Sins of the Tongue (2)

Sins of the Tongue

Much can be said of a person's character by the way they use their tongue. Sanaca once said, "Speech is the index of the mind." Jesus said that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." () According to , "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." In , the Bible says that the tongue is "a fire, a world of iniquity", and calls the tongue a "deadly poison."

As a fool would carelessly play and prank with a loaded gun, so many Christians today do likewise with their deadly tongue. If only we could fully realize the untold damage that we are doing to the body of Christ! If only we could see the full effect of the words we use!

Perhaps a closer look into the Bible can help. God made man, and God made man's tongue, so surely God should be qualified to comment on the subject. Surely God should have some good counsel concerning the use and misuse of the human tongue. Let us consider some sins of the tongue as we find them revealed in God's word.

The Lying Tongue

says, "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow." So a lying tongue is a misuse of a deadly weapon. It can be used to harm others near at hand (a maul), a few feet away (a sword), or a great distance away (an arrow). Satan is the father of lies (), and God said that he hates a lying tongue (). All liars will have their part in the lake of fire, according to .

The Flattering Tongue

Flattery is also a sin of the tongue. The Bible speaks of flattery as a characteristic of the wicked, not the righteous: "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue." () Imagine the improvements which could be made in our nation if voters elected leaders on the basis of the RECORD rather than on the basis of the flattering speeches! Flattery is just a form of lying, and it has no place in the life of a Christian.

The Proud Tongue

The Bible also speaks of the proud tongue. says, "The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" The most annoying Christians in the world are those with proud tongues because a proud tongue usually comes with two closed ears! Proud- tongued Christians are generally so full of themselves that they learn very little from anyone else. A proud-tongued Christian will talk much of his knowledge and service, but very little about the Lord.

In a church, a proud-tongued Christian will make all sorts of suggestions about how the church should function, yet his suggestions, if received, will place burdens on everyone but himself. A proud- tongued Christian is hard to teach or reason with because he thinks he knows everything.

Friend, God hates a proud tongue. Allow the Holy Spirit to use your tongue in the way of humility and kindness because pride will only quench God's Spirit and damage your testimony.

The Overused Tongue

Some people sin by simply overusing their tongue. says that "a fool's voice is known by multitude of words." People think they appear smart by much talking, but the Bible states just the opposite. says, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." God doesn't like a blabber mouth. You say, "Well, that's just the way I am!" Then REPENT! Confess your sin and repent. Stop justifying your wickedness and ask God to help you repent.

The Swift Tongue

Some people are guilty of speaking too swiftly when they really need to wait before saying anything. God's word says the following in : "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." How many times have you had to "eat" your words because you spoke too swiftly? warns us to be swift to HEAR and SLOW to speak. Why do you suppose God gave us two ears but only one mouth?

The Backbiting Tongue

and make mention of a backbiting tongue. A backbiter is someone who uses their tongue against you when you aren't present, yet they will not face you with their charges when you are present. This is a cowardly backbiter who would rather stir up problems than solve problems.

A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT the preacher than talk TO the preacher. A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT some weak Christian in the church than offer some words of encouragement TO them. A backbiter is of no use to anyone, and no one has ever been strengthened or edified through backbiting. Beware of the backbiters, especially the ones who sow discord among brethren ()!

The Talebearing Tongue

says, "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly." says, "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. . ." Every Christian has the duty to deny his own desires and seek to edify other Christians (; Philip. 2:3). Talebearing runs wholly contrary to Christian edification. Talebearing (carrying and telling tales) spreads all sorts of hurtful information around, and Satan uses such information to hinder and tear down God's work. A victim of talebearing, according to Proverbs, is a "wounded" person. God forbid that a Christian should wound another Christian, but it does happen all the time! Some Christians live as though they think God has "called" them to bear tales on other Christians. Many "Christian" newsletters are dedicated to informing the body of Christ on the latest news about someone's ministry or personal life. There are many nice words and phrases used to justify such conduct, but the Bible word is TALEBEARING.

