Today, speaking in unknown tongues and chanting is often used by preachers on the altar to “electrify” the congregation during meetings. The goal is to make people emotional and charged, after which they are instructed to burst forth in tongues. These tongues are the “Tongues of Babel”—a false unity. The Lord will bring confusion to such tongues.
The Origin of Babel: A Kingdom Built on Self-Glory
It is called Babel (meaning “confusion”) because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth (Genesis 11:9). God scattered them so that they could fulfill the divine mandate given to Adam and Noah: to fill the earth (Genesis 1:28; 9:1).
Babel is the beginning of the kingdom of Nimrod. Nimrod was a man of deviance against divine authority to fill the earth. He was the first man on earth to claim to be a mighty one on earth against God. A self-grandeur, self-acclaimed, self-honoured, self-glorified man. The spirit at work in him is the same spirit at work in the children of Seth — the sons of God, who claimed to be renowned men. This act of the sons of God in Genesis 6 made God destroy the earth with the flood.
So it is with any unknown tongue or chanting that proceeds from the minister on the altar to inspire the congregation. When it is without interpretation, it does not build the body of Christ—it builds Babel. It becomes a tongue of confusion, promoting the minister, not God. God does not want any man to take His glory or to be worshipped, and He wanted the fulfilment of His first Great Commission (Genesis 1:28), to the first man, Adam, to be completed. That is why He scattered them at Babel to different places—so they could fill the earth, but unfortunately with the life and nature of Adam.
The Opposite at Pentecost: God Receives the Glory
The opposite of what happened at Babel happened on the day of Pentecost. The promised Holy Ghost came down on the disciples as a cloven tongue like as of fire, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. It is the Holy Ghost that gives utterance to speak, so that God alone is glorified.
Acts 2:2-4 — And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
At the day of Pentecost, God was preparing to fill the earth—not with the life of the first Adam, which had been corrupted and scattered, but with the life of the last Adam, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45). God gathered the God-fearing Jewish proselytes (converts to Judaism) from every nation under heaven—the generations of people scattered at Babel into distinct nations, languages, and cultures, yet now some dwelling as pilgrims in Jerusalem. They gathered to hear all their languages from the disciples. The disciples were given utterance by the Spirit, not by man. Thus they could not glorify themselves like Nimrod; only God was glorified. No disciple sought glory over the people or nation to whom he proclaimed the gospel in their own language.
Acts 2:5-12 — Now there were staying in Jerusalem, God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
After they heard the wonderful works of God in their native tongues, the Holy Spirit convicted their hearts and about three thousand souls (Jews and proselytes) were saved (Acts 2:41). Representatives from every nation received the life, faith, and Spirit of the last Adam—Jesus Christ. God then sent them forth (the second Great Commission—Acts 1:8) to fill the earth—not with the confusion of Babel, but with the gospel of Jesus Christ. When they were reluctant to fill the earth with the gospel of Jesus, God permitted persecution to scatter them: “At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).
The Pattern for Corporate Worship
The Apostle Paul gives us clear guidelines for orderly worship in 1 Corinthians 14. While some people cite certain passages to justify chanting, the word “chanting” itself is not directly found in Scripture. I am not against people chanting, as long as they have received it from God. However, I believe such expressions should remain between them and God—and not necessarily be expressed publicly on the altar. Whatever other brethren cannot understand should not proceed from the altar.
This same principle applies to speaking in an unknown tongue. If there is no one to interpret its meaning for the edification of the entire church, then the speaker “should remain silent in the meeting, content to speak to himself and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:28). This is for personal edification alone. The same guideline should apply to chanting as well.
Paul confirms this principle clearly:
“So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air… But I am like a foreigner if I do not understand the language, and the speaker will be like a foreigner to me. You are so passionate about embracing the manifestations of the Holy Spirit! Now become even more passionate about the things that strengthen the entire church.” (1 Corinthians 14:9, 11-12).
“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.” (1 Corinthians 14:14-17).
“I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.” (1 Corinthians 14:18-19).
“If the entire church comes together and everyone is speaking in tongues, will not the uninformed say that you are out of your mind? If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:23, 27-28).
When tongues are not interpreted, the church is not edified. The speaker may be giving thanks well, but the other person is not built up (1 Corinthians 14:17). True spiritual gifts operate in order, with interpretation, so that the whole body may receive instruction and encouragement.
Let us pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy and speak words that build up the church (1 Corinthians 14:1, 4-5). Let us not build Babel, seeking our own glory. Let us instead, like the disciples at Pentecost, be vessels through whom God alone is glorified, as He fills the earth with the life of His Son.
Action point: Thirst for the baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire. Follow after love in your church and seek for spiritual gift that will build up the believers. Do not be desirous of self glory.
