The Tongue

I shared with the group last week my prayer request to control my tongue better. I’ve been letting the little frustrations of life creep into colorful language that is not honoring to our boss. A good verse for me to dwell on is Ephesians 4:29 that says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

But, we all know it’s a challenge to control the tongue. James probably framed the battle best in the 3^rd chapter of his letter to the church, when he wrote, “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:2-10

The old saying “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.” But, poorly chosen words do damage. Mostly, they hurt the speaker…

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 26:28

For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 1 Peter 3:10

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23

And, God has always put a strong emphasis on speaking the truth…

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16

"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

We are further exhorted that our talk is supposed to reflect our walk of faith, If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26

Speaking carefully is reflected in the first written rules for the faithful, and the seriousness of the offense. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7

Sometimes, even if something is true, we shouldn’t be passing it along, when it’s none of our business. He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip. Proverbs 20:19

Finally, more than once, we’re encouraged to just say less, or nothing at all.

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. Proverbs 11:12

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Proverbs 17:28

Join me in the battle to control the tongue! You help me, and I’ll try to encourage you.

The Society has been H.A.D.

When I was younger, if someone said you had been “had”, they meant you had been taken in by a scam, bamboozled, or conned. I was also taught that the early settlers of America came here seeking freedom from restrictive feudal societies, particularly religious freedom. The early members of Congress and Presidents constantly referred to biblical principles of right and wrong like the 10 commandments, the golden rule, and the hand of Providence.

Perhaps that is why I am so surprised that in just a generation, as we’ve secularized our society, we’re not only asked to tolerate sin, but embrace it in our society. At times I feel like we’re living 2 Timothy 3:1-3 which says “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good.” I’m also concerned about Isaiah’s comments in 5:20 about God’s attitude about a society turning their standards away from the Bible “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Like the Israelites after years of bad kings, we’ve even lost sight of God’s standards for righteousness, and are ignorant of what He calls sin, particularly in 3 big lies we’re asked to swallow today. Here’s how we’ve been H.A.D.

Homosexuality

We’ve been asked to believe that homosexuality is an acceptable alternative lifestyle. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” We’re even told that some people are genetically predisposed to be gay, which would indicate that “God made them that way.” But nothing could be further from the truth, as here’s what the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Genesis 18:20 Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” … 19:4-6 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

Has God changed His mind about his design for sexual relations?

Abortion

We’ve been asked to believe that men and women have rights over their bodies, and that they should have choice, including the choice to terminate inconvenient pregnancies. Since Roe vs Wade more unborn babies have been killed than the current populations of a dozen of our current states. This justfied in the name of choice. But the bible says that children are a gift from God, and tells us that a human life starts at conception. Here are some of God’s words on the subject:

Exodus 21:22-23 “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

Psalm 139:13-16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

Finally, we live in the age of casual marriages. Divorce is epidemic, and you can’t look around any neighborhood without seeing broken homes and timeshared children. Divorce is accepted in America today as commonplace without stigma. But, God says:

Malachi 2:16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. “

Matthew 19:8-9 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Our society has been H.A.D. with these three big lies of acceptability. Now less you think I’m judgemental and lack compassion for the sinner, I want to affirm Jude as he says, Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. 1:22-23 Our job is to restore and not to condemn; but I’m hopeful for the sake of our children and grandchildren that our people, our society will repent, and turn around and humble ourselves. We must get back in line with God’s standards, and claim the promise in second Chronicles, before it’s too late:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (If) My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. … 19-21 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. “As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’

Dying for The Truth

I recently got a book reader program working on my blackberry, and downloaded a collection of Christian classics, including “Fox’s Book of Martyrs.” Sounds like pretty somber nighttime reading, right?

But it is striking that Jesus said, “I am the way, and The Truth, and the life….”; and, for telling the truth the religious leaders conspired with the Roman official, and very shortly thereafter, Jesus was crucified, died and was buried for the truth.

We know that shortly thereafter, He resurrected to life everlasting, the firstborn from the dead. And, this truth so inflamed His disciples with zeal for the gospel, that they went forth and changed the world with their eye witness testimony.

But, how did the world greet this “gospel” or good news? The world system that loved the darkness, reacted violently to the truth. The disciples and leaders of the local churches were systematically killed, martyred for their faith and testimony.* One of the great proofs of their witness, was their profession of the truth without recanting their message, even to the point of death.

Hebrews tells us that men and women of God must always be willing to sacrifice for the truth. But, we must all die to self, for the truth to be manifest in our lives.

Are we willing to speak the truth to a dying world, despite the discomfort? Would we be willing to die for the truth?

*Excerpt, chapter One, Fox’s Book of Martyrs
· Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God crucified, AD 30
· Stephen, the deacon, stoned, c. AD 32
· James, son of Zebedee, disciple, beheaded, AD 44
· Philip, disciple, scourged and crucified, AD 54
· Matthew, (Levi), disciple, slain with a halberd (axe) AD 60
· James, step brother to Jesus, elder of Jerusalem, beat, stoned, and clubbed to death, AD 95
· Andrew, disciple, brother of Peter, crucified on an X shaped cross.
· Peter, disciple, crucified upside down
· Paul, disciple to the gentiles, beheaded in Rome by Nero
· …