Speaking in Tongues

After some harsh experiences on this past trip outside the wire, my husband is really feeling the need for church. I think he and I both feel it missing in our lives when we're away from each other. This got us talking about the church that he grew up in, which we have attended a few times. This church would be an option for us when we ETS, but there's just one thing that bothers me about it.

Here's the exact quote from Enon Church of God's "Core Values" section of their website:
"We Believe in speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit."

Now this is what the Bible says about speaking in tongues:

"Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or WORD OF INSTRUCTION? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in notes? So it is with you. Unless you speak INTELLIGIBLE words with your tongue, HOW WILL ANYONE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? You will just be speaking into the air."
I Corinthians 14: 6-10

The capitalized parts are key. A common misconception is that speaking in tongues sounds like babble--like some mixture of languages that no one can understand. The Bible says tongues have to be INTELLIGIBLE, and that with tongues, there has to be translation for the people. If there isn't a translator present when someone is speaking tongues, who is actively translating for the congregation, it's wrong. The church's core value statement above says in "utterance." Utterance means it's spoken without thought and just kind of---flows out of the mouth. Intelligible speaking on the other hand is well thought-out words that are purposefully crafted and spoken.

"Tongues, then, are a sign, NOT FOR BELIEVERS but for UNBELIEVERS. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are OUT OF YOUR MIND?"
I Corinthians 14:22-23

The second verse is the most important one as far as an actual church and tongues goes. That verse says that tongues spoken by believers in church actually turn unbelievers away from the church because they think the believers are crazy. Turning unbelievers away from the church should be the exact opposite of what a church should strive to do. The fact that the apostle Paul (the author of Corinthians) actually calls church members who speak in tongues "out of their minds" makes it pretty clear what the Word says on the topic.

So there's your Sunday School lesson for the day. I love the preacher there--his sermons are awesome and follow closely the Word of God--and everyone there is so nice, but if he agreed to preach at a church that uplifts blasphemy, than he is denying the Word of God. Church is never about being comfortable, knowing people, or the preacher's sermons sounding good. It's about what we need as growing Christians, and sometimes that puts us outside of our comfort zone.

I'm looking for a church that does expository preaching. My Bible is a MacArthur Bible, published by John MacArthur, one of the greatest expository preachers in America. In simple terms, it is preaching that is much like how English classes are taught in high school and college. A sermon series is comprised of a series of verses from a book of the Bible. Each Sunday, a different verse is studied. The preacher "sheds light" on the verse in that he clarifies historical context, meanings of words (based on Greek meanings, usually), and shares related Bible verses. The preacher sheds light on a new verse each Sunday until the study of that book is finished. Preaching any other way is like asking a high school English student to go tell his peers about a Shakespeare text without ever having taught him Shakespeare. It's impossible until you teach the language of Shakespeare, the history of the period of the text, the allusions in the text, and so forth. Until a believer can fully understand the meaning of the Word of God, he cannot practice the Word of God and explain it to others.