Can someone explain the "Speaking in Tongues" proves you're saved thing?

Question

I'm a Christian, but I used to attend a school where they said that if you didn't speak in tongues you weren't saved. I asked the students, the teacher and the principle where in the Bible this was actually said and they couldn't give me even one verse.

I thought this was exclusive to this school (I haven't ever heard this before or since, and the institution was shut down shortly after I left) but then I saw a few answers on here that reflect what was said there.

Could someone map out this doctrine for me?

Don't worry; I never believed what they were saying. BTW, it was shut down shortly after I did the "shake off the dust under your feet" thing of Mark 6:11.

And yes, "shortly after I left" and "'shake off the dust under your feet' thing" were at the same time.

Answer 1

There are 2 examples of "speaking in tongues" mentioned in the Bible.
The first is in Acts, where it describes the apostles speaking to a multinational crowd, and everybody hearing the sermon in their own language.
The other is in 1 Corinthians 14:1-28, where it describes what you're talking about. However, it doesn't say ANYTHING about having to speak in tongues to be saved. In fact, Paul specifically says that the gift of prophecy is preferable in verse 1, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." (KJV)

The doctrine of speaking in tongues, in both senses, is valid, but the doctrine of speaking in tongues being required for salvation is false.

Answer 2

I was raised Christian, and never spoke in tongues. Then, years later, as a pantheist was very surprised to find it happening!

Well, pray and praise in tongues anyway. It is only ever directed toward the Divine, and while I know the "gist" of what I am saying, I do not think it is an earthly language that someone else would interpret.

It feels very much like the most deep and honest groaning from my soul, saying things that there are no words to say.

And, I have encountered numerous other pagans of a wide variety of faiths that also find themselves speaking in this way from time to time in spiritual practice.

so, since this seems NOT to be limited to Christianity, that might be another clue as to its importance in showing whether or not one is 'saved'.

I expect that it might be a trait of human nature that some people (perhaps it has to do with personality types?) when in a certain state of open heart and mind, express themselves in this way. It may have more to do with our nature, than with the concept of the Divine that we understand.

Answer 3

The basis for this teaching doesn't come from the epistles where sound doctrine is found but by a construction of historical accounts found in the book of Acts.

Some sects claim that a person must at least "show the evidence" of speaking in tongues as a "sign" that they have truly received the Holy Spirit. This un-biblical teaching has had sorrowful results. People pretend to speak in tongues in order to be accepted among their congregation. Divisions have occurred between different denominations and people who should be one in Christ look with suspicion and disdain upon one another.

Behind it all is Satan laughing and rubbing his hands together gleefully as he stirs the pot up even more by introducing satanic counterfeits of the gift of tongues.

But what sayeth the Scriptures?

1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Answer 4

Speaking in tongues is one of the 9 spiritual gifts, But speaking in tongues does not prove you are saved, i have seen in my 37 yrs as a Christian many speak in tongues & they will cuss you out 5 minutes later. But the True Gift of speaking in tongues is to edify the Church, Many Pentacostal people try to say if you don';t speak in tongues then you don't have the Holy Ghost, Because they spoke in tongues On the day of pentacost, Little do they know that everyone that spoke in tongues, spoke in another language that all that was near to hear them said they speak in OUR lanaguage. Apostle Paul says do ALL speak with Tongues, NO, Do all Prophecied, No. Because seek ye the best gift.

Answer 5

Yes! Despite some of the answers above, there is plenty in the bible on tongues. Also, much research has been done on the topic and it is not gibberish.
As Cindy states, tongues is not necessary for salvation. I know of one church which has that doctrine and they cannot defend this doctrine from the bible. And, as Cindy says (no, I don't know Cindy, I've just read her answer) it is your relationship with Jesus that is important.
I'll try and come back and say more, I need to go now.

Answer 6

Tongues
Here...let St. Paul answer for us:

"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all gifts of healing? ****Do all speak with tongues?**** Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I shew unto you a more excellent way." - Cor. 12: 29-31
**** The answer to this rhetorical question, is, of course: "NO!"

Answer 7

Within an EPC church, anyone who can fake this "speaking-in-tongues" gibberish is merely making a shot at being one of the Players in the Power Stakes.

You can fool some of the people all of the time!

(EPS = evangelical, pentecostal, charismatic).
///

Answer 8

Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift. Everyone does not receive the same gifts. Speaking in Tongues is not evidence we are saved. The evidence a person is saved is their fruit.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20
All I can say is the Bible says to examine yourself. Do not believe every false prophet that tells you something made up by man.

Answer 9

Speaking in tongues was the God given ability to speak and understand other languages. It helped the apostles preach the Good News to everyone.
It was not the gobbledegook that some people claim.
The gift ceased with the death of the last apostle..

(1 Corinthians 13:8) Love never fails. But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

Answer 10

That my friend is B.S. Accepting Jesus Christ as your lord and savior is how you know you are saved. John 3:16 (the words of Jesus himself) says, " For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and who-so-ever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." Sorry man it's a simple no brainer.