The Sunday school lesson I taught this morning was from James 3. Taming the tongue (ouch!) was topic of the day. Jimmy starts out this chapter by issuing a warning to those who wish to teach the Word of God. He says that we will be held to a higher level of accountability so we should choose our words wisely in order to keep from misleading people about God. Just listen to some of the sermons floating around today and you can see that James was very aware that the message could be corrupted.
It's all about truth, I think. Truth is absolute. People can take the Scriptures and twist them, turn them, manipulate them, re-arrange them, or re-define them, but that won't change the truth of what God has said. He doesn't change, His Word doesn't change. The Way to Him hasn't changed no matter what century or millenium you live in.
Faith in God isn't about finding a way to ease our minds. Too often the pursuit of God is nothing more than looking for something to believe in that will allow someone to live how they want to live with an eased conscience. Truth isn't considered at all. If they can fabricate a reasonable theology that makes sense to them and allows for comfortable living, then they are satisfied. But I wonder how many souls cross over into eternity to the instant recognition that their god was just an idea? How many are sentenced to eternal darkness and their greatest anguish is that the true God they refused to see is real and living, and the enemy they refused to acknowledge spends eternity scoffing at their pain?
We must speak the truth; choosing our words carefully, based on the Word and not our own opinion. As James wrote, it is impossible for true praise and worship to come from the same mouth that lies, manipulates, gossips, and profanes.
Our speech is an indicator of our spiritual condition. I know all too well that when someone's speech starts changing for the worse, their actions will soon follow. This is what James meant by the example of the ship and rudder. Sin will show itself. Most of us have become proficient at hiding our sins but our tongues will usually give us away. Evil speech is an indicator of sinful lifestyles.
I was really struck last night by how important it is that we choose our words carefully. I received an email from someone who said they stumbled across this blog while searching for churches in the area. They had some very encouraging words for me (which I appreciate greatly). But that shows how necessary it is for all of us to let God guide our speech. You never know who will hear, or read, your words. Read the rest of James 3 and see how the wisdom that comes from God is the fix-it for poor speech.
Happy Monday! Let's hear it for 3-day weeks!
