Church Covenant: What Is Required Of Church Members #3

that I looked up to as a Christian mentor consuming alcohol.

It broke my heart.

IV. We have a responsibility for our words.

a. avoid all tattling.

The word "tattling" literally means the telling of tales. I think a better definition would be gossip.

b. backbiting

Backbiting is literally talking in secret ! It is to speak evil of someone behind their back.

Many years ago the Moody Church News carried a humorous story about a woman in a small town who was know for being a gossip. One day on vacation she visited the offices of The Chicago Daily News. She was wearing a white dress and inadvertently leaned against a wall where a freshly printed copy of the front page was hanging. It was a hot, humid day, and some of the print came off on the back of her white dress.

Later, as she walked down the street to meet her husband, she noticed that people walking behind her were snickering. When she reached the place where her husband was waiting, she asked him if there was anything on her back that shouldn’t be there. As she turned around, he read the large black reversed letters: sweN ylaiD. Realizing the appropriateness of the words, he said, "No, dear, nothing’s on your back that doesn’t belong there."

Here’s a good formula for being responsible for our words !

T--Is it true?
H--Is it helpful?
I--Is it inspiring?
N--Is it necessary?
K--Is it kind?

If our talk doesn’t pass the test, then we need to keep quite !

Beware of a person that cannot control their tongue ! Keep your distance from them, and make sure that you do not divulge anything confidential to them ! If a person cannot contain their tongue, it is doubtful that they can control themselves from other things. There is something far better, and far less painful than "biting your tongue". Give the Holy Spirit control over it !

c. excessive anger

Why do you suppose the writer of the covenant put anger in this area of the covenant ? I believe it is because our mouth gets us in the most trouble when we become angry !

Remember Anger is one letter short of Danger ! As believers, and as members of this church, we have a responsibility to the Lord, to this church, and to each other for our we act, and how we react ! How are we at reacting ?

Illust. Honk If You Love Jesus

Illust. I’ll sit back here, and blow your horn, and you’ll go up there and start my car.

This morning as we sing our song of invitation. How is your spiritual life in the areas that we have mentioned ? How’s your worship ? How’s your witness ? How’s your walk ?How’s your words ? Are you being a responsible believer, and church member in these areas of your life ? Are there things that you need to talk to the Lord about ?