If as I have, you’re wondering why you’ve never heard the gift of tongues in your church, it’s likely that your church isn’t welcoming of the Holy Spirit. That’s the very picture of the Laodicean church in Revelation 3 who by refusing the Holy Spirit shut the door on Jesus who sent Him to us (Revelation 3:20). In simple terms, Laodicean churches are non-charismatic, which is an evasive way of saying that they exclude the Holy Spirit from their services. By definition, when a church self identifies as non-charismatic it means that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit are unwelcome in their services. And since Jesus comes to us through the Holy Spirit, He is shut out of churches that do not welcome the Holy Spirit.

Yet even in Laodicean churches, I’ve met pastors with the gift of tongues, but whose congregations forbade them to use or even mention it. Doubtful they ripped the book of Acts and Paul’s letters out of their pew Bibles, rather, they simply asked their pastors not to preach from the passages that make them uncomfortable. After all, who doesn’t like the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13? It’s 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 where people get all worked up.

The manifestation of tongues and other expressive gifts of the Holy Spirit, is a real fear for many believers. Absent witnessing the genuine gift in a Biblical church setting and being taught about the Holy Spirit by someone who is gifted, versed in the Word and mature in the faith, all some people have to go by is farcical comedy shows like the Blues Brothers. Mention tongues and people envision a 3 ring circus-like church service with people flying about as if bouncing on trampolines and people being gripped by the Holy Ghost like an empty tube of Pepsodent and trying to squeeze out one last glob of toothpaste. One sweet sister who wanted to know about the gift of tongues asked me “If I speak in tongues while driving, will I need to pull my car over to the side of the road?”

Where it’s commonly taught that the Holy Spirit is received during water baptism and that’s all there is, the church has effectively raised a generation of believers who are unaware they can ask for MORE of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13) and His gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31). You’d think a believer would ask the question “if I received everything at my baptism, why does the Bible exhort me to ask for more of the Holy Spirit and His gifts?” Try as I might, I could never figure out why people who’ve read the Bible don’t question the beliefs and practices of their churches but blindly accept things as they are. There is clearly a huge disconnect between what the Bible says and what churches do.

I can tell you this, asking questions will almost certainly get you lumped. Having been driven out of a few congregations, it’s clear “non-charismatic” churches turn “anti-charismatic” if ever a believer who speaks in tongues joins the fold. In all the years the Holy Spirit sent my wife and I to “non-charismatic” churches, we never once used the gift in public. Nevertheless, where ignorance and fear rule over a congregation, members quickly turn mob-like to run off any threat to the status quo. In our case the results of our “spiritual gifts assessment” were leaked; members gossiped, rumors were started and people were gripped with fear that we might speak in tongues and thereby turn them into a “holy roller church”. Clearly they didn’t practice the principle of receiving those whom God sends as Jesus taught in the parable of the vineyard tenants (Matthew 21:33-41 and John 13:20). Specifically, to receive the one sent is to receive the sender. To refuse the one sent is to refuse the sender. Thus by driving us out of “their” church they drove out the Holy Spirit who sent us and lives in us (Matthew 25:31-46).

It’s difficult to admit, but such churches have fortified themselves against the Holy Spirit. They are a kind of spiritual “Jericho” whose walls serve to blockade God’s Spirit even while claiming to be a “House of God”. If people truly considered the principle of receiving the one whom God sends, it’s foolishness to think they can refuse the Holy Spirit and still have Jesus who sent Him.

Applying Jesus teaching to its logical conclusion, to refuse the Holy Spirit is to refuse Jesus who sent Him; to refuse Jesus is to refuse the Father who sent Him. What a dangerous game people play trying to parse the 3 persons of God like they do. In effect they say “We have Jesus; we don’t need that Holy Spirit stuff”. What fools! To reject the one rejects all three and will lead to hearing Jesus say the most terrifying words of all: “away from me, for I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).

