By Jerome Stewart
There is a real need today to lower the temperature of the words coming out of our mouths. Words that promote division can be harmful instead uplifting to the hearers of them. The constant anger on display today is doing irreparable harm to our children. The 800 pound gorilla in the room today is that notorious tongue.
In this country today, we must re-think how we talk to one another or else all kinds of un-godly behavior will escalate. There are great words of wisdom throughout the bible on how we are to treat one another. James chapter 3 vs. 5 says; “the tongue is a little member and boast great things.” Vs. 8 says’ “But no one can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” It cannot be overstated that divisive talk today needs to take a prolong vacation. Somebody needs to be willing to speak words that are tender, soft and easy on our hearing, words that edify. There are great people doing great things, so there is good happening today. But we hear too much noise! We need to stop and think before we speak.
James addressed the general congregation of believers. He asked a very important question to be pondered in vs. 11 saying; “Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?” The answer is no. Vs. 12 he says “Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” Matthew chapter 7 vss. 15 thru 17 Jesus says; “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Paul said to the brethren (that’s church folk) in Ephesians chapter 4 vss. 29 thru 31; “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
