Tongues of Fire

In reading Chapter 3 of Mark Quonstrom's work, A Century of Holiness Theology, the often volatile subject of speaking in tongues as evidence of sanctification is broached. We understand that the gifts of the spirit are to benefit the church; the body as a whole, we can see how speaking in tongues may not be deemed as beneficial to the whole, where as gifts such as leadership, discernment, wisdom, etc. would be useful to the holiness of the whole.

As a church in the Wesleyan Holiness movement, it is evident that with such a great emphasis on becoming Holy (having a perfect love for God and man) such an unnerving and often divisive gift such as speaking in tongues would come into question with regard to its benefits. It was one gift that seems too often sought. It unfortunately becomes the end goal of seeking the Holy Spirit in one’s life. Therefore, replacing the benefit of having the Holy Spirit (which is a gift) and not the gifts that He could give. In other words, seeking the gifts and not the Giver of the gifts became the priority with many.

I do like the fact that we don’t ignore that it is a gift, and don’t ignore that the Holy Spirit imparts that gift, but by placing a lesser priority on that gift, the Church of the Nazarene has once again affirmed its belief in corporate holiness - a holiness that benefits the whole body in its practice and perfection.