In following wherever the Holy Spirit leads me, I’ve witnessed many examples of fear and resistance to Him and His gifts, especially tongues. The following are but a few of many such encounters with fear and ignorance. My purpose in sharing these stories with you? To help identify religious and spiritual abuse, anti-christ spirits, and encourage believers who are caught up in a Laodicean church, to come out unto Christ.

A few days after I received the gift of tongues, I told my pastor by email. We had exchanged cordial emails several times before and he regarded me well versed and among the more mature believers in his care. There was no reply. Perhaps he’s just busy, I thought. A few weeks later, it was my turn in the rotation of scripture readers to read before the sermon. The part was scripted and I read it verbatim. While I read, the pastor stood directly behind me which he had never done before with any other reader. Was he worried that I might speak in tongues or go off-script and share my testimony about it? Was he positioning himself to interrupt me if I did? Puzzled by his odd behavior, I asked a man in our home group what the church policy was for anyone who spoke in tongues during the service since he often served as an usher. He said it had never happened, but they’d “deal with it” if ever anyone did.

Shortly thereafter we moved out of the area and I wrote about the experience on a discussion forum. A few people said the ushers in their churches had been instructed to collar anyone who spoke in tongues and escort them out of the service. In retrospect, I’ve come to the conclusion that scripted religious services and the system of clergy rule over the laity, are intended to prevent the spontaneous participation of the Holy Spirit through the saints who are gifted with the expressive gifts.

In our new church, I showed the pastor an article I’d written that exhorted readers to ask Jesus for the “baptism with the Holy Spirit”. He took exception to the Biblical terminology I used and insisted I change it to “celebrate the Holy Spirit”. He required the change before he would approve it for publication in the church newsletter. Since the baptism was still new to me at the time, I consented to the change. In time I came to see the difference as a big one; the baptism with the Holy Spirit is all about intimate personal relationship with the indwelling Spirit; whereas celebrating the Holy Spirit in a tradition bound church is done in absentia – like throwing a party for someone who isn’t invited. The difference is as big as life and death.

When home group fellowship was established, people signed up for groups based on their interests. There were many topics offered, all submitted to and approved by the pastor. Three other married couples and a single woman joined us to study the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. I had reviewed a number of discovery Q&A type study books and selected one after discussion with the other members. It was Biblical, rooted in love and spoke to the complete body-life of a church. When we were 2 or 3 lessons into the book, the husband of a board member came to our house unannounced and demanded on behalf of the board that we abandon the book we were using and teach instead from the spiritual gifts assessment manual they used earlier that spring. The manual was expressly “non-charismatic” in that it omitted mention of the expressive and prophetic spiritual gifts found in Acts and the letters of Paul. As if to exert his authority the man claimed the church had “voted on it” which I knew to be a lie. It was also suspicious that it was the husband of a board member; no one on the board nor the pastor talked to me about their alleged “concerns”. Our group didn’t want to use the spiritual gifts assessment manual so we continued studying the book we selected together. Shortly thereafter, the pastor directed his secretary who was in our group, to break ties with us and ordered our group disbanded.

The same pastor summoned me to his office after the youth minister and I took the high school kids to a suburban church west of Chicago to attend a Sunday evening youth service. There was a talented youth band who led worship and an uplifting youth-oriented message. Unimpressed with the answers he extracted from the youth minister after interrogating him, the pastor demanded to know from me whether or not our youth had “been exposed to the gift of tongues”. I replied “no” and explained the church we took them to was protestant, very much like our church. Not satisfied with my answer, he began to grill me like he did the youth minister and I told him “Look, if God ever wants our youth “exposed” to tongues, all He has to do is direct me to use my gift of tongues when I’m with them.” The color drained from his face when he realized I’d been helping with the high school youth group for months by leading worship with my guitar. What I find especially funny about that experience, the pastor knew I had the gift of tongues from when my wife and I joined the church and disclosed our gifts on the membership application, but he didn’t make the connection until that moment.

