MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St. Mark

St. Mark 16: 15-18 (Part 2)

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SPEAKING with new tongues. This sign following has caused much controversy within the church in recent time. However there is no evidence that the gift which the apostles were given on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 was anything other than the miraculous ability to speak all the different languages of the people attending the feast at that time. It is plain that the gift gave the disciples supernaturally the ability to make themselves understood to all these different nationalities by being able to speak their languages. There is no other reasonable interpretation of the narrative in Acts 2. Thus the gift given is the ability of communication, so that the Gospel can be proclaimed to all nations. This is a very necessary gift for missionary work. Missionaries must not only be able to speak a foreign language but also to be fluent in it. This gift has been known throughout the history of mission in the church. Even missionaries who have naturally little gift for learning foreign languages have been given the ability to speak the language of the people to which they have been sent.

However, the question is whether the gift of tongues which Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12 is the gift of speaking foreign languages or some ecstatic utterance which enhances the worshippers sense of the presence and love of God. I personally can't speak from experience, because I certainly have not been given such a gift by the Spirit of God. Certain things can be said with certainty from Scripture. That such an ecstatic gift is expressed would be supported by the fact that others are given the gift of interpreting the tongue. This seems to indicate that the one who has tongues does not understand the words. The blessing is simply in spiritual perception of God. Further it is totally wrong to teach that everybody can and should have this gift, and that it is a sign of being baptised by the Spirit. Paul makes it plain in 1 Corinthians 12 that it is only one of the gifts of the Spirit, that the many gifts of the Spirit are distributed sovereignly by the Spirit, and that the Spirit gives one gift to one person and another gift to another, and there is no gift that is common to all.

Paul also makes plain in 1 Corinthians 13 that the gift of tongues of itself is no guarantee of spiritual life or well-being. It was plain that many in Corinth had a spurious manifestation of it, because they lacked the love which is the only sure indication that a person is endowed with the Spirit of God. In fact Paul makes quite plain in 1 Corinthians 13 that the devil can counterfeit all these gifts, and so apparently having them does not insure that a person is born again. In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul also makes plain that the gift of tongues is far from being the most important gift of the Spirit. If we possess the gift it is a blessing given by God for which we give thanks, but we are no better than another believer for having it. Further it is a private gift for our own spiritual well-being and has no benefit for others. The important grace that Paul emphasises in 1 Corinthians 13 is to have love - the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, which causes the believer to love others as Christ has loved us.

The next sign mentioned concerning handling poisonous snakes and drinking deadly poison certainly requires that we handle this with care. Nowhere in the Bible is there anything to suggest that the Christian can handle poisonous snakes with impunity, or can drink poison any time and still not be harmed. There is only one example of the handling of a snake. This was the case of Paul on Mileta when the snake grasped his hand from the fire, and Paul shook it off without sustaining any harm. This case is instructive. Plainly Paul was protected by the Lord in order that he would be able to continue his planned work for God. Also it affirmed Paul in the eyes of the people as a servant of God, and not a criminal. This is instructive because it gives the idea of this sign we are considering. It was the assurance that God would protect his servants in their service for him, even from things that would normally be fatal. The idea is of protection when these dangers come by chance or by force. God's servants are protected until their work is done. Then the Lord gathers them into his everlasting kingdom where they are safe for ever more.

For believers to expose themselves to the danger of snakes and poison wilfully, or for exhibition, would be sin and presumption, and would sever them from God's protection. God's gifts are never given for our self glory or selfish use.

The last sign of healing the sick is one the church has always taken seriously. Sickness is one of the most common and prolific disorders that Satan has sown in our world. No human being ever goes through life without experiencing some sickness. We all suffer and we all need healing. There is also sickness of the mind as well as the body.

The question arises as to what the churches ministry of healing consists of, and whether miraculous healing without the use of medical, etc. means is the norm. It is fact that the apostles healed far less than Jesus did. In fact there are only one or two cases mentioned in the Acts, and the cases diminish markedly as we proceed though to the end of Acts. Plainly the gift of healing was a sign to authentic both the Apostles and the Gospel they preached. When the Gospel had been authenticated the same need for the sign of miraculous healing ceased. However there has always been examples of miraculous healing in the church from time to time, though the healing ministry of the church would seem to be more that of prayer, and caring and love, as somebody is healed through the means God has given in medicine in our day.

There has always been, in certain sections of the church, great claims for healing. Some have said it is God's will that we should never be sick, so miraculous healing always is to be expected. Others don't go as far as this but exercise a healing ministry where they claim spectacular results. Unfortunately when claims of healing are examined, it is found that the claimants are reluctant to speak about the cases, and where the facts become known, the claims are so often found to be spurious. Miraculous healing does take place from time to time, but it is not so common as we may like or suppose, and God gives it sovereignly as he wills. That a believer may pray for such healing is surely right, but always with submission to the loving will of God.

These thoughts on these signs have been given at some length, and with certain trepidation. I am quite ready to acknowledge that my understanding is inadequate. Each believer needs to face these signs before God and come to their own conclusions. What ever our conclusion may be, we should not judge or look down on others we don't agree with.