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Question: My father-in-law is a retired preacher from the Church of Jesus Christ. He taught my husband that if we don't talk in tongues we will not get to heaven. I have told him that in 2nd Corinthians 14 it tells us that tongues is a spiritual gift. He tells me tongues are the evidence of the Holy Spirit and without talking in tongues we will never enter heaven. How can I get through to him?Answer:
Dear Friend,
Thank you for your question concerning your father-in-law and tongues. First of all, you will probably never convince your father-in-law otherwise. Without getting too far into doctrinal issues, there are a few folks who believe you can't go to heaven if you don't speak in tongues. However, in Ephesians 1:7 and Ephesians 2:8,9,13 there is another dimension after salvation called "Filled" or "Baptized in the Holy Spirit (Ghost)". Mark 16:17, Acts 1:5,8, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:44-48 and Acts 19:6. In these passages we find that people who were filled with the Holy Spirit spoke in tongues. Thus, we conclude that one evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. This gift of the Holy Spirit was promised in the book of Joel. Acts 2:16-21. After this in-filling of the Holy Spirit we find that there are gifts of the spirit. I Corinthians 12:1, 4-11. There are other scriptures but maybe this will help.
