Though I Speak with the Tongues of Angels
Eloquence Versus Truth

I Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

To begin with, this does not refer to angelic tongues as in something other than human language. They always spoke in human languages, but undoubtedly did so very well. The context is contrasting true love and just outward show, whether in word or deed.

So many preachers, in times past, who spoke the truth and were eloquent, had many of the churches where they pastored, go downhill because people are people followers instead of truth followers. Spurgeon was a case in point whose congregation in the 70's dwindled down to just a small handful. Paul had addressed this with the church at Corinth, 1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. It was apparently an issue they struggled with in that Greek culture in their worship of oratory. This caused division in the church and is a source of division today. We should be Christ followers, truth followers, not people followers. As the Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. He wanted the church there to follow him only as long as he followed Christ.

Naturally, both truth and eloquence are desirable, but truth would be and should be the first choice before eloquence. We should as preachers desire that we make God's praises glorious (Psalms 66:2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.) without trying to be someone we are not and without parroting and emulating, instead of depending on the empowering and enabling of the Holy Spirit. Giving honor to God involves much more than outward eloquence, but purity of heart which will also include purity of doctrine. I am reminded of Jonathan Edward's truthful sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was read in manuscript form, yet God used to glorify Him and bring many sinners to Himself.

Our hearts are so prone to wander as it says in Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Are we more interested in the truth or how we appear to men?

Should we honor those who honor Christ? WIthout a doubt. Should we view every preacher with undue suspicion? Of course not. But, above all let us honor, worship, and prefer the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.

Our generation is especially undiscerning (false prophets abound, ridiculous books about going to heaven and coming back, etc...) and I expect that to increase as we approach the return of Christ as the Scriptures foretell in 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

May the truth be boldly proclaimed in love. 1 Corinthians 13:6 (Charity) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.