The Cursing Tongue

Some people, Christians included, have a nasty habit of using their tongue for cursing. says, "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." This passage deals strictly with unsaved people and their ungodly ways, yet there are a great many professing Christians who curse regularly. Friend, why would you want to identify yourself with someone whom God describes as being DEAD, DECEITFUL, and POISON?

"As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones."() Many people curse because their life is miserable. They are unhappy so they make it known with their degenerate speech. This text says that God keeps them unhappy BECAUSE of their speech! God curses those who curse! Christian, don't expect God's blessings when your mouth is filled with cursing.

The Piercing Tongue

Another sinful tongue is the piercing tongue. speaks of this tongue by saying, "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." Some people have a sharp piercing tongue which Satan uses to offend and insult others. The Bible commands Christians to have their speech dominated by GRACE (), yet most churches have a few people who use their tongue like a sword to pierce their brethren in Christ.

It was Teddy Roosevelt who said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick," but the truth is that if you speak softly you won't need a big stick! commands us to use sound speech which cannot be condemned. Friend, do you use graceful speech which cannot be evil spoken of, or do you possess a piercing tongue? Every Christian's prayer should be, "Lord, make my words gracious and tender, for tomorrow I may have to eat them."

The Silent Tongue

A silent tongue is also a sinful tongue because we have been commanded to speak up and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. In , Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." We, as Christians, have an obligation to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus. To be silent about Christ is to sin against Christ. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." () Christian friend, if you do not want to be ashamed of yourself when the Lord returns, then don't be ashamed of Jesus today. Pray for opportunities to speak up for your Saviour. Don't be found guilty of having a silent tongue.

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." ()

