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I
am sure you have heard the saying, “Out of the mouth of babe’s.” At the
expense of many embarrassed parents Art Linkletter realized that it was
very profitable to get children to say the most humiliating and
darnedest things.
Paul
and Dawn, Clinton and Melissa, I promise you will turn absolutely red
with embarrassment, wishing the ground around you would just swallow you
up, because of something your sons Daniel and Logan will say. But don’t
be dismayed because I also promise you that there will be a time that
you will be spell bound in amazement thinking was that my son who said
that?
Let's
face it. Children don’t have a corner on that market. We all have opened
our mouths and inserted our foot even both feet.
For
example, a new college student was leaving class when his professor said
to him, “I notice you have an accent. Where are you from?” The student
responded, “I am from Toronto, Canada, the home of beautiful hockey
players and ugly women.”
The
professor replied, “My wife is from Toronto.”
Fortunately
the student recovered quickly and asked, “Which hockey team did she play
for?”
Last
Sunday night I was at the Giants vs. Colts football game. At a very
crucial point in the game a referee made what a sports commentator
called a ‘phantom penalty call’ against the Giants. The crowd voiced its
displeasure by chanting a vulgar derogatory name at the referee. This
certainly did not come as a surprise to me because four letter curse
words could be constantly heard from tailgate parties, lines for the
bathroom, chants concerning other teams as you rode up the escalator or
directed at a player’s mistake.
“With the tongue we
praise our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men,
who have been made in God's likeness.
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers, this should not be.”
I
wonder how many of those fans were using their voice to praise God
earlier in the day.
A
minister was working along with other men from the church building an
addition to the church. As he was hammering away he noticed that one of
the men’s sons was watching him. For a lengthy period of time he sat and
watched and said nothing. The minister figured eventually the young boy
would leave. But he didn’t. Then it dawned on him that perhaps the young
boy wanted to try hammering. So the pastor asked if he would like to
try. “No,” the boy replied. “I am just waiting to hear what a
minister says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.
I
wonder if this young boy doesn’t give us insight into our society in
that we expect people to curse and swear and say inappropriate remarks.
In
a society where tongue piercing is being done why should we be so
surprised that many a person’s tongue can be so piercing. I understand
there is danger in piercing a tongue because there is a nerve in the
tongue that if pierced could actually cause paralysis. There is also a
much greater chance for infection because of all the bacteria in your
mouth. Yet in spite of all the potential danger that comes with tongue
piercing it pales in comparison to someone’s tongue piercing another
person’s reputation. Many a careless tongue has destroyed many innocent
people.
Think
of the power of words you have heard or that you have spoken, over the
course of your life. These could be words you spoke or words spoken to
you. These could words that were good or bad.
“You are too
small.” “You will never amount to anything.”
“How can you be so stupid?” “You’re such a loser.”
“No one will believe you.”
“Believe in yourself.” “You can do it.” “Don’t give up.”
“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.
The tongue also is a fire,
a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole person,
sets the whole course of his life on fire,
and is itself set on fire by hell.”
Just
this past Tuesday Rosie O'Donnell equated conservative Christians to the
9/11 terrorists. “Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical
Islam." While her comments cause me dismay we all need to examine our
words and tongue. If you think this morning’s Bible lesson doesn’t apply
to you ask yourself, if you had a talking parrot would you be willing to
sell it to the town gossip.
The
tongue is a small but powerful instrument, able to have an effect that
is every bit as influential as the rudder on a ship.
To
talk like Christians, we need to speak to other people with a full
awareness that they are created in God’s image. To talk like a Christian
we need to have our words reflect God's word. It is clear that all of
God’s Words are designed to be creative, to bring order out of chaos,
and to make something good. When we talk like a Christian, we speak in a
way that is in line with the teaching of Jesus. Jesus words are every
bit as important as actions, because he knows that they have power to
build up or break down.
The tongue can make a plain person
into a beautiful person.
The tongue can heal bruises and scrapes.
The tongue can soothe the agitated temper.
The tongue can give hope to the despondent.
The tongue can point the way to God.
The tongue can make or break your marriage.
The tongue can make your home a paradise or a desert.
The tongue can make and keep friends or lose them.
The tongue can defend a good cause or allow an evil cause to go
unchecked.
The tongue can heal church or kill.
“With the tongue we
praise our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men,
who have been made in God's likeness.
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers, this should not be.”
Amen
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