With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. James 3:9–12 (ESV)
As I read the above verse, I think about the amazing gift of speech. How extraordinary it is to have the power to communicate in such a way. It is one of the things which makes us uniquely human. It is part of being created in the image of God. It is not without reason that God gave us the gift of speech. He desires us to put to use our tongues for his glory and good purposes.
God gives us our tongues for worship. The tongue is used to bless God and others. As believers, we typically gather together on a Sunday morning, sing songs of praise, and proclaim the Word of Grace. With the words sung and spoken we often make powerful declarations. We declare how God is the Lord of our life. We declare his holiness and his glorious power to overcome all the troubles and trials of this world. Through that proclamation, faith is built.
But we need to be careful about being double-tongued. We speak one thing with our tongue yet hold another thing in our heart. It is called hypocrisy when we say one thing on Sunday morning and then live a different way the rest of the week. As a pastor, I see this. I recognize how people speak differently in front of me because they are afraid of offending me. It always makes me wonder when I hear a person “slip up” and accidentally speak a curse word in front of me. Then they quiver and quickly retract as if this one curse word is any different than the thousands of curse words they spoke outside of my presence. Every word we speak is spoken in the presence of God.
With God’s help, we strive for a purity of speech. The 2nd Commandment states not to take the name of the Lord in vain (see Exodus 20:7). God’s name is holy. It is a name that is reserved for praise. It is the name that is above every name and is not intended to be used in an ordinary way.
It troubles me when I hear Christians say, “Oh my God.” It’s not that they are using God’s name in a derogatory way. It’s that God deserves more than for us to use his name in such a flippant way.
As believers, it is also important to avoid vulgar and crass words. I have heard Christians make the excuse that they may use foul language, but they don’t take the name of the Lord in vain.
God has called us to be set apart. God has called us to be different. God has called us to shine the light. We are not of this world. You may find yourself defaulting to foul language to “fit in” with your peers. But God does not call us to fit in. He calls us to stand out. Just maybe others will see Christ in you because you don’t talk like everyone else.
Foul language has never impressed anyone. Every time we use a curse word, our vocabulary becomes limited by one more word. We can find better and more edifying words to speak. Let our words reach up heavenward!
In the end, know that God has the final word. His word is one of blessing and grace. His word is one of love and purity. It is all too wonderful! All too beautiful!
Questions for Reflection
- Where to you find hypocrisy in your life where you do not practice what you preach?
- What does the language you use, say about the God you serve?
- How can you clean up your language to be more pure and praiseworthy?
- Share your comments below.
charlie says
Hhypocrisy: I see this everyday,at work in the streets at home and in myself. I work with a man who told me he was a preacher on sundays. I do second guess him by the way he acts. I am shocked of his jealousy by the competition in sales between him and others. He states he lives through god but acts with jealousy and does not forgive people. He would even call the human resource department and get others in trouble rather then forgive and move on as I do. This type of behavior to me is not compliant with gods will. Cursing is everywhere, Me being from NYC it is easy to curse and even slip out the dreaded and hard hitting “F” bomb. ouch that hurt just typing it. I try not to curse and don’t like it when others do. I will try not to curse. Stress causes people to curse including myself. I often wonder why God does not redirect me somewhere else and help not to carry on with my stressful ways at work. I long for peace in my life but I appear to get stuck in this realm of heaven called the world or earth. I think cursing and God do not necessarily go hand in hand we don’t curse in church, unless you were my uncle with althemeizers, He cursed anywhere whilst he was ill. even the GD words in church. Embarrassing to say the least. The priest would just look at him I would shrink into the pew and my aunt would genuflect and hide her face.Cursing is something that happens we are not strong to handle our emotion. cursing is a release of anger towards someone or something. It might be better to curse then to strike sometimes. Just don’t use GOD in the context.
Ayanna says
That is why Jesus Christ spoke the Flesh can do nothing with out Me! You can try to stop cursing or smoking or drinking but it will not be done permantly until Jesus Christ delivers one from their strong holdAmen!
. Your uncle had an evil spirit in side of Him, He was void of the Holy Spirit.Which if the pastor was filled with the Holy Spirit of God , he wad have had deferment and cud have casted that demon out of Him! The Spiritual Gifts of God are real and working in the body of Christ today. The Gospel Of Christ Should be preach with not only words but with demonstration of Gods power through the His Holy Spirit! Amen! It is Jesus Christ who delivers All of us from the hands of the Devil! That’s why you Must be born again to enter the Kingdom Of God! You must be born of water fire and the blood of Jesus Christ! John the Baptist said I baptize you with water Be THE One Who Comes after Me will Baptize you with Fire! You must receive the Baptize of the Holy Spirit of God with the evidence of speaking in tongues by faith! The Holy Prayer Languege That Father God Creator of Heaven and Earth Gives to All of His children who LOVEs< Believers And TRUST in HIM! Amen! God Spoke about what The Lord Jesus Christ's Servent will do after He Ascended up to Heaven! Please read EZEKIEL 33:30-33, Jesus Christ also spoke and said That those who believe in Him will cast out demons heal the sick and speak in tongues! Brother fall on your knees! Pray the Lords prayer and ask Him for forgiveness of all of your sins , Because you have sinned against GOD AND MAN! Then receive the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ in your Life Amen! Read Psalms 51 out loud and ask Father God in Heaven to break all of the genernational curses off of your blood line going forward. If you don't belive what I Am saying read Deuteronomy 28. The blessings and the curses that God said that He wad bring on His disobedient children, discipline will start with the House of God first. Jesus Christ said why do you call me Lord Lord but do not what I say! Any way I want to bless you and your family in the Almighty Name of Jesus Christ! Amen! You Can Join me and some other brothers and sisters on Youtube @ Jesuschristsavesallthetime. May My Lord Jesus Christ Bless You and Keep you send His angels around you and give you His peace Amen! 🙂
Amen. Blessings!