Are You Allowed To Pray In Tongues In Public

By Rev Albert Kang

In our Pentecostal culture, when a person, while in the sanctuary, begins to pray loudly in tongues, it normally indicates that his unknown tongue is meant for himself or someone to interpret. Therefore, interpreting tongues is required only when there is a definite prophetic message for the congregation. It’s on a need-to basis. Not every unknown tongue is meant for interpretation.

1 Corinthians 14:2 – “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”

What cessassionists do not distinguish is the difference in “praying tongues” and “speaking tongues”.

“Praying tongues” is meant to communicate with God and God alone. When a worshipper prays in tongues quietly or in a normal tone of voice while worshipping in a public place, it is understood that his is not in a “speaking tongues” mode but in a “praying tongues” mode. Thus his unknown tongues should not be interpreted. And such “praying tongues” is not disruptive or disorderly at all.

To claim that the Bible absolutely disallowed praying in tongues in a public setting is therefore not accurate or scriptural at all.

The Apostle Paul said, "So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner." (1 Corinthians 14:39-40)

From the above two verses, it is obvious that prophesy and tongues are allowed publicly. Paul admonishes us to “be eager to prophesy” and almost in anticipation of the cessationists, Paul added, “do not forbid speaking in tongues.”

By this context, the location of both activities was in the same vicinity. Prophesying and speaking in tongues were frequently practiced in the Church sanctuary– a public place.

They should never be “artificially” divided to mean that the “praying tongues” should be confined to private homes while the “speaking tongues” are the only one allowed in the Church sanctuary.

To further enhance our understanding, consider this fact - even in a public church's setting, all worshippers are allowed to pray privately, especially for private and personal matters. As long as they are not shouting and screaming for attention, this personal prayer should be allowed.

Paul did say that praying and singing in unknown tongues and praying with understanding are both acceptable in the Church setting (1 Cor 14:14-15).

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

Now, let’s see another scenario - what happens if a worshipper wants to pray in Cantonese privately in the Church? What if during the prayer time, another wants to pray in Vietnamese to the Lord? Would both believers be asked to leave just because they are using languages other than the language of the local congregation? Would they bring confusion to the other worshippers? Obviously not!

During the time of the Apostles, there were members of the congregation who spoke only Greek. While most spoke Aramaic and Hebrew. There were of course, believers who understood all three languages. As far as we know, these different language groups worshipped together. Even though, earlier in the Book of Acts, there were complaints by the Greek-speaking believers of their widows being discriminated in the distribution of food by the Hebrew-speaking believers (Acts 6:1), the Bible never states that they were worshipping separately.

By all these comparisons and reasonings, isn’t it true to state that Paul was not so much concerned about what languages the believers used in the Church sanctuary - whether the language be in a known or unknown tongue - especially when the individual worshippers are communicating their private and personal prayers to God.

On the other hand, if any worshipper screams and shouts his prayer in whatever language, he would be interrupting. He would be behaving wrong and will be considered as being out of order. The Church leadership will not allow him to continue in this loud and interruptive manner.

So, in conclusion, what was Paul concerned about? During his time, the Church in Corinth was not behaving maturely. After they had received the gift of tongues, they were all excited. There was a lack of self-control. Everybody spoke loudly and was screaming in tongues, in a childish desire and display for attention.

Those of us who had this type of “Pentecostal” encounter in the 1970s can testify to that kind of immaturity displayed among the members of the congregation. It was chaotic because every believer thought that by speaking in tongues loudly, they were holier, had more power and were more accepted by the Lord.

Paul's rebuke was for such kind of immature believers. He practically told them to behave and emphasized that everything should be done in order.

The key to the question whether one should be allowed to publicly pray in tongues is found in what Paul instructed - "So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner." (1 Corinthians 14:39-40). 

Everything should be done in order whether it is praying in known or unknown tongues.