“…my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, SLOW TO SPEAK, slow to wrath…If anyone among you thinks he is religious (self-righteously observant of THE EXTERNAL DUTIES of one’s faith), AND DOES NOT BRIDLE (to restrain or control) HIS TONGUE BUT DECEIVES HIS OWN HEART, this one’s religion is useless.” (Jam. 1:19, 26-27) If we aren’t controlling our tongues, we are operating in a level of immaturity which God does not want from us because someone is being hurt by the unkind words we are speaking. “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (Jam. 1:20) We may argumentatively say, “ I was just telling the truth.” Paul said, “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…but, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE (agapē: God’s love), MAY GROW UP IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM WHO IS THE HEAD—CHRIST—…” (Eph. 4:14-15)
-Bill Stockham