THE SINS OF THE TONGUE

Continued

Text: "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.... "--Isaiah 6:5a

The sin of talkativeness involves such sins as talebearing and being a busybody; it involves such sins as idle talk, even vain Jangling. Shakespeare warned, "Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice."--for Hamlet.

Likewise we need to watch an attitude of discouragement because it can lead from a complaining attitude of blaming God to near blasphemy--"speaking things which they ought not." There is an Arabian proverb which states, "Some men’s throats have been cut by their own tongues."

These are sins of commission, but can we not also commit such sins by failing to speak when we should? Do we not lie when we do not declare truth when truth is in jeopardy? And do we not gossip when we merely allow it to continue in our presence?

PART II--Four Common Sins of the Tongue

We want to examine four common sins committed by the tongue: first, the sin of detraction-- when we draw something from our neighbor to exalt ourselves; second, the sin of backbiting; third, the sin of gossip--when we speak as true what we do not know to be true; and fourth, the sin of talkativeness.

So first, the sin of Detraction--the sin of drawing something away from our neighbor to make ourselves look equally as well, if not better. Someone has written--

Time was when I believed that wrong in others to detect

Was part of genius, and a gift to cherish, not neglect.

Depreciating involves such sins as belittling the accomplishments of another. It involves the depreciating of their character...simply running them down. John Flavel once wrote, "It is certain some men’s breath hath been baneful poison both to themselves and others."

It involves such grotesque deeds as to besmear a person’s reputation with mere insinuations and innuendoes. Again, it was the great preacher John Flavel who pointed out the Hebrew root of the word "word" is the same root as the word plague.

Backbiting is another such ghoul-like sin. "If all our friends only knew what we have said about them behind their backs, we wouldn’t have four friends in all the world!" so said the French Christian philosopher, Blaise Paschal "Backbiting!" where does the word originate? It has as its root the very picture of Cannibalism, yet "The sharpest tooth cannot tear you when your back is turned like your neighbor’s evil tongue."--Alexander Whyte.

Gossip is the most insidious sin committed by the tongue because we utter what we think probably true; but the heinousness lies in our uttering what we DO NOT KNOW TO BE TRUE!

Augustine early learned a hatred for gossip from his mother, and on his dining table he had carved,

Who loves another’s name to stain

He must not dine with me again.

Shakespeare ably expounded,

Good name in man and woman is the immediate jewel of their souls.

Who steals my purse, steals trash;

‘Tis something, nothing; Twas mine, ‘tis his,

But he that filches from me my good name,

Robs me of that which not enriches him,

The Japanese have a proverb, which says, "The tongue is a little member, only three inches long, but can kill a man six feet tall." Therefore the only time we ought to speak evil of someone is when his evil may injure someone else. If I KNOW someone working for you is a thief and I do not warn you of that person, I have done you an injustice.

John Wesley has left us some advice that would be beneficial for us to consider:

"Believe evil of no one, and put the best construction on everything. Speak evil of no one; keep your thoughts to yourself till you come to the person concerned. If you see what you think wrong in a person, tell him plainly. Be serious; let your motto be ’Holiness to the Lord.’ Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking (which are not convenient) Be diligent; never while away time, nor spend more time than is necessary in unprofitable talk or occupation. Converse sparingly and cautiously with the opposite sex. Beware of all affectation, and preach the Gospel as the servants of all..... "

Note: these are the first seven of 11 rules in all; and see how these first seven deal directly with the proper and improper use of the tongue.

The story is told how a man went to a neighbor and begged his forgiveness for having told something about him that he had since found to be groundless. "I will forgive you", the man responded, "but first I want you to take a feather pillow up into the church belfry and empty out the contents. When you have finished, come and tell me."

The man did as he was bidden, and returned. The ill accused then told the penitent, "Now go and gather up all the feathers." "Why I can’t do that," he responded, "they are scattered to the four winds!" "Precisely," replied the injured man.

 The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on;

Nor all your piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line,

Nor all your tears wash out a word of it.

--from the RUBAIYAT by Omar Kuyaam

"Out of order! Strike it from the record!" a judge may shout, but a crafty attorney knows there is no way to strike his words from the minds of the jury.

PART III--The Tongue of the Righteous

Solomon tells us, "The tongue of the just is as choice silver." "The tongue of the wise is health." "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge." "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life." And when referring to the virtuous woman, he adds, "She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and IN HER TONGUE IS THE LAW OF KINDNESS."--Proverbs 10:20; 12:18; 15:2,4; 31:26.

How should we treat the sins of the tongue? "The north wind driveth away rain, so doth an ANGRY COUNTENANCE a backbiting tongue." And, "What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he may see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile."--Proverbs 25:23; Psalm 34:12,13. Remember the Lord Jesus before Whom all scandal and criticism dies.

"I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, even from good;" said the Psalmist--39: l,2a. And Solomon declared, "Who so keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles." "Let thy words be few," he admonished—Proverbs 21:23.