Whenever an extreme position on any Biblical principle is taken, there is a danger of setting aside any Scriptural instruction that remotely relates to the subject for fear of being labeled a heretic. I’ve found this to be true in the area of words.
The ‘positive confession’ camp takes an extreme view on the subject. Many times honesty is disregarded and true fellowship is broken. Facts are ignored, fables embraced, and a whole lot of people in physical straits are telling you that they are healthy. (What positive confession did Lazarus make to raise up from the dead?) If faith in your own faith makes you whole, then why do you need Jesus? Physician, heal yourself! Welcome to the holistic healing camp of the New Age movement, previously released under the title “Magical Mystery Tour”.
Make no mistake about it, the tongue can create a “fiery” providence. Careless, thoughtless, undisciplined speech is powerful. The worldly, sensuous woman has a ‘smooth’ mouth while the godly, virtuous woman speaks with wisdom and kindness. Words are like a hunter’s trap. Words in the mouth of a hypocrite destroy a person’s honor. Do a personal study in the Book of Proverbs looking up: “words,” “tongue,” “lips,” and “mouth.” While you’re there, track down “whisper,” “accuse,” “backbite,” “talebearer,” etc.
Why does God say so much about our speech? Do we hear Him speaking to us in this area? How do you interpret Col 3:8? Eph 4:29? Look at Numbers 14:2,27. What got God’s ‘blood boiling’? Is that only under the law? Check out Phil 2:14-15. How do you think Jesus feels when He observes our verbal ‘flame-throwing’? We need to clean up our acts verbally. We need to find out what the mind of Christ is and then put our lips in harmony with His word. Every body part belongs to Jesus.
Verbal poison, pollution, pornography, etc., are never God’s will. You may despise swearing, but do you backbite? Are you critical of others in the Body of Christ? Do you love passing on ‘juicy tales’ of failure? There is an Arab proverb that says, “While the word is yet unspoken, you are the master of it; when once it is spoken, it is master of you.” What we think about10 is an indication of our heart’s treasure.
One reason that an ‘iron curtain’ exists between God and us is our failure to allow the Holy Spirit to keep our mouths shut. May we pray as David prayed: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Remember, you do not have to speak all of your mind. Before you speak, think and pray.
