Question:  Dear Greg,

            Do we need to work for the gift of tongues or does God give it to us as something he wants us to have?  Also, is it wrong to speak in tongues in a church without someone interpreting?  I thank you.

            God bless,

            Travis

Answer:  Dear Travis,

            A gift is a gift—it is not earned, worked for or qualified.  Paul clearly says that tongues-speaking should be interpreted by another so that all can be edified, rather than simply calling attention to the one speaking in tongues (whether of God or not).  See 1 Corinthians 14.  Paul places tongue-speaking in perspective in this chapter when he says that he spoke in tongues more than anyone (verse 18), but that he would rather “speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue” (verse 19).

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht