understand. It is believed that this is how one will address the Evil Spirit, speaking the unknown language and at a high rate of speed. The demonic possession is considered a false gift from God. Demons have the aptitude to speak through humans.  One must be aware of spiritual manifestations, for the devil has his influences as well. 

 The ability to associate with a spiritual being in your own personal way has become so common that we often forget that it is a gift. It is a deep connection that allows an individual to speak naturally and fluently in the unknown language. The string of sounds merge together effortlessly, rather you are familiar with the sounds or not. When speaking in tongues, the language is either glossolalia or xenolalia. With glossolalia, the speaker is uttering unknown words and sounds that are similar to his or her native language. The speaker is using that accustomed vocabulary to communicate with a higher spiritual being. Xenolalia is extremely similar, but slightly different. The speaker of xenolalia speaks very effortlessly in a language that is foreign to him or her. The naturalness of the speech was utilized to conduct missionary work in various locations around the world. No matter the location, the language barrier was automatically broken. In contrast, some believe that communicating in tongues is not only limited to God. Satan has human-like qualities just as God do, and he is willing to have his voice heard. When worshipping in tongues, there is a spiritual connection made prior. The speaker must decipher whether that communication is angelic though the Holy Spirit or demonic the Evil Spirit.