Tongues and Anti-Intellectualism
Often those who believe in the “full gospel” are accused of being anti-intellectual. Many are accused are promoting experience over scripture, taking verses out of context, yada, yada, yada. As a full gospel believer, I do not see where intellectualism and the workings of the Holy Ghost are mutually exclusive. Indeed, continued revelation of God’s Word and His work in the plan of redemption demonstrate just how brilliant it all is. But this does remind me of something from law school.
In my first year of law school, I was very fortunate to do well and grade on to the law review. In my second year, I began dating a girl whose grades were middle-of-the-road which didn’t bother me a bit. But it bothered her. It seemed to bother her all the time. Anyway, one day we were at my apartment and some question about the meaning or use of some word came up. I said it was this way (I don’t remember this part of the conversation that well) and she said it was that way. I found myself in one of those “relationship” moments. One of those times where I didn’t think it was a big deal at all, but apparently she did. So, to answer the question, she looked for a dictionary. She found one and while she was thumbing through it she muttered that she had taught English for so many years and “so she knows.” She also said she couldn’t wait to prove me wrong. She came to the page and looked with horror to see that I was right.
I thought it was going to end there. But she asked me how it was that I “knew everything.” Again, I wasn’t taking all this too seriously. I said, “I study a lot and I pray in tongues.” She dropped the dictionary on the ground and came to within 3 inches of my nose. “What did you say?” “I said that I study a lot and I pray in tongues.” She screamed at the top of her voice and she literally fled. The screen door knocked against the door frame while I heard the squeal of rubber speed away. I didn’t have a clue.
About six hours later, I saw her at the commons area at school. She looked like an emotional wreck. (I had tried calling, but no luck). I asked, “What on earth happened to you?” She said, “Since we’ve met I have always admired how smart you are. But when you said that you spoke in tongues, I just lost it. I didn’t know what to do. I have never met anyone with any degree of intelligence who spoke in tongues.”
True story.