This meme is popular and often circulated in social medias. It is a taunt, a sarcasm and even an offence, honestly speaking. It is a polemic against Pentecostal and Charismatic churches.
Speaking in tongues was a gift or supernatural ability to speak in foreign language that an individual didn't even learn. This was the case in Acts 2! Many critics turn to this chapter to vigorously criticize modern tongue speakers. What they hear is nothing but Gibberish. And they begin to mock even writing - sha-ta-ta-ta; Ra-ba-sa-ba etc. I don't know whether Pentecostal and Charismatic believers are even aware of these growing trends. In my view, they should be. They will not have an easy environment in near future.
Most christians turn to Acts 2 and start arguing "oh, see there! They spoke in foreign languages!" but I noticed something weird. They fly and land on 1 Corinthians 14 and start giving lecture "...here Paul says, if no interpreter available, you should remain silence!" And I am like, what? Wait a minute! They were trying to say peoples spoke in other languages and now they are saying one needs interpreter. How does that go together? There was no interpreter in Acts 2! And this is what I would call double standard! If they are arguing for tongues as something everyone can understand using Acts 2, why then they are pointing towards 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul is strictly talking about gift of interpretation of tongues? They are refuting or contradicting themselves!
Next, Pentecostal christians also do almost similar. They turn to Acts 2 and say that when Holy Spirit came upon them, they began speaking in tongues! But they forget that the languages spoken was not unintelligible but foreign languages! And they also turn to 1 Corinthians 14! Now that's too hilarious! Are they defending themselves or refuting themselves? Both sides have double takes!
I don't know who created the meme, but the meme doesn't work because it takes only Acts 2 into account while neglecting 1 Corinthians 12-14 chapters where Paul seems teaching about tongues as of something different purpose and nature.
Paul clearly seems to teach:
1) Gift of tongues alongside gift of interpretation of tongues
2) tongues of men and of angels. By indicating two distinct category, it seems Paul was addressing gift of tongues functioning in both human as well as ecstatic ways considering the flow of context from 12-14! Yes, he could be using hyperbole but to use even as a hyperbole, something must carry meaning that audience can understand! This could suggest that the term tongues of angels carried certain meaning in that contemporary time and culture. Meanwhile, the core lesson Paul was trying to teach: Love is supreme!
3) The gift of tongues shall cease away when perfect comes. This is obscure passage but what Paul certainly meant was that it is Love that never passes away!
4) chapter 13 shows that believers at the church didn't have love even they were having amazing experience with gift of tongues! At this point, Paul was rebuking them for not having love and their all spiritual experiences are nothing but waste!
5) Paul seemed to teach that tongues is directed towards God instead towards men. The speaker speaks mysteries that nobody can understand.
6) He seems to suggest the proper place for tongues is in worship, prayer and thanksgiving.
7) He suggests an interpreter is needed if tongues are to be spoken at church otherwise peoples outside could think the church members have gone mad!
8) Interpreted tongues are beneficial for growth of church
9) He prioritize edification of church more than personal one. He suggests prophecy is better than tongues that none understands.
10) Finally, he ends up suggesting not to forbid tongues.
Hence, the meme is purely a mocker rather than a teacher! Seriously! nobody speaks tongues that way in modern church except for the one who has been overwhelmed by severe stimulation and emotion in an unconscious or out of control state.
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