Christian Ethical Perspectives on Speaking in Tongues (glossolalia) as a Mandatory Requirement for Selecting a Church Leader
George Anderson Jnr. 
& Philip Kwadwo Okyere
Issue: Vol.11 No. 5 2025 Issue Article 3 pp.200 -209
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20251153 | Published online 30th May, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Speaking in tongues has a long history in the church, dating back to Christ’s apostles (Acts 2:4). While theologians like John Calvin, St. Augustine, and Chrysostom view it as outdated, Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians assert its relevance today. This belief drives many to attempt speaking in tongues, often interpreting their inability as a sign of not being fully born again or lacking the Holy Spirit. Consequently, some Christians may imitate others to showcase their reception of the Holy Spirit. This qualitative analysis through interviews explored the Christian ethical perspectives on requiring this gift before one becomes a church leader. It argues that the ability to speak in tongues is a supernatural gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit, which cannot be acquired through human effort or training. Therefore, making it a prerequisite for church leaders risks encouraging imitation rather than a genuine spiritual experience. The paper contributes to the debate on speaking in tongues in the church.
Keywords: Christian Ethics, Speaking In Tongue, Mandatory Requirement, Church Leader
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George Anderson Jnr. (Ph.D.) is a Lecturer at the Department of Religion and Human Values, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He obtained his Bachelor of Education (Arts) and a Master of Philosophy in Religion and Human Values from the University of Cape Coast, and a Ph.D. from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. His area of specialisation lies in the intersection between religion, Christian ethics, the Commercialisation of religion, and Neo-Prophetic Christianity. He has published widely in reputable journals and is currently researching Religion, Ethics, Law and Commercialisation of religion in African Pentecostal Christianity.
The Very Rev. Dr. Philip Kwadwo Okyere is an Ordained Minister of the Methodist Church Ghana, and currently a lecturer in Religious and Moral Education at the Department of Basic Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana; a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Trinity Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana; a Master of Philosophy in the Study of Religions from the University of Ghana; Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, and Doctor of Philosophy in the Study of Religions from the University of Ghana. His research interests include Religious and Moral Education, Sacred Space Appropriation in Contemporary African Christianity, Church History, Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology, Religion in Public Life, Comparative Religions and Interreligious Dialogue.
Anderson Jnr., George Anderson Jnr. and Philip Kwadwo Okyere. “Christian Ethical Perspectives on Speaking in Tongues (glossolalia) as a Mandatory Requirement for Selecting a Church Leader,” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies, 11 no.5 (2025): 200 -209. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20251153
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
