So I've been thinking about language from God's perspective, and I've come up with several questions and ideas that I hadn't previously considered. I'll just throw them out, here, and see what you think...
1. Tower of Babel: God created the concept of multiple languages at the Tower of Babel. He did this to frustrate humanity's plans, so my understanding/assumption is that multiple languages were originally necessary because of our arrogance and power.
2. Speaking in tongues: Turned on its head, these same two problems are addressed when God gives people the gift of tongues. People are able to very quickly, or instantly, overcome the language barrier. I wonder.... Since God is gifting it, I would assume that He is bestowing His power to bring glory to Himself, or the gift would not exist. Also, the vessel of this gift (the person speaking in tongues) would not have issues with arrogance, or (again) the gift would cease.
However, I do not have experience with the gift of tongues, so I may be way off here. Paul talks in the Corinthians about people abusing their spiritual gifts, so I don't know...
I do know someone who's a Bible translator, and this helps me imagine absolutely appropriate ways this gift would be used, ... again, connected with the idea of arrogance and power.
3. In Heaven: Here, I have mainly questions... What language will we speak? What language will we understand? Just one? Several? All of them? A new one that no one speaks now?
The need for a Tower of Babel-type frustration of human effort because of our arrogance and power will be irrelevant, because we will be perfect. There will be no sin, selfishness, arrogance, or inappropriate power! We will have much more power than we have now; we will be (and are) sons and daughters of God; we will rule with Him; etc, etc.
This side of heaven, miscommunication is often the culprit for countless pain and tears. This is true in marriage, at work, politically, and in every area of life. This happens when the participants are speaking the same language! Since there will be no pain or tears in heaven, I have to think that language difficulties will not exist, then.
However, I wonder about all the millions of people whose job it is to translate, teach language, etc. What will they do in heaven? I believe that we will still work, most likely in the area in which we have become most passionate about here on earth. Carpenters will probably be building mansions, or whatever. Singers will certainly be singing to God. Other jobs are more difficult, though. What will tax accountants do?
Now for my topic here. What will people whose job is immersed in language do? What about the beauty of the different languages, and how we can have fellowship across different languages.
Most of this is beyond our ability to imagine and comprehend.
I remember in my classes in college, one of the language profs said something light about how the Tower of Babel is responsible for her job. This was very interesting, but incidental to the task of the day. Only recently did I consider following that train of thought as far as I have here...
Anyone have any answers? Leave a comment. This is fascinating stuff!
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