The Power of the Tongue for Harm

22 Nov The Power of the Tongue for Harm

Last week, we looked at the words of a J.E.R.K. (me, unfortunately), and admitted the power of the tongue.

It is clear that words can be helpful and words can be unhelpful. This week, we want to look specifically at some of the words that a motivated Christian needs to avoid, and next week, we’ll look at words that a Christian can use generously.

Lies

I remember my first conscious, bald-faced lie. I was five years old, and I had taken six cents from my piggy bank (which I was forbidden to do without permission) to buy candy from the little grocery store in our tiny town. I plunked down my coins, chose six pieces of penny candy, and lit out for the garden to hide. I was feeding contentedly on my illicit treasure when my brother found me and asked me where I got the money to buy the candy. I didn’t think very far ahead at the age of five. I told him that our sister had given it to me. I thought that would be the end of it. How was I to know the little Snitch was going to go straight to the house and get to the bottom of this whole thing? He was strongly motivated by the fact that he hadn’t gotten six cents to spend on candy.

Well, before I knew it, the Snitch came trotting back to my hiding place in the garden and announced that Mom wanted to talk to me. I was caught. I confessed to the whole sordid affair and was punished by having to stand in the corner for a year.

I wish that was the last time I lied. It wasn’t, but no need to go into it any further.

Lying is wrong for several reasons. First, it is a sin against God. Second, it is a sin against others. Third, it never pays in the long run. Sooner or later our lies catch up with us. People learn that we lie, and it ruins our reputation and our credibility. Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

When a Christian lies, he is hurting God’s reputation, hurting his own reputation, destroying relationships, and eroding his chances for success in life.

Anger

A second common form of hurtful speech is an angry outburst. How easy, how natural it is for us to fly off the handle or say something unkind out of anger.

A young boy once asked, “Dad, how do wars get started?”

His father replied, “Well, take the first World War. That got started when Germany invaded Belgium.”

Immediately his wife interrupted him. “Tell the boy the truth. It began because somebody was murdered.”

The husband stiffened and said, “Are you answering the question, or am I?”

The wife turned and left the room in a huff, slamming the door behind her. An uneasy silence settled over the room.

“Never mind, Dad,” said the boy. “I think I know the answer.”

The Bible says that everyone should be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20). How many times we get this turned exactly around, being slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to get angry. But when we do, we sin. We don’t achieve the righteousness of God.

Gossip and Rumors

“Did you hear that Joe and Susan are having problems? It’s terrible. Another woman, I think.”

“Well, I’m not surprised. She’s a compulsive perfectionist and drives me nuts. I’m glad I’m not married to her. Not that Joe’s right, of course.”

“Of course. But look what it’s doing to the kids. They’re both teenagers now and wilder than March hares.”

“Yes. It’s too bad. They really need our prayers.”

How many times conversations such as this take place in the name of “information for more enlightened prayer,” when it’s nothing more than gossip. Gossip is “saying something negative about a person to someone who is not part of the solution.”

It is tricky to avoid sometimes because it is so interesting and because our genuine interest and concern for others sometimes draw us into a deeper level of conversation about people than is appropriate. So we have to be on our guard. It is amazing how easily we can get drawn into gossip if we drop our guard.

Spreading rumors is a similar and equally illicit form of gossip. The Bible says it is wrong to be “wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not” (1 Tim. 5:13).

Both gossiping and rumor-spreading are using the tongue for harm.

Swearing

At one of the churches I pastored, a prominent lay-leader and I were talking at a social function. I asked him how his job was going. He had, what seemed to me from a distance, a rather exciting profession. His face clouded over, and he leaned over close to me and said in a confidential whisper, “Oh, it’s a @%#*!# pain!”

More than a little surprised, I wondered why he thought I would want to hear that language if it was unfit for the rest of the people in the room.

I have had similar experiences with people telling off-color jokes.

Vulgar and coarse speech is a growing problem among Christians in our time of cultural disintegration. We need to guard against it.

Conclusion

In the end, the Bible says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). Words of “edification” do not include lying, swearing, or telling dirty jokes. Again, the apostle Paul wrote: “[Let] neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting” be part of your speech (Eph. 5:4). Rather, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6).

Further, James said, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” Strong words, but true. Motivated Christians must be serious and careful about how they use their tongue. Next week we’ll look at using the tongue for good.

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