"POWER OF THE TONGUE!" TEXT: ; ; ; INTRO: Imagine a weapon so powerful that it makes the atom bomb look like a toy! This weapon has the potential to literally bring anguish into the life of every human being on the planet ... but without necessarily destroying them physically. This weapon could however, produce scars that last a lifetime ... scars that may never heal properly. This weapon is available to the poorest as well as the richest of nations ... in fact, even individuals have access to this weapon ... there are few laws against the possession or use of this weapon. No weapon that now exists, or will exist, will have the deadly potential of this ancient weapon ... it is as old as man himself ... the weapon is THE TONGUE! PROP SENT: The Bible teaches us that our tongue has great power ... to heal or to destroy, to bless or to curse ... we are to be wise in the use of this member of our body ... it can bring pain or pleasure ... it's all in how it is used! I. TONGUE'S POWER ; A. Historical . Speech is an awesome and powerful ability ... it is in this sense that James cautions those who would desire to be a speaker ... or a teacher.a. Words can have such great power, for this reason there comes with speech great responsibilities!b. Those who speak to others will be held to a higher accountability by God!2. Why such a warning ... how can language be so powerful as to warrant this warning?a. Think about history and some of the great movements of this planet:(1. Nebuchadnezzar boasted with words on how wonderful and strong he was ... he became like an animal for 7 years from such boastful words!(2. Alexander the Great spoke such bold words also ... and almost conquered the world ... yet he died a young man.(3. Napoleon Bonaparte motivated great armies ... but lost in the end.(4. Hitler mesmerized an entire people by his speeches ... and convinced huge crowds to commit horrible crimes against humanity!(5. Winston Churchill inspired a ravaged Britton to keep fighting ... until victory!(6. John F. Kennedy moved the USA by his speeches and vision!(7. No words have moved this planet however like the LIVING WORD ... "THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH" ... this truly speaks of the power of the tongue! JESUS CHRIST revolutionized the human race with the power of His tongue, His very existence was the Word of God made flesh!b. Most of the great events of history are connected to the speech of small and great men and women!3. History is full of the realities of the power of tongue! B. Humanity ; 5:161. We are introduced here to the reality of the human tongue ... it isn't always a pretty picture! ILLUS: Like the monk who was allowed to speak only 2 words every 10 years. First ten years went by ... his 2 words, "HARD BED;" next 10 years his 2 words were “BAD FOOD;” the next 10 years he was asked for his 2 words and he responded, "I QUIT!" His supervisor looked at him and said, "I'm not surprised, all you've done since you got here is complain!" -- Source Unknown 2. This verse states a powerful truth ... if the tongue could be completely controlled so would many things in our life!a. The point is this: our speech affects every part of our being!b. Control what we say and how we say it ... and it controls the rest of us!c. It is important to understand that this verse states, "IF A MAN COULD..." obviously the verse implies that this will be no easy task, and will require outside help!3. The power of the tongue can be found in another verse in "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."a. The sense of this verse is simple: confessing our human weakness helps destroy the power of that weakness ... now someone else knows and we become accountable.b. This is the founding principle in AA and other organizations for helping people ... unspoken can be a type of denial ... once confessed you cannot continue to deny your weakness, thus you are forced to deal with it!c. Healing for sin comes from confessing it ... not hiding it!d. We are prone to weakness ... but healing is possible if we are honest of heart ... and open to share!(1. This verse does not teach us to share with just ANYBODY however!(2. Nor is it saying to share with EVERYBODY!(3. The point is to find someone you can trust and be a friend to open up to!4. Our humanity needs this type of ministry since we are not perfect! C. Hardy! -5a1. How hardy is the tongue? ... It is strong enough to literally control our life!a. Several illustrations are given to us on how powerful the tongue is in our life in this text:b. Like the bit put into the mouth of a horse ... the entire beast can be steered by such a small bit in the mouth!c. Like a great ship ... a small rudder is what causes it to move through the sea like it does ... even great storms can't force it out of the way as long as the rudder is controlled properly!d. Likewise ... the tongue is small, but it has great power over the direction our lives take!2. Even a single word can have a devastating effect on our lives: ILLUS: When Teddy Roosevelt was a young boy he was terrified to go to his mother's home church, the Madison Square Church ... he was so terrified that she couldn't get him to even step foot into the church. She probed him with questions trying to find out why he was so frightened, finally she got this response: "I am scared mom of that animal in the corner of the church at the back" ... his mother wanted to know what kind of animal. "That 'Zeal' animal," he said. Mom was baffled, finally she found out it was something from the Bible young Teddy was talking about ... she got a concordance and began reading every verse to him with "ZEAL" in it ... and finally she hit it! The pastor one Sunday had read this verse "THE ZEAL OF THINE HOUSE HATH EATEN ME UP!" ... and young Teddy Roosevelt had been listening that one Sunday to the Pastor's sermon! These few words had scared the tar out of him! – Source Unknown II. TONGUE'S PROBLEM ; ; A. Hostile! -61. Like a small spark that can wipe out huge forests the tongue can be quite destructive!2. The author paints the uglier side of the use of the tongue ... our fallen nature makes it easier for us to use it for evil than for good!a. It is much easier to rip someone up verbally than to speak well