Do you have to speak in tongues to be saved?

[smellycat]

to jip my answer would be no.

[JIP]

Originally Posted by smellycat

to jip my answer would be no.

great.

[DaveSlayer]

Originally Posted by Jon-Marc

No, speaking in tongues is not a requirement for salvation. The "new tongue" with which I speak is one that praises God instead of cursing Him, and I believe that is the meaning of that verse.

I have heard that interpretation before too, but have trouble believing that is the correct interpretation. If you read Mark 16 in context, you will see that Jesus is speaking to the eleven discipes (or apostles) here.

Mark 16:17 mentions tongues as one of the signs that these apostles will perform. Mark 16:20 says that they (the apostles) went out, preaching everywhere confirming the word with signs following. These signs were to be used as signs that these apostles were truly messengers of God. Also to confirm the word of God. This was a past event. There is also a great commission given in Mathew that does not mention any of these signs and appears to the way the Gospel would be spread until the second coming of Jesus Christ.

On the day of Pentecost these apostles spoke in new languages they have never learned before The reason this happened is because God gave them the gift of tongues supernaturally. Acts explains what happened when they spoke in other tongues.