Have Tongues "Passed Away?"

          Another objection to tongues that I have heard quite often is that tongues was a gift that was only intended for the early church, but now it has passed away, and we no longer need that gift. I Cor. 13:8 does say, "if there are tongues, they shall cease." Taken out of context one might very well claim that the bible teaches that tongues have ceased; however, taken in context there is more to it than that.
      If you read a little further, verses 8-12 explain that there will come a time when the spiritual gifts will no longer be necessary. Paul specifically mentions only three gifts, prophecy, tongues, and knowledge just to make his point. In verses 9-10 Paul instructs us,"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away." Some would say that "the perfect" is referring to the bible, hence they reason that now that we have the bible we no longer need the spiritual gifts, especially the ones Paul mentions; however, if you continue reading verses 11 and 12 Paul explains what he means.
       I Cor. 13:11-12 says, "When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known." Verse 11 speaks of what is appropriate for two different situations, one as a child, the other as an adult. He is not speaking literally of physical childhood and adulthood, but is using this metaphor to compare our life here on this earth to life in heaven with Christ.
       In verse 12 he tells us that now we "see in a mirror dimly." Mirrors in Paul's day were not like ours; they did not give a clear reflection. Paul is saying we don't have a clear picture of spiritual things; therefore, we need the spiritual gifts God has given us in order to function spiritually. We only know spiritual things "in part." When Paul says, "but then face to face," he is referring to the time when we will be with Christ. "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is." I John 3:2
       When we see Jesus, we will no longer see only "in a mirror dimly." When we see Him "face to face" we will no longer need prophecy or tongues or knowledge because we will be in His presence. We shall then "know fully" even as we have been "fully known." We will finally be like Jesus for we shall see Him as He truly is. We will finally know all the truth. Until that time, I want to function in all of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has for me so that I can effectively be His witness.
       "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  John 8:32