From time to time certain things I hear will rub me the wrong way. That happened tonight as I heard an online preacher who seems to be running a multi-level marketing scheme, connect his good fortune in life to when he was radically saved.

Now, in the past I have heard others use this expression but it bothered me tonight, probably because I was of the frame of mind that this fellow may not even be truly born again. I will leave that to the Lord to decide, but using terminology like radically saved does seem to be self promoting if you ask me.

All who are saved are saved by the grace and mercy of God, and the moment you describe your salvation in a way that doesn’t align with how all are saved (by the grace and mercy of God) something’s a-miss in your understanding of what salvation is all about.

In the New Testament the apostle Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ in which he was blinded by the glory of the Lord. Paul immediately surrendered to the Lord and became a servant of Christ. In the New Testament Paul speaks of his salvation numerous times and never once does he use such hyper descriptions such as radically saved, to describe what happened. Paul always boasts in the grace and mercy of God. Here is one example:

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. ~ 1 Timothy 1:12-16

It would serve us well to guard against self promotion and learn to recognize it when it comes to the things of the Lord. Without the grace and mercy which is found in Christ Jesus, we would all be lost in our sins. It doesn’t matter if you were a drug dealer or a choir boy, we are all saved by the same power, and that is through God’s glorious grace.

May God give us all understanding.

The young and unseasoned in grace like to see themselves as more than they actually are. They like to see themselves as apostles or prophets, because these are special callings and if there were a title that superseded that of apostle, their desire for self promotion would lust for that title. Such was the case with the title Bishop in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Pastor wasn’t good enough, the title bishop had more shine to it.

These titles aren’t often a reflection of the call of God on a person’s life, but a reflection of their cry for relevance or quest for notoriety. The fruit is not that of a deep sense of surrender to the Living Christ, but their own fame and popularity. If someone were truly called to such a ministry, their would be a tendency not to promote themselves as such.

In Ephesians, Paul refers to himself as, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles… (3:1), 
As qualified as Paul was, he never once referred to himself as an apostle to the Jews. Though an apostle indeed, Paul never took it upon himself to boast as an apostle to his Jewish brethren. Paul did preach the gospel to the Jews, but his apostleship was limited to the Gentiles. Furthermore, Paul did not see his apostleship as something for promoting himself, but an as a prisoner arrested for Christ’s sake among the Gentiles.

Being a Jewish scholar, Paul was actually overqualified to be a minister to the Gentiles. Thus Paul had to rely on the grace of God to fulfill his calling to the Gentiles.

The sad truth is, many who refer to themselves as apostles or prophets have no real understanding as to what either ministry was about within the pages of the scriptures. For many, the title apostle or prophet is an opportunity to advance themselves. If they truly understood that as an apostle, they would be called as a missionary, and possibly called to a poor nation where they would have to work and minister to the people without any fame, many of them would never desire such a calling, True apostleship is not in them, to promote themselves is.

You cannot be an apostle, and pursue being a wealthy or celebrity preacher, which is what many of them are actually seeking after. The calling of an apostle is a call to a humble lifestyle without pomp and fame.

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. ~ The Apostle Paul

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Maybe you have never considered what I am about to tell you but it is important to know. According to Paul’s own words, this epistle which we refer to as 1 Corinthians, is spiritual milk and not meat. When I consider this in view of the theological gymnastics that some folks employ to discredit the spiritual gifts which Paul expounds on in 1 Corinthians 12-14, it truly is telling of the state of carnality within the modern day church. 

I recently watched a clip of a well known minister that some of you would recognize if I mentioned his name. He claimed that when Paul says, “he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not unto men, but unto God” that Paul is referring to pagan false gods that the Corinthians once worshipped.

This is disturbing because there is absolutely nothing within the context of 1 Corinthians 12-14 that would lead any reader to reach such a conclusion. Even though 1 Corinthians 12-14 (which expounds on the gifts of the Spirit) is written in such an elementary way, this minister chooses to read it through the lens of his reformed theological indoctrination.

If your reformed theology won’t allow you to understand and receive the milk of God’s Word, your reformed theology needs reforming. If I sound a little perturbed, it’s because I am. I am sick of all the efforts by some to “expose” others while they themselves get away with embalming their listeners with unbelief.

This same minister refers to the gifts of the Spirit as apostlic sign gifts, which authenticated the ministry of the apostles. Yet, Paul explains the gifts of the Spirit as gifts that are distributed within the body of Christ to each member as the Spirit wills, and he does so in very simplistic terms, like that of feeding milk to a baby.

