All of that to say you don't believe God's word plainly stated in 1 Corinthians 14? The gift of tongues has a public and private use, of which when ministering needs to be interpreted for the edification of another (in mind). You guys act oblivious to verses that contradict your position, and try to put a meaning into the text that isn't present.
The apostle Paul himself clearly distinguished his private and public use of tongues. He says, "Yet in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words than ten thousand in an unknown tongue." Does this not imply he uses the gift outside of the church? He speaks of praying in the Spirit and singing in the Spirit (which is praying and singing in tongues clearly revealed in the context of scripture).
All of this clearly revealed but you, again, remain oblivious intentionally. You are so heavily opposed to it because of people's misuse of it to pretend they are spiritually better than you but you need to keep in mind not all believers subscribe to such a childish mindset. I speak in tongues. I do not consider me having that gift to make me far more spiritual than you, or better than you. I see it as a tool that I can use to minister to you, for your edification. I also know it has personal uses, through scripture. However, a decent portion of believers have this opposition, hesitance, disregard for, and disrespect towards a gift of the Spirit the Lord operates through. Not to mention some subtle form of disdain for the tongue speaker.
Ignorance of this gift and willful avoidance of clear scripture is dividing believers. You guys don't even address the verses given to you. You simply keep spouting off your preconceived notions due to someone misusing the gift. Don't worry about them, what does scripture say? It is clear. Tongues have a public and private use, the public needing interpretation for the edification of others. Its extremely simple.
1Cor 14:1 ¶ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Any problems so far? He that speaketh in an unknown language speaks to God because only God knows what he is saying. It is a mystery to those that hear him but cannot understand him. If he were to preach all would be benefited by his proclaiming of the word of God. This of course in a language understood by the hearers. God hardly is benefited by someone preaching His word to Him.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Here the speaker feels good about himself but no one else is benefited.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Known languages are here in this verse. Languages that must be interpreted to be beneficial so that the word of God is communicated to the folks present.
6 ¶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
Catching on here even Paul must communicate through a common language or all is in vain.
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
This ought to be clear. Even in nature certain expectations are required to produce the desired outcome. A trumpet call to battle must sound like a trumpet. A dog should not sound like a cat. You should not sound like a chicken.
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
Don't get much plainer than this. Understanding is essential.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
Here we go again. Do I sound like a barbarian to you? Are you unable to understand the meaning?
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Edification or increasing understanding.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
If you know a tongue and know the Lord then dedicate your ability to translating that others may understand the tongue.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 ¶ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Where is your understanding? You claim it is simple but it seems to have eluded you. You have a construct that has it's roots in new age mysticism. You seek hyper-spiritual status because you have not gotten a sound foundation in Gods word. You keep trying to prove to yourself that you are saved by possessing gifts but you have abandoned Gods truth regarding those gifts.
1 Cor 13:8 ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
This is part of scripture as well.
For the cause of Christ
Roger