—or Speaking in Tongues?

He had always described himself as a cautious continuationist. That is, someone who believed the gifts of the Spirit had not ceased, but also someone who carried a deep respect for Scripture’s boundaries. To him, speaking in tongues wasn’t mindless muttering—it was the Spirit enabling real, known languages to be spoken or understood, just as in Acts 2 when those gathered in Jerusalem each heard the apostles “declaring the wonders of God in their own tongues” (Acts 2:11, BSB).

So when his wife mentioned—half amused, half bewildered—that he had been speaking jibberish in his sleep, he felt a flicker of concern. What was that all about? Was it simply the remnants of a dream spilling over into speech? Or had something deeper stirred? He didn’t think so. Still, it gave him pause.

This is the tension many believers quietly carry.

On one hand, there’s a desire to be open to the Holy Spirit’s movement. On the other, there’s the scriptural mandate to “test all things. Hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21–22, BSB). It’s easy to get caught between reckless enthusiasm and fearful restraint.

He wasn’t afraid of the gifts. He just didn’t want to pretend. Paul himself warned the Corinthians that spiritual gifts, particularly tongues, must edify the church and not create confusion. “Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying?” Paul asked. “You will just be speaking into the air” (1 Corinthians 14:9, BSB). That didn’t sound like last night’s mumbling.

In his heart, he knew the difference. Tongues were not aimless syllables tossed into the air—they were God-glorifying expressions given by the Spirit for a purpose. And just because something was mysterious didn’t mean it was spiritual. After all, “God is not a God of disorder, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33, BSB). That truth had steadied him for years.

Perhaps the real takeaway wasn’t whether or not he had spoken in tongues while sleeping, but how quickly it brought him back to the Word. That, in itself, was a kind of gift—a reminder to remain both expectant and discerning. For even in the quiet, even in the odd or humorous moments, God calls His people to walk in wisdom, not assumption.

He chuckled to himself the next morning, still unsure exactly what he’d said in his sleep. But he prayed for clarity, not spectacle—for a tongue, yes, if God gave it, but more than that, for a heart that always longs to listen and test and follow faithfully.

How about you? When the Spirit moves, are you prepared to listen—with both openness and discernment?

Cross references for deeper reflection:
1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
Acts 10:46 – “For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.”
2 Corinthians 4:7 – “Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.”
Romans 12:3 – “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment…”