In that same church, there were several retired ministers in attendance. The wife of a retired army chaplain demanded I tell her what portion of the article I wrote for the church newsletter was the result of speaking in tongues. She wanted the parts identified so they might be evaluated by a committee of church leaders and edited or censored as necessary, believing that to be a function of interpretation, and because “they did not want the gift of tongues to influence anyone to error”. I could only reply “you have no idea what you’re talking about” and ignored her. That you might understand how silly her request was, the article I wrote for the church newsletter was “Who Bakes Your Bread”. That was the first episode of “The Sons Are Free” podcast if you want to listen and judge for yourself.

On another occasion, she called to strong-arm me into joining a prayer group she was forming. She said “you’re a spiritual man and you owe it to the community to be in my prayer group”. Her manipulative tactics provoked the Spirit to anger and He prompted me to ask her “since you acknowledge the Spirit, tell me: may I pray in tongues in your prayer group”. She literally barked “NO!” and the Holy Spirit welled up and demanded she answer “by what spirit do you forbid the Holy Spirit”? For several moments, she stuttered and stammered finally saying “I … I don’t know”. She then resumed arm twisting and manipulation and I ended the conversation with “I’m not interested in being in a prayer group where the Holy Spirit is not welcome”.

The Father released me from that church but I continued to attended services with my wife until she too was released. I remember well our last time in attendance; it was supposed to be their lively 8am contemporary service. That morning it was so dead that the pastor and others on the platform looked to both of us like they were covered with ashes, even having a ghastly grayish pallor as if they were in mourning or attendants at a funeral. It wasn’t ‘ash Wednesday’ or anything like that, they just appeared that way. Had the Holy Spirit given us a shared “vision” to release and compel both of us, alive in Christ, to leave? There was not a second of hesitation from me when Karen said “let’s get out of here.” We never returned and thereafter studied and worshiped together at home.

Not long after leaving that church, I recorded a CD and gave one to a believer who listened to the first 5 songs and the next day asked about something I had written in the liner concerning the church I left. She wanted to know why and pressed me hard for an answer. I discerned a judgmental spirit and told her the plain truth of it: “I have the gift of tongues and several members told me it is unwelcome in their church. I pointed out from scripture that it is welcome in Jesus Church (1 Corinthians 14:26 and 39) and they in turn asked me to part ways with them.” The person hung her head and replied “you would not be welcome in my church either.” When next I saw her I asked if she’d listened to the remaining 5 songs and she replied “no” because she threw my CD in the trash after learning I speak in tongues.

Coming out of the Laodicean church doesn’t mean you’ll be left alone to live and walk with Jesus in peace. In the same way the scribes, pharisees and even His own family stalked and tormented Jesus, Laodicea will stalk and slander those who leave and go with Jesus. A year after leaving that faithless church, gossip and fear fomented a deceitful and divisive incident that pitted my own family against me. After hearing several new songs I’d written, my brother-in-law invited me to sing for the Sunday school class that he taught. I expressed the concern, which in hindsight was a word of prophecy, that church leaders would rise up and cause trouble for me. ‘Nonsense’ he replied, ‘it’s my class and I’m in charge.’ So I agreed to sing. On learning of the invitation, his co-teacher expressed fear to the new youth minister, 20 years my junior – who called to demand I come into his office that very afternoon and “present him with my testimony”. My long standing policy about pre-concert vetting interviews has always been to reply “I will be singing and testifying about Jesus”. If that isn’t enough of an assurance, I don’t book the concert. Such was my reply. When he insisted I submit to him, I asked “what’s this about”. He replied “I’ve heard things”.

