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Paul, in verses twenty-two to twenty-five, explains how the Corinthians were using tongues for “evangelism”.

The way the Corinthians were speaking in tongues was helping no one because believers did not understand what was being said, and unbelievers thought that people speaking in tongues were crazy.

Speaking in tongues was supposed to be a sign to unbelievers. After speaking in tongues, believers were supposed to explain what was said and give the credit to God. The unsaved people would be then be convinced of a possible spiritual reality and be motivated to look further and speculate the Christian faith. While this was one way believers could “evangelize”, Paul says that clear preaching was usually better for the congregation as a whole.

1 Corinthians 14:22-25
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”