“²³Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? ²⁴But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ²⁵the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.”

Is there a positive role for tongues in the church? Again, Paul uses hyperbole. If the gift of tongues is as big a deal as the Corinthians were making it out to be, then it would be a good thing for everyone to speak in tongues. However, the result would be that unbelieving visitors to the church (presumably not foreign language speakers) would think the Christians are insane. The logic of this would be unassailable, so Paul puts it in the form of a question that begs an affirmative answer. By “ungifted” he probably means believers who cannot understand the message supposedly given in the foreign language.

On the other hand, if all were to prophesy, the results would be diametrically contrary to that of tongues in the church. There would be conviction (for unbelievers) and accountability (for believers). The writer to the Hebrews put it this way:

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Heb. 4:12–13)

However, that is only the case when people understand the message, not when the message is given in an unintelligible language. When spoken clearly, the word of God yields supernatural results. This is illustrated excellently in the account of Jesus speaking with the woman at the well about her many husbands and current domestic situation. She responded, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet,” and later as she talked with her townspeople, she said, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” (John 4:17, 29). That is the conviction that results from the word being spoken clearly, the spiritual gifts being used properly, and prophecy taking precedence over tongues. God’s people will humbly worship Him and not focus on self-benefit, and God’s presence will be clear. The gift of tongues does not accomplish this in the church since its purpose was for communication in evangelism.

Lord, thank You for giving us the clear and convicting Word which, through its power in our lives, demonstrates that You are among us.