Place & Language

From the previous article, I talked about how our cultures affect or influence our communication. In that instance, I talked about the aspect of languages of cultures.

Still under the topic of tongues, I have another theory. Places as well affect language. In France, expect French to be the dominant language. In Germany, expect German to be the dominant language. In the Ugandan Soroti district, expect ateso to be the dominant language.

God was telling me the other day, that some people have not activated the language of tongues because of their place, or positioning.

This could be the place of doubt. I have met many Christians who doubt that that gift would ever get to them. Even when the Spirit is dwelling in them, they still think that they have to do extra to receive that language.

This could be a place of bias. I noticed as I grew up that the gift of tongues never came to those who shunned it. Some of our Anglican or Catholic believers do not want to be associated with the ‘hooliganism’ they’ve seen portrayed by some loud charismatics as they bellowed in speaking in tongues.

Others are in the place of shame. I have observed those that would feel ashamed to have such a language. This could come due to the position of ignorance. For indeed, if someone doesn’t know the preciousness of a language, or anything, they’d not bother treasuring it, let alone owning it.

Many years ago, when Daniel, Hananiah, Misheal, and Azariah went to ancient Babylon, they would not stick to the Hebrew language. They had to learn and be taught Aramaic, the language dominant in the land of their enslavement.

A change of place evoked a change of language.

When the Israelites moved to Egypt due to that 7-year-long-famine, and settled in Goshen, they’d to learn the Egyptian language if they were to commune and trade with them. It was as well inevitable. For after about a century, they reproduced and were permanently in Egypt. Even the 400 years of enslavement that they suffered, that’s such a long time for them not to learn Coptic.

Moses grew up as an Egyptian. But as rulers, I am sure they’d to know some Hebrew, if they were to decode what the Israelites were speaking in their mother tongue. Otherwise a coupe d’etat could have happened by them speaking a language the Egyptians couldn’t understand.

In all these things, what am I saying?

A change of place is a profound factor that affects the change of a language.

Let’s apply the same to this language of the Spirit. Unlike the earthly languages, this one doesn’t need ‘learning’. And it has no alphabet nor nouns or pronouns or conjunctions or superlative forms. It has no past tenses … which seems to be good, but what language can be learned in a day, and the rest of life is only spent focusing on just speaking the language more!

Those who desire tongues then—I deem— should shift from their places of doubt, places of shame, places of ‘I-think-that’s-cultic’, and move to places of understanding, places of desire—of this language specifically— places of deeper prayer, for there’s a place beyond which English or local languages can’t ascend or avail much. It has to be God Himself to speak in order for one to affect change…

And once one has changed from these places, it’ll be like moving to dwell permanently in France, for the French language will have to be ‘learned’ by default. Then, they’ll freely communicate with the people there, just like one will communicate to God specifically.

Adding to the point of desire, we have to approach this as a child. Children love to learn. They are pure. If I asked an adult if they’d love to learn a new language, especially where I come from, they’ll bark saying ‘for what?’. They will fall back to the factor that they can already communicate in a language or two and so no need for another.

‘I am sure God can understand me while I use this one to pray!’

Well, so does the devil!

And God’s goal is for the enemy not to intercept or interfere as you talk to Him which I think is pretty romantic.

When I received the gift of tongues at 11, I was in a place and at an age where I didn’t ask questions. I just knew I had to have them. I didn’t say ‘God can hear me in English’. I wasn’t ashamed of the language. I didn’t doubt that God was in my heart. I was all things positive. And then one afternoon in a fellowship, I started speaking this…this gibberish, and I have become fond of it the last 13 years.

And my prayer life has been very very enjoyable!

That day, I was in a specific place. Not just allegorical, but literally. I was in my school dining hall that used to turn into the ‘Holy of Holies’ every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Maybe you (who hasn’t received them) needs to get into a community where it’s predominant. You’ll find that a language can be learnt from others who know it perfectly. And just like how by association some of us learn a bit of that, and how to greet in a random language, this kind of association will also find this language being rubbed onto us . . . and into . . . us

Another theory I submit!

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1 Corinthians 12:31a But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). [AMP]