{"id":3717,"date":"2024-07-29T19:36:34","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T19:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/?p=3717"},"modified":"2024-07-29T19:36:34","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T19:36:34","slug":"sins-of-the-tongue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/29\/sins-of-the-tongue\/","title":{"rendered":"Sins of the Tongue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cBut I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. ^{\u00a0<\/sup>For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.\u201d<\/strong> Matthew 12:36-37<\/p>\n\n\n\n}

Much can be said of a person\u2019s character by the way they use their tongue.\u00a0 Sanaca once said, \u201cSpeech is the index of the mind.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Jesus said that \u201cout of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.\u201d <\/strong>(Mat. 12:34)\u00a0\u00a0 According to Proverbs 18:21, \u201cDeath and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>In James 3:6, the Bible says that the tongue is \u201ca fire, a world of iniquity\u201d<\/strong>, and James 3:8 calls the tongue a \u201cdeadly poison.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a fool would carelessly play and prank with a loaded gun, so many Christians today do likewise with their deadly tongue.\u00a0 If only we could fully realize the untold damage that we are doing to the body of Christ!\u00a0 If only we could see the full effect of the words we use!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps a closer look into the Bible can help.\u00a0 God made man, and God made man\u2019s tongue, so surely God should be qualified to comment on the subject.\u00a0 Surely God should have some good counsel concerning the use and misuse of the human tongue.\u00a0 Let us consider some sins of the tongue as we find them revealed in God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lying Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proverbs 25:18 says, \u201cA man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.\u201d <\/strong>So a lying tongue is a misuse of a deadly weapon.\u00a0 <\/strong>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).\u00a0 Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), and God said that he hates a lying tongue (Pro. 6:17).\u00a0 All liars will have their part in the lake of fire, according to Revelation 21:8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flattering Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flattery is also a sin of the tongue. The Bible speaks of flattery as a characteristic of the wicked, not the righteous: \u201cFor there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.\u201d<\/strong> (Psalm 5:9)\u00a0\u00a0 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!\u00a0 Flattery is just a form of lying, and it has no place in the life of a Christian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Proud Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible also speaks of the proud tongue.\u00a0 Psalm 12:3-4 says, \u201cThe 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?\u201d<\/strong> The most annoying Christians in the world are those with proud tongues because a proud tongue usually comes with two closed ears!\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.\u00a0 A proud-tongued Christian is hard to teach or reason with because he thinks he knows everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friend, God hates a proud tongue.\u00a0 Allow the Holy Spirit to use your tongue in the way of humility and kindness because pride will only quench God\u2019s Spirit and damage your testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Overused Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people sin by simply overusing their tongue.\u00a0 Ecclesiastes 5:3 says that \u201ca fool\u2019s voice is known by multitude of words.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>People think they appear smart by much talking, but the Bible states just the opposite.\u00a0 Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, \u201cBe 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.\u201d<\/strong> God doesn\u2019t like a blabber mouth.\u00a0 You say, \u201cWell, that\u2019s just the way I am!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Then REPENT!\u00a0 Confess your sin and repent.\u00a0 Stop justifying your wickedness and ask God to help you repent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swift Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people are guilty of speaking too swiftly when they really need to wait before saying anything.\u00a0 God\u2019s word says the following in Proverbs 18:13: \u201cHe that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.\u201d<\/strong> How many times have you had to \u201ceat\u201d your words because you spoke too swiftly?\u00a0 James 1:19 warns us to be swift to HEAR and SLOW to speak.\u00a0 Why do you suppose God gave us two ears but only one mouth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Backbiting Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proverbs 25:23 and Romans 1:30 make mention of a backbiting tongue.\u00a0 A backbiter is someone who uses their tongue against you when you aren\u2019t present, yet they will not face you with their charges when you are present.\u00a0 This is a cowardly backbiter who would rather stir up problems\u00a0 than solve problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT\u00a0 the preacher than talk TO the preacher.\u00a0 A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT some weak Christian in the church than offer some words of encouragement TO them.\u00a0 A backbiter is of no use to anyone, and no one has ever been strengthened or edified through backbiting.\u00a0 Beware of the backbiters, especially the ones who sow discord among brethren (Pro. 6:19)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Talebearing Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proverbs 18:8 says, \u201cThe words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>Leviticus 19:16 says, \u201cThou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. . .\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>Every Christian has the duty to deny his own desires and seek to edify other Christians (Rom. 14:19; Philip. 2:3).\u00a0 Talebearing runs wholly contrary to Christian edification.\u00a0 Talebearing (carrying and telling tales) spreads all sorts of hurtful information around, and Satan uses such information to hinder and tear down God\u2019s work.\u00a0 A victim of talebearing, according to Proverbs, is a \u201cwounded\u201d person.\u00a0 God forbid that a Christian should wound another Christian, but it does happen all the time!\u00a0 Some Christians live as though they think God has \u201ccalled\u201d them to bear tales on other Christians.\u00a0 Many \u201cChristian\u201d newsletters are dedicated to informing the body of Christ on the latest news about someone\u2019s ministry or personal life.\u00a0 There are many nice words and phrases used to justify such conduct, but the Bible word is TALEBEARING.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cursing Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people, Christians included, have a nasty habit of using their tongue for cursing.\u00a0 Romans 3:13-14 says, \u201cTheir 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.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This passage deals strictly with unsaved people and their ungodly ways, yet there are a great many professing Christians who curse regularly.\u00a0 Friend, why would you want to identify yourself with someone whom God describes as being DEAD, DECEITFUL, and POISON?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.\u00a0 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.\u201d<\/strong> (Psalm 109:17-18)\u00a0 Many people curse because their life is miserable.\u00a0 They are unhappy so they make it known with their degenerate speech.\u00a0 This text says that God keeps them unhappy BECAUSE of their speech!\u00a0 God curses those who curse!\u00a0 Christian, don\u2019t expect God\u2019s blessings when your mouth is filled with cursing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Piercing Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another sinful tongue is the piercing tongue.\u00a0 Proverbs 12:18 speaks of this tongue by saying,\u00a0 \u201cThere is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 Some people have a sharp piercing tongue which Satan uses to offend and insult others.\u00a0 The Bible commands Christians to have their speech dominated by GRACE (Col. 4:6), yet most churches have a few people who use their tongue like a sword to pierce their brethren in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was Teddy Roosevelt who said, \u201cSpeak softly and carry a big stick,\u201d <\/em>but the truth is that if you speak softly you won\u2019t need<\/em> a big stick!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Titus 2:8 commands us to use sound speech which cannot be condemned.\u00a0 Friend, do you use graceful speech which cannot be evil spoken of, or do you possess a piercing tongue? Every Christian\u2019s prayer should be, \u201cLord, make my words gracious and tender, for tomorrow I may have to eat them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Silent Tongue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A silent tongueis also a sinful tongue because we have been commanded to speak up and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a0 In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, \u201cBut 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.\u201d <\/strong>\u00a0We, as Christians, have an obligation to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus.\u00a0 To be silent about Christ is to sin against Christ.\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201cWhosoever 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.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 (Mark 8:38) Christian friend, if you do not want to be ashamed of yourself when the Lord returns, then don\u2019t be ashamed of Jesus today.\u00a0 Pray for opportunities to speak up for your Saviour.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be found guilty of having a silent tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor 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.\u201d <\/strong>(James 3:2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James L. Melton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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