Speaking In Tongues

Ok, so yes I am a Christian, I am a Baptist to be precise, was raised that way and I do agree with it even as a grown man with a mind of my own.  I do believe a little more that maybe we should work together as non-denominations rather than branch off like we do as Christians but then again I can understand the need for branching off in some cases because of the severity of difference of belief and interpretation of the Bible… For example, speaking in tongues.  Pentecostal’s seem to be the main branch of Christianity that practices this.

My sister started dating this guy a couple of months ago or so and he was a Pentecostal, my sister is like me, we’re both Baptists.  Well she was quite taken by this guy and so she started going to his church but was unaware at first what denomination they were until she got there and witnessed for herself.  Now shockingly to me even though they are no longer together she still goes to the church and she feels she gets something from it.  Now I am not questioning that because I have no right to, especially considering I have not been to the church myself, but I have always found the idea of speaking in tongues to be a bit rediculous, but then again I have never really studied it so..  Well I took so time out to do a little research on the topic and here’s what I have come up with. 

1.  Speaking in tongues seems to definitly be something that was done back in the times of Christ, and if done properly was ok in the eyes of God. 

2.  What does properly mean?  Well it seems to me that the idea of speaking in tongues means that a person capable of doing so properly will be capable of speaking all languages of man at one time through God.  The Bible also states that there should be an interpreter around when this is being done, my question is however, why is there a need for an interpreter when if the person is truly speaking in tongues through God then every culture should understand what is being said in their own language, correct?  Look, I am not trying to start an argument, or even question God for that matter, I just want some answers from educated people on the matter.

3.  So my assessment thus far is that from what I have heard from my sister and have seen on video on youtube of general Pentecostal churches, it seems to me that according to what I have taken in from the Bible that these people in these churches speaking a bunch of jibberish and rolling their tongues and dancing around in ways that resemble someone having an epileptic seizure, well it’s just rediculous and it doesn’t seem to be actually speaking in tongues the way the Bible describes it, at least not by my interpretation.  You cannot understand people speaking jibberish, mumbling crap and being crazy…  I’m supposed to understand someone speaking in tongues as should a Chinese man sitting next to me and a Russian lady next to him…  right?  I mean that’s what it seems like the Bible is telling me, but I am definitly willing to admit that my interpretation could be way off and if so I am hoping someone educated in the Bible can give me something better. 

 My Biblical references: 

1 Corinthians 12:8-11

1 Corinthians 12:28-30

James 3:5

Acts 2:3

Acts 2:26

Mark 16:17

Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15