There is absolutely no excuse for any minister (who ought to be spiritual) to make such confusion of what is said in such simplistic terms in the New Testament. An unbeliever with good reading and comprehension skills could tell you that Paul is addressing the proper use of the gifts within the body of Christ (the church) and correcting the misuse and abuses of the same, especially tongues.

The Corinthians were carnal believers with envy, strife, and divisions among them and we ought to understand that if carnal believers in Paul’s time could misuse the gifts so can carnal believers in our day. There is a bigger problem within the Western church than false teachers, and that problem is carnality. Such carnality runs rampant among those who believe in the gifts, but it also seems to run rampant among many who want to expose the errors of others.

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul says that tongues serves as a sign to the unbeliever. What exactly does he mean?

I recently heard someone attempt to explain this. They said that if they were to travel to Japan and began to speak to someone in Japanese about the truths of God, the person to whom they were speaking would know it was supernatural because he does not know Japanese.

Now, this is a terrible take if you ask me. Allow me to explain why.

If the person who gave this example were to travel to Japan and speak to someone there in Japanese, the hearer certainly would not think it was supernatural simply because he spoke the language. They would likely think he knows how to speak Japanese. In Acts 21 when Paul spoke Greek, it got the chief captain’s attention, but he didn’t think there was anything supernatural about it.

And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? ~ Acts 21:37

As an American, when I see an English speaking Asian, Indian, Hispanic, or any other nationality, I never think it’s a supernatural occurrence, because it isn’t. They simply know English. If I were in Japan and suddenly had the ability to speak Japanese (a language I can not speak), the only people who would know that it is a supernatural occurrence would be me and anyone traveling with me. However, if I spoke to them in their language words which revealed secrets in their heart, they would know that God had spoken to them.

Tongues are a sign to the unbeliever by the message it conveys. When Paul says that tongues are a sign to the unbeliever, he doesn’t say it in the context of speaking to foreigners in their native language. He says it within the context of an unbeliever coming into a church service.

Now, let’s unpack this a little more. First, consider Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 14:5, I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

In verses 2-4, Paul has said that the one who speaks with tongues edifies himself, and the one who prophesies edifies others (the church). It is in this context that he now says greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues. Paul wanted the Corinthians to desire the gift of prophecy so that they would edify others within the church. This emphasis on prophecy early in chapter 14 comes immediately after Paul’s emphasis on love in chapter 13, which he refers to as the more excellent way.  

The true gift of prophecy is an expression of love because it seeks to edify others, whereas speaking in tongues only edifies oneself, and in a public assembly this is inconsiderate of others. This is why Paul says, greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues.

Paul doesn’t stop there. He then adds, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Paul is equating tongues and the interpretation, with prophesy. When interpreted, tongues serves the same purpose as the gift of prophecy which is the edification of others.

When reading 1 Corinthians 14 it is important to keep in mind that prophecy and tongues with the interpretation are one in the same, serving the same purpose. Let that sink in, because that is exactly what Paul is saying when he says, greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Prophecy edifies others (the church), and so does tongues with the interpretation. Now, with this in mind consider Paul’s words later in this chapter.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:22-26 

Now these verses can be somewhat confusing if we do not keep in mind that Paul has established that tongues with interpretation are equal with prophecy. Paul says that tongues are a sign to them that believe not, then shortly thereafter he says, If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

If tongues are a sign to the unbeliever, why does Paul say that the unbeliever would say you are mad if they walk into a service where everyone is speaking in tongues?

It is because Paul is referring to tongues with no interpretation, in contrast to prophesy, and if we will keep in mind that tongues with interpretation is equal to prophesy, this section of scripture will make sense. Now let’s look at this section of scripture again with the mindset that Paul is referring to both prophecy and tongues with interpretation when he uses the word prophecy because they accomplish the same thing.

Wherefore tongues (tongues with the interpretation) are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues (without interpreting), and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy (prophesy or tongues with the interpretation), and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:22-26

Now, notice what Paul says next.

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ~ v 27-28

Paul’s reason for instructing the Corinthians that there must be the interpretation if any speaks with tongues in a church assembly was for the benefit of those who were unlearned or unbelievers.

Now, using the example from the beginning of this article, if I were to fly to Japan and suddenly be empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak to someone in Japanese, the thing that would prove to them that God is speaking through me would not be my ability to speak Japanese. It would be the message spoken to them as it revealed the secrets of their heart.

This is how they would know God had spoken through me to them.

