Tongues & Baptists

The recent flap over the Dwight McKissic sermon at Southwestern again brings to the forefront the subject of Baptists and tongues, or the politically correct term "private prayer language." That's the term Baptists like to use to make sure they are not getting mixed up with the tongue speakers in Pentecostal/charismatic groups. In essence, that is still what we're talking about. McKissic was highly critical of the International Mission Board of Trustees over its decision to not appoint missionaries who claim to speak in tongues. Are they right in doing so?

The idea of a private prayer language comes from 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul attempts to set in some kind of order the confusion brought out by the use tongues in worship. In 14:2 Paul wrote: "For the person who speaks in [another] language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit." In 1 Cor 14:14 Paul writes: "For if I pray in [another] language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful" [HCSB]. The term translated "another language" in the HCSB is "tongue." Do these verses demand the idea of a private prayer language. In both cases the answer is no. In v. 2 all Paul is saying is that when one speaks in tongues only God can understand him/her [if an interpreter is not present]. In v. 14 the apostle seems to only be saying that when one prays in tongues he/she cannot understand what is being said. Neither of these verses require the idea of a private prayer language.

Clearly in 1 Cor 12-14 tongues are seen by Paul as a spiritual gift. In chapters 12 and 14 he is clear that tongues are to be used to glorify God and build up the church. Spiritual gifts are not individual-centered but corporate-centered. In other words, they are not for the building up of the individual [although they do that] but for the building up of the church. Spiritual gifts are not a "private" matter but a "corporate" matter.

All of our experiences must be examined in light of Scripture. Is there such a thing then as a "private" prayer language? I would like to see an example of it in Scripture to be convinced. I don't find that example. Although I at first was critical of the IMB position, I believe now that the trustees were correct.