Taming the Tongue

TAMING THE TONGUE

Recently our Sunday school lesson had to do with the tongue and how we use it. Some of the discussion had to do with profanity. I think most Christians would agree that that kind of speech should never come from the mouth of a Christian. But even Christians who would never allow a profane word to come from their lips will let their tongues be an instrument of evil and destruction.

What am I referring to? You guessed it. GOSSIP! James says, "The tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." (3:8b). Gossip is a scourge on our churches and among our members.

When I was a child and someone said mean things to me, I can remember saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." How wrong I was. Broken bones will heal, but a broken spirit takes a long time to heal and sometimes healing never takes place.

One of the problems with gossip is that each time something is repeated, even though the person is trying to be accurate, the facts are changed. Do you remember the old gossip game? The participants would sit in a circle. Someone would whisper something in the ear of the person next to him. Then that person would repeat what he heard to the next person. After that continued around the circle the first person would repeat what he said. When the last person repeated what he heard, it bore no resemblance to the beginning statement. This is what happens when we repeat something we heard and then that person repeats what he heard us say.

Another problem with gossip is that even if what is spoken is actually true, it is told with the intention of doing damage to that person. No unkind word should ever pass our lips, but only what will build another up.

While gossip always damages others, I don't think people are aware of the effect it has on the person doing the gossip. I'm thinking of two people who have spread malicious lies. They are two of the unhappiest people I know. "For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7b.)

In Isaiah 6 the prophet talks about having unclean lips and dwelling in the midst of a people with unclean lips. If we are really honest we will have to admit the same thing. God knows not only what we say, but even what we think. We can't hide anything from Him.

James says no man can tame the tongue (3:8a), but this is something God can do. However He won't unless we truly want Him to and ask Him to forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). That is a choice we have. Oh, that we would let Him control what we say. That is my prayer for you who are reading this and for myself also.