The type of tongues used after Pentecost seems different in several ways. It’s obvious that foreign languages were spoken at Pentecost. It’s equally obvious that Paul was talking about a “spiritual” language in 1 Corinthians Chapter 14. No interpreter was needed at Pentecost. The last gift listed in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 is interpretation of tongues. Surely, GOD would supply this gift as well as the gift of tongues? One gift badly needed is ‘Discernment’ as it’s sorely lacking today.
Why would the Holy Spirit pray to GOD in a foreign language? Some say it was all foreign languages. Others say it was all spiritual languages and some are both ways. It’s difficult 2000 years down the track to get to the truth. Some say that the tongues evident today are counterfeit. Rarely, if ever, is there any interpretation as Paul wisely instructed should always happen. He gave very valid reasons why tongues should be interpreted but most choose to ignore his teaching. Tongue speakers rarely take any notice of 1Corinthians chapter 14. The Message Bible gives a plain-speaking explanation about tongues:
https://beta.biblestudytools.com/msg/1corinthians/14.html
In verses 1-5 Paul said it was spoken to God not man. The Message Bible says it’s a ‘private prayer language’ spoken “just between you and Him”
Some reasons why tongues could not just be foreign languages: -
A guest at a wedding once related how all the church people were seated at a separate table from all the non-church guests. Suddenly all the church people broke out in what he said sounded like “a bunch of machine guns going off!”- What were they thinking? Why do something like that? It totally ignores what Paul laid out not to do. Tongues are worn as a badge of honor amongst some, and yet the obvious lack of the more important gifts escapes them. It seems more like an idol than a benefit and makes a mockery of GOD to outsiders. (See 1 Corinthians chapter 12 which itemizes the supernatural gifts of the Spirit.)
Paul said prophecy is more important /useful but the only prophecy these days seems to be more like clairvoyance. When the prophecy doesn’t come true it’s swept under the carpet, or it was very generic anyway, much like the astrology columns. Some, to explain away the lack of prophecy, try to claim it’s meant to be teaching, or preaching, which is generally not a supernatural gift, but a human talent.
The fact that a type of ‘tongues’ is also spoken in pagan religions is also concerning. It’s been claimed that all the Witch doctors in Africa speak in tongues. Some pastors also insist on speaking in tongues from the pulpit, in defiance of GOD, and it’s not unusual to see newcomers not return, as Paul wisely said would happen. Whether the tongues spoken today are from GOD or not, it sounds bizarre to those who don’t understand them. If they are not interpreted as Paul directed, what’s the point of the whole thing? Who benefits?
The links below will help to shed more light on the subject.
http://www.speaking-in-tongues.net/ #1
http://www.ukapologetics.net/tongues.htm
http://thecripplegate.com/are-tongues-real-languages/
https://www.versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/is-speaking-in-tongues-still-a-biblical-practice/
http://www.theothersideofdarkness.com/praying-in-tongues/
http://nehemiahryan.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-was-true-manifestation-of-speaking.html?m=1