Being Religious Without A Bridled Tongue
(Kent E. Heaton Sr.)

The impact of the word of God is only found when one goes beyond the hearing
of the word and begins to apply it in his own life.  James describes the
importance of not only hearing the word but making application when he
wrote, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves."  The word of God is to change our lives and by our example we
will shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation when
we become "doers of the word.". (Philippians 2:15)

Our speech is the greatest evidence of our applying the word of God to our
lives.  James discusses the difficulty of the tongue in James 3:2 - "For we
all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a
perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body."  People judge us by our
speech and rightfully so as our speech comes from our heart.  Matthew
12:35-37 records the serious nature of the tongue when Jesus said, "A good
man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an
evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you
that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the
day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words
you will be condemned."  If we wrap ourselves in a cloak of Christianity and
yet our words are not "seasoned with salt," then we will be found wanting in
the day of the Lord.

Slander is an evil that proceeds from the heart of the fool.  Proverbs 10:18
says, "Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a
fool."  The child of God is not one accused of slander as his example is one
of honesty and purity.  To slander someone is to practice character
assassination.  The intent of the one who slanders is to destroy the
character of another person or persons.  To belittle others is not in
keeping with the law of God.  The admonition of Peter is seen in 1 Peter
2:12 - "Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they
speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they
observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."

In the same context we see Peter (writing during the reign of the Roman
Emperor, Nero) exhorting the Christians to "Submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to
governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers
and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that
by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."  (1
Peter 2:13-15)  The conduct of the Christian should be one of example - even
before those in ruling authority.

The mouth of slander is against the character of the child of God.  The
example seen by others will bring reproach upon the name of Christ and the
church He died for.  Again, James admonishes, "If anyone among you thinks he
is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart,
this one's religion is useless."  When the tongue is unbridled the religion
of the one who slanders is useless to bring others to Christ.  He deceives
his own heart when he fails to see the example given by his coarse words and
slander.  "Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren,
these things ought not to be so."  (James 3:10)

The difficulty with words is that when spoken - they can not be taken back.
The same mouth that brought forth slander can also come words of repentance.
If the heart of the child of God is seeking be a "doer of the word" then the
admonition to repent and acknowledge sin is found in the mouth of
confession.  "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks
of justice.  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall
slide. (Psalm 37:30,31)