of them!b. It is our nature to use the tongue to hurt ... we need to realize this ... it needs discipline and help beyond ourselves!3. The logic is simple: since Satan created evil in the beginning ... he did so with the speech, boasting: "I WILL LIFT MYSELF ABOVE GOD" ... and so entered sin into the universe - therefore, speech can still be an avenue that can destroy us!a. Sin's origin started with a statement of pride! The tongue became the symbol of speech ... and the first tool used against God!b. This is Satan's primary tool in the life of human beings ... the tongue is the most "unruly evil" ( KJV) or member of the body... the most corrupt and most difficult to control!c. Look at the tower of Babel ... God confounded their speech lest they completely corrupt themselves too earlier in human history! ILLUS: When you squeeze a sponge what comes out under the pressure? ... Whatever it had soaked up previously! So does our tongue when we are squeezed ... what comes out is what is inside us! Our fallen nature can make that quite hostile! – Source Unknown B. Handling! -5; 1:26; ; 18:211. Is it hopeless therefore? NO!a. We can learn to control the tongue ... as we walk with God ... we learn to talk godly and be godly! The Spirit becomes the outside source we don't have internally; to help transform us into the image of Christ.b. Note: control is necessary for spiritual integrity!c. & 18:21 both reveal that the positive is also possible:(1. We can hurt!(2. We can heal!2. If man can tame the many creatures of this planet ... as this verse implies, he can learn some measure of control over his own tongue! . It may be a difficult task ... but it is not an impossible one!b. Like animals ... it takes repetition and effort but it will show results!c. It requires little effort to have a hurting tongue ... just speak whatever you feel from your old nature!d. We can however gain control over the tongue ... and make it an instrument of righteousness! ILLUS: Corrie Ten Boom struggled for some time trying to get over the hate she felt towards her enemies. She had expressed willingness to forgive, but as she rehashed the incident over and over the hate continued ... finally the Lord spoke to her how to deal with the hate from a Lutheran Pastor. He pointed out to her the bell in the church tower, rung by pulling on the rope below. He went on, “When the sexton is finished pulling the rope the bell still rings several times from the momentum of the earlier pulls ... but he knows that if he stops pulling it will eventually stop ringing.” Stop rehearsing the wrongs is like stopping from pulling the rope ... there may still be a few rings of anger here and there, but if we don't continue to pull the rope it will gradually fade and stop! – Source Unknown 3. The image in these verses is quite simple ... it is up to us to train our tongue, just like we train animals.a. Be repetition in giving praise!b. THINK AND SPEAK about good things!c. Nobody can make you speak godliness ... we must cooperate in the training!4. Learning to handle your tongue can have some of the best effects on your life! III. TONGUE'S PARADOX A. Honor , l0a1. The tongue can be such a blessing under discipline!a. We can use it to praise God and bless His name!b. We can build up others by the proper and good use of the tongue!2. It can bring great honor to those it speaks of and to the speaker! B. Hateful! , l0b1. Or the tongue can bring great pain to others and self!a. It can curse God as well as praise God!b. It can curse others as well.2. It is ironic that both can come from this same member of the body!3. This is what makes the Baptism of the Holy Spirit such a wonderful gift from the Lord ... the one baptized being given a "new tongue." ILLUS: Since the tongue is the most ungodly member of the body ... the hardest to control and so evil ... if God would have wanted to find a way to show us evidence of being immersed in His Spirit ... what more logical choice than to have our tongue yield to the Spirit of God and speak in heavenly as well as earthly languages the praises of God through tongues! Evidence of immersion in the Spirit by our speaking in tongues and praising God makes logical sense ... the tongue under God's control, used by the Spirit! HOW PERFECTLY LOGICAL ... AND PRACTICAL! Since the whole body is under control by the tongue ... this experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit has a direct influence upon the entire being of the believer ... thus a very valuable experience ... one to be sought after! 4. How much better than the hate our tongues are capable of without God's Spirit! ILLUS: The 2 shop keepers across the street from each other ... they couldn't ever say anything nice to each other. Their jealously for each another caused them to say very hateful things about one another. One night an angel appeared to one man and promised him any wish under one condition ... whatever he wished for the other shopkeeper would get double of ... he could have anything he wanted or as much as he wanted ... but the other guy would get double his request. Hating his competitor he thought about what to wish for ... finally filled with hate he made his choice: He wished to be made blind in one eye! Instead of wishing for good and blessing his competition ... he chose hatefully and spoke hurt! – Source Unknown C. Hypocrisy -121. If you keep evil in your hearts you can be sure it will spill out of your mouths!2. Only a fool believes he can be a spring of fresh water and salt water at the same time!3. The hypocrisy of saying you’re a Christian but not speaking like one will only make a mockery out of Christianity to those who come into contact with your life!4. We need to realize that we can only really allow one flow from our tongues ... that of God's Spirit or it will be that of our fallen spirit! CONCLUSION: The tongue can be the most destructive weapon on earth; its misuse has damaged more lives than all the weapons of war or disease on this planet! The tongue can bring some of life's greatest joys; like someone telling you they "love you," or it can bring some of life's greatest pains; like someone telling you they "hate you!" Let your tongue be an instrument of righteousness, not a weapon of destruction!

