Speaking in tongues is the sudden ability to speak in another language that you are not normally able to speak. Bible tongues is not this gibberish that is spoken in many churches today. Rather, it is for the spreading of the gospel. Just like the day of Pentecost when the different people heard the disciples speak in their own language.

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A good answer Mark and correct also. I would like to add there is also the interpretation of tongues, where a person is given the gift to understand a language unfamiliar to them.
As a Pentecostal Christian I also speak in tongues. In my religion we believe that no matter what we have the gift of speaking in tongues. Yes in the Bible that it is what the Angels use in order to speak with our king.

I myself can speak in tongues when ever I want because the Holy Spirit in side of me is so strong. You can get the Holy Ghost 1 time and renew it may times. Some people can lose the power to speak in tongues, but the Holy Ghost never leaves your soul. ♥It's a beautiful thing to have the Holy Ghost and be able to speak in tongues♥

* I have personally been gifted with being able to speak in tongues..when I am in deep prayer only. It's more of a beautiful prayer used by all who love God. I believe, but am not certain, that it says in the Bible that it is what the angels use which I would believe. if you hear someone speaking it they will sound like they are speaking gibberish. It's like speaking to god using your mouth and being so open to him and be able to trust him enough to have him lead you in the Holy Spirit.

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I too speak in tongues and the above is correct. Some teach that if you don't speak in tongues, you are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Some even go further, saying that if you don't speak in tongues, you are not a true Christian. The Bible does imply throughout the book of Acts that speaking in tongues gives evidence that the Holy Spirit is in you. On the flip side, never does it say that one can't be filled with the Holy Spirit and not speak in tongues.

I write the above for this reason: do not think yourself (or let others put you down) a false Christian if you do not speak in unknown languages. Seek Christ with your every being. If you desire the gift of tongues, ask the Father, and as a good Father, He will give it.

Answer:

Contrary to what it has become in these last days, the ability of some to speak in tongues was not only to speak to God... but also to edify and convey to men of other nations the good news of salvation and the Kingdom of God, as revealed in the account of the day of Pentecost.

Galileans in those days would have been looked upon as our modern day "country bumpkins"... "rubes"... ignorant backwoods folk with little or no education.

Yet, when Jesus' disciples (from Galilee) received the promised Holy Spirit, one by one they stood before the crowds of Jews, there in Jerusalem for the Holy Days, from all different nations of varying languages (or tongues):

"...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began TO SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES (languages), AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man HEARD THEM SPEAK IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE. They were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And now HEAR WE EVERY MAN IN OUR OWN TONGUE, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2:4-8)

Within the "Body of Christ," His church... "...God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many body parts, but one body...

"...you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those SPEAKING IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES...

"...Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way." (I Cor.12:18-31 NIV)

"...He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified...

"...Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air...

"...Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church...

"...For this reason anyone who speaks in tongues should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind... If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified...

"...in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the law it is written: 'Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me,' says the Lord...

"...Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some do not understand or some believers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

"...If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at the most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God... For God is not a God of disorder but of peace..." (I Cor.14:4-33 NIV)

Another answer from a Pentecostal Christian...

There are some misconceptions of speaking in tongues. Some churches say that in order for a person to be a Christian, they MUST speak in tongues. This is not true. The Bible even says that tongues is not for everyone.

Another interesting thing about tongues is that there are different languages, or forms. The prayer language of one person may sound like some kind of African language, while my prayer language sounds Indian. (This isn't actually true; I'm just using it for an example). Speaking in tongues comes in many different forms and languages.

If you have ever heard someone speaking in church and it seems as if they are not speaking the language you know, you have probably heard someone speaking in tongues. Personally, my prayer language is very personal and intimate. It is a way for Christians to become even more intimate with God. Speaking in tongues mean that God has given you the sudden ability to speak in another language that you cannot normally speak so that you can share the gospel with people who speak in a different language to you.

Paul says that speaking in tongues is a sign for non believers. Therefore true Bible tongues must be the ability to speak in another KNOWN language of the world, because non believers who here this gibberish that is spoken in churches today, just think the people are crazy.

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