Page 10 - Good News August 2005 paper

Harmony does not abound in the Teaching was a highly valued and false witnesses. own strength. The Holy Spirit will
Church as it should. Living in respected profession in Jewish Matthew 12:34-37 (Life Appli- give us increasing power to
harmony does not mean we will culture. Many Jews who embraced cation Bible): "You brood of monitor and control what we say.
agree on everything; there will be Christianity wanted to become snakes! How could evil men like As Christians we are not perfect,
many opinions just as there are teachers. James warned that you speak what is good and right? but we should never stop
many notes in a harmonious although it is good to aspire to For a man's heart determines his growing. As the Holy Spirit
chord of music. But we agree on teach, the teachers' responsibility speech. A good man's speech purifies our hearts, He also gives
our purpose in life - to work is great because their words affect reveals the rich treasures within us self-control so that we will
together for God! Our outward others' spiritual lives. If you are in him. An evil-hearted man is filled speak words that please God.
expression of unity should reveal a teaching or leadership role, how with venom, and his speech "But when the Holy Spirit controls
our inward unity of purpose. is your example affecting those reveals it. And I tell you this, that our lives He will produce this kind
James 1:26 (Life Application you lead? you must give account on of fruit in us: love, joy, peace,
Bible): "Anyone who says he is a What you say and what you don't Judgment Day for every idle word patience, kindness, goodness,
Christian but doesn't control his say are both important. Proper you speak. Your words now faithfulness, gentleness and self-
sharp tongue is just fooling speech is not only saying the right reflect your fate then: either you control" (Galatians 5:22,23).
himself, and his religion isn't words at the right time, but will be justified by them or you will Psalm 19:14 (Life Application
worth much." controlling your desire to say what be condemned." Bible): "May my spoken words
"As iemand onder julle meen dat you shouldn't. Jesus reminds us that what we and unspoken thoughts be
hy godsdienstig is en sy tong nie Examples of wrongly using the say reveals what is in our hearts. pleasing even to you, O Lord my
in toom hou nie, maar sy hart tongue include gossiping, putting What kind of words come from Rock and my Redeemer."
mislei, die godsdiens van hierdie others down, bragging, manipula- our mouths? That is an indication David recognized that not only his
man is tevergeefs" (Ou Vertaling). ting, false teaching, exaggerating, of what our hearts are really like. words and actions, but even his
James 3:1-12 (Life Application complaining, flattering, and lying. You can't solve a heart problem, thoughts, should be pleasing to
Bible): "Dear brothers, don't be Before you speak, ask, "Is it true, however, just by cleaning up your God.
too eager to tell others their faults, is it necessary, and is it kind?" speech. You must allow the Holy Let us ask the Holy Spirit to
for we all make many mistakes; TWELVE USES OF THE Spirit to fill you with new attitudes search our hearts, and control our
and when we teachers of religion, TONGUE CONDEMNED: and motives; then your speech tongues so that we may utter only
who should know better, do Gossiping (Dt. 22:13-19), tale- will be cleansed at its source. words pleasing to God and
wrong, our punishment will be bearing (Lev. 19:16; Prov. 1:13), But remember that we are not uplifting to others.
greater than it would be for false witnessing (Ex. 20:16; 23:7), fighting the tongue's fire in our (Compiled by Huegene Venter)
others. If anyone can control his whisperings (Rom. 1:29),
tongue, it proves that he has slandering (1 Tim. 3:11), false
perfect control over himself in accusations (Tit. 2:3), vain talking
every other way. We can make a (Tit. 1:10), defaming (Jer. 20:10),
large horse turn around and go tattling (1 Tim. 5:13), lying (Prov.
wherever we want by means of a 6:17; Rev. 21:8; 22:15), deceiving
small bit in his mouth. And a tiny (Rev. 12:9), and backbiting (Ps.
rudder makes a huge ship turn 15:3; Rom. 1:30).
wherever the pilot wants it to go, James compares the damage the
even though the winds are strong. tongue can do to a raging fire - the
So also the tongue is a small tongue's wickedness has its
thing, but what enormous source in hell itself! The uncon-
damage it can do. A great forest trolled tongue can do terrible
can be set on fire by one tiny damage. Satan uses the tongue to
spark. And the tongue is a flame divide people and turn them
of fire. It is full of wickedness, and against one another. Idle words
poisons every part of the body. are damaging because they
And the tongue is set on fire by spread destruction quickly, and no
hell itself, and can turn our whole one can stop the results once they
lives into a blazing flame of are spoken.
destruction and disaster. Men When our speech is motivated by
have trained, or can train, every Satan, it is full of jealousy,
kind of animal or bird that lives selfishness, earthly concerns and
and every kind of reptile and fish, desires, unspiritual thoughts and
but no human being can tame the ideas, disorder, and evil.
tongue. It is always ready to pour When our speech is motivated by
out its deadly poison. Sometimes God and His wisdom, it is full of
it praises our heavenly Father, mercy, love for others, peace,
and sometimes it breaks out into courtesy, yielding to others,
curses against men who are made sincerity, straightforwardness,
like God. And so blessing and quiet gentleness, and goodness.
cursing come pouring out of the A few words spoken in anger/
same mouth. Dear brothers, malice can destroy a relationship
surely this is not right! Does a that took years to build. Before
spring of water bubble out first you speak, remember that words
with fresh water and then with are like fire - you can neither
bitter water? Can you pick olives control nor reverse the damage
from a fig tree, or figs from a grape they can do!
vine? No, and you can't draw Jesus also suffered the curse of
fresh water from a salty pool." the tongues of the Pharisees and