|
|
It is a joke that when men are describing and elderly aunt's old fashioned ways, they might say she even has an embroidered plaque on the wall which says 'God is love'.That's meant to be greeted with sarcastic laughter.It all sounds so corny and 'elderly-lady'ish'.
So as we've been thinking about Christian love the last couple of days, let us try one test. There are others, but this one is the tongue test. It's our speech that betrays us. Now most people think that that means using foul language - but it's a much deeper thing than swearing. It's what we pour out when we've been stirred to retaliate against an unfair accusation, or a sneer, or a cruel criticism.Most married rows would be less hurtful if the words 'well you always ...' were banned from all arguments Hot tongues are flame throwers: they are incendiary bombs. But cold tongues are poison.
In Dylan Thomas's "Under Milkwood" we see a married couple who hate each other, Mrs. Pugh says to Mr. Pugh "Don't nod at the table, wait until you retire to your sty", she said as sweet as a razor. Words are razors. Even smooth ones cut deeply and make folk bleed. Character assassination by gossip may be an enjoyable past time, but the victim can bleed for years, and so eventually will the gossiper.Ask any artist or performer - the critics they remember are not the ones which praise, but the ones which poured acid on their work.
How does your tongue come through the test of the New Testament? For a bit more help, this is what James says:
"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison." James 3: 3-5, 7-8
"The tongue no man can tame" says the Bible.
Thank God it does not say it's untameable!.
Now read James Chapter 3 all through.
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
Click
here to play audio file