Not interested in discussing the fears of idle gossipers, I declined whereupon he asserted his authority over my brother and his Sunday school class and dis-invited me. To my brother’s credit, he was angered and called to make sure I was OK before he confronted church leadership. The retired chaplain, whose Jezebel wife caused me grief several times before, was serving as interim pastor at the time. He hastily assembled a meeting with the youth minister and church chairman to smooth things over with my brother. He and his family remain members of that church and regard it their ‘church family’ in spite of the dogs treatment they gave me. The only thing my brother said after the meeting, is the youth minister claimed I swore at him. Since I wasn’t invited, I couldn’t confront his lie. Symbolically? Their deceit, together with my brother ignoring my initial concern and (in hindsight) word of prophecy, made an unwitting Judas of my brother that enabled leadership to make a mockery of me and assert their authority over him and discredit my witness of the Holy Spirit. Strangely, the song that started it all, that my brother wanted the high school kids to hear? It’s called “Echoing the Cross”. It’s about the many ways religious people crucify the Spirit of Christ all over again through persecuting His brothers in whom Christ lives. Indeed they crucified me in reputation.

In the midst of all the darkness, fear and ignorance we encountered, there was a light that gladdens my heart. A young women I met through the high school youth group came to see us after she graduated. She wanted prayer and the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit and tongues. The Lord prompted me to caution her first saying “are you sure you want the gift of tongues? Your pastor will tell you it is not permitted in her church”. The young woman replied “Oh yes, I want it very much”. And so we laid hands on her and prayed. She didn’t receive the gift of tongues then and there, but a few weeks later during a Wednesday night Bible study at her new church. During a quiet moment, the Holy Spirit came upon her, filled her and she began speaking in tongues. An elderly man in the group exclaimed “well Praise God!” even while the woman pastor moved swiftly across the room and clasped her by the shoulder and said “please stop, people will not understand”. Thus the pastor forbade young the woman to pray in tongues in “her” church. She left that church straight away and connected with a charismatic ministry where she worked in administration. We saw her once more after that, at a Bible book store where we got caught up with her. She was joyful for the fullness of the Holy Spirit and her new spiritual gifts; for me, she was a light and hope.

It is written that all things work together for the good and while many of the experiences were frustrating at the time, they caused me to grow and mature. That’s a good thing. The experiences also prepared me to share my testimony with others who are experiencing similar hostility in their church. By faith I believe there is benefit for those who were involved; eyes opened, hearts softened. Certainly life would have been easier if I’d just kept quiet and to myself. But isn’t assembling with other believers supposed to be about sharing our portion – our witness – with love and in order? Isn’t that what 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 is all about? But when order turns authoritarian and controlling and the Holy Spirit is run out of a church, like it was at Laodicea, perhaps God’s remedy is some in-their-faces witnessing to break off oppressive bonds. So I have no regrets.

But I’m unfit to judge Laodicea. I was once a card-carrying member of that church who helped build and sustain it. The only reason I’ve left it? The Father gave me ears to hear Jesus knocking. Answering the door was the beginning of the end to the rule of fear over my life. For He who knocks is perfect love and perfect love casts out all fear.

If you are in a Laodicean church and should hear the Lord knocking, do not hesitate to answer. There is nothing to fear about His Spirit and the gifts He wants to give you. Just ask. Love to all.

Lessons Learned

Tongues are a sign for the unbeliever. Don’t assume the unbeliever is someone else. The unbeliever may well be you and the gift of tongues has been given to you to grow your faith, teach and conform you to the likeness of Christ.

Regardless of whether you attend a charismatic or non-charismatic church, or you are a sojourner in this life who like Enoch or John the Baptist, walk alone with God in the wilderness and take fellowship only when God arranges it, share your gifts and revelations ONLY when and where He leads. Sharing indiscriminately and out of turn can harm those not prepared to receive your portion and it will almost always get you lumped for your effort.

In the midst of darkness, remember the Light is in you. It burns brightly, which is why there is such fear and resistance. Let the Light illuminate your way and rejoice when it sets others alight.

Scriptures

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 ESV)

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31 ESV)

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” (Matthew 21:33-41 ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13:20 ESV)

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7 ESV)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:23 ESV)

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged. (1 Corinthians 14:26-31 ESV)

So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. (1Corinthians 14:39 ESV)