Tame the Tongue (1977-78)

The following text is taken from a sermon preached by Gil Rugh, Senior Pastor at Indian Hills Community Church in Lincoln, NE. The text has been edited and condensed by IHCC staff for use as a Bible Study aid.

Intro. - James has spoken of the difficulty of controlling the tongue, emphasizing that it takes maturity in the life of a believer to prevent sinning with words (v. 2). If you bring your tongue under control, you have the ability to master your entire body.

James has also stressed the awesome potential for harm that is present in the tongue. The tongue is set on fire by hell and can start a blaze that burns beyond our control in many areas of life.

We must be careful not to allow Satan to use our tongue to start a fire - a fire that will bring devastation and destruction beyond what we can imagine.

James now proceeds to emphasize two more problems with the tongue: it is both untameable (3:7,8) and inconsistent (3:9-12).

3:7 - For connects this verse with verses 5 and 6 to show that the tongue's potential for destruction is made even worse by the fact that it is untameable.

The word tamed means "to subdue," "curb," "subjugate." Man has the power to dominate the animal world and does so. This was God's plan in the Creation (cf. ; ).

3:8 - In spite of his remarkable ability to control and subdue the animal world, man is unable to conquer and control his tongue.

But brings home the contrast between the control of the animals and the lack of control over the tongue.

no one - This indicates that this is not the problem of just a few. No one is able to bring his tongue under complete and continual control.

a restless evil (akatastaton) - This word was translated "unstable" in 1:8. The tongue cannot be trusted to stay submissively where it belongs. It is a caged animal looking for an opportunity to break forth.

full of deadly poison - This picture is drawn from the Old Testament (cf. ,; ).

Again the devastating power of destruction present in the tongue is evident. It has power to destroy. James now turns to show the shocking inconsistency of the tongue.

3:9 - bless (eulogeo) means "to speak well of" or "to praise."

To curse would involve speaking against someone, using abusive speech.

made in the likeness of God (cf. ; ) - Man is a personal being, created to have fellowship with God and to exercise authority over all creation. The Fall has marred this image but has not destroyed it. This is what gives every person significance and worth. Man is different and distinct from the animals. He reflects the person of God.

3:10 - How inconsistent that we should use the same tongue to praise God, the Lord and Father, and curse man who is like his Creator. I must see every person as of infinite value and worth because he is made in the image of God.

My brethren indicates his love and concern for them.

3:11,12 - Several illustrations from nature demonstrate that there must be consistency in what is produced. This again reflects .

It is clear that when James says "no one can tame the tongue" (3:8) he still expects the tongue to be brought under control so that it functions consistently with the character of the person.

To control the tongue we must begin with the heart (cf. ; ,; ). Since the mouth speaks out of what fills the heart, we control the tongue by controlling what fills the heart.

Joseph Parker, a great preacher of the last century said, "It is vain to attempt to tame the tongue until the heart has been subdued."

We must begin with a new heart (cf. ). God promised Israel if they would believe in Him, He would give them a new heart (cf. ; ).

When a person comes to believe in Christ, he is made a new person (cf. ).

As new people we must be careful as to what fills our hearts and minds (cf. Phil, 4:8).

Note the contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit (cf. ).

The contrast between the tongue of the righteous and the tongue of the wicked is seen often in the Book of Proverbs (cf. Prov, 10:20; 12:18; 13:3; 15:1-4).

Two questions must be asked in regard to our words:

What do your words say about your heart? Have you received a new heart through faith in Christ?