In closing, Paul says, But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Notice the contrast. If no interpreter is present, keep silent in the church, but you may speak (in private) to yourself and God! This clearly underscores the truth that the gift of tongues can be used in prayer in our private devotion to God.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith… ~ 2 Timothy 4:7

Living for Christ is a marathon, not a sprint, and as believers we go through many changes and stages in our Christian experience. We must continue to grow and mature in Christ, or we will begin to wither away. Fiery zeal and passion is a trait that burns in the heart of the spiritually young, but as we grow older we ought to become seasoned in wisdom, grace, and love.

When I was 25 years old with the call to preach burning in me, I thought being spiritual was preaching, and having dreams and visions. Now I understand that it’s serving my wife and being a Christ-like example to my son, and walking in honesty, integrity, and truth. The funny thing is, the same Spirit of Christ that implanted a passion in my heart for sharing the Word of God is the same Spirit that prompts me to serve my wife.

When I was a senior in High School, I began attending a Bible Study that was held just up the road from where I lived. The man who led the Bible study became somewhat of a mentor to me over the next couple of years or so (I will refer to him as my friend the rest of the way in this post). Being hungry for the things of God, I spent a lot of time with him, and for those memories I am grateful. However, as time passed I witnessed a man who failed short of the grace he was called to walk in.

He and his wife eventually separated and his children became distanced from him. His wife later developed cancer and passed away. The announcement that he and his wife were separating coincided with his bringing an end to the Bible study. There were lots of good friendships developed among those of us who attended.

I can remember standing in the kitchen at his home and talking with his wife not long before the separation. She vented to me about his lack of doing simple things around the house which pertained to basic upkeep. I am sure she told me more, but this always stuck with me. He was a spiritual man, so I thought, but his spiritually had not translated to him rolling up his sleeves and making repairs to their home or at least calling someone who could do those repairs.

The prior owners of this home were friends of my family and it was a well kept home according to my childhood memory. Years later, it would go down hill as my friend failed to take care of it, and today it’s empty, rotting, with overgrown vegetation. It literally needs to be plowed down and cleared from the lot. The very same house that I had had so many discussions with him about the Lord is now dilapidated because he didn’t give it the attention and maintenance the home needed.

How sad.

This house truly speaks volumes to me about the Christian experience, and life in general. The sad reality is that it is a reflection of the spiritual value my friend placed on his marriage and it speaks volumes regarding his lack of growth in the grace of God he was called into. I can remember so many testimonies regarding dreams, visions, and other supernatural experiences he had claimed he had with the Lord, but when it came to real life, he couldn’t pick up a wrench and fix a leaking pipe of call someone to repair the bathroom floor that was caving in. This was his wife’s complaint if I remember correctly.

In the New Testament the apostle Paul wrote the following to Timothy:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The word of God makes the man of God thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Nothing speaks to the true character of Christ in a man more than how he values his wife, his children, and those that God has entrusted to him as family. In the book of Ephesians, Paul tells the men to love their wives as Christ loves the church and gave himself for her.

As me and my wife are in the early stages of our senior years this is something that really matters to me and because I made the vow to love my wife as Christ loved the church when we married, the conviction of the Lord abides continually in my heart to finish my race and to finish it strong. My walk with Christ and my love for my wife are inseparable, and if any man does not understand this, he does not yet understand the manner of man God has called you to be. 

Over the time I knew my friend, I noticed the flawed tendencies which aligned with what his wife had told me, and to my knowledge he never corrected them. They ultimately affected the most important relationships in his life, namely his family. When he died before he turned 60, he left behind his second wife that he had met on a mission trip to the Philippines, along with their son, a young boy. To my knowledge, his first son was still distanced from him, and to my knowledge his daughter was in the dark world of drugs and possibly prostitution. It was a bad road either way.

It isn’t supposed to end this way.

I do not write this to condemn him or anyone who has had a similar experience. My point is, the longer we serve Christ, the more like Christ we ought to become. And this Christ likeness to which we are called should show up first and foremost at home. No one knows us like those who live with us.

It’s one thing to have zeal for a season and to have a hunger for the things of God, but when the Lord calls you, it’s for the long game. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. The relationships we are intrusted with by God should not deteriorate if we are being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

If you have read to this point, I urge you not to finish like my friend. Instead, finish strong, and leave a testimony that you were faithful to God with the lives he entrusted into your care. Love your spouse, love your children, and care for the people that God puts in your life.

Everyone starts out wanting to win the world and reach the multitudes, but the reality is as we grow old, God is pleased when we serve Christ by loving those he entrusted to us.