“An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.”
“A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.” [1]
Life in this modern age has trained us to accommodate the transformation of language. Modern society sees sarcasm used as entertainment; and we admire the sharp put-down of those with whom we disagree. As bad as this trend in contemporary society is—and it is unquestionably wicked, cancel culture has taught us that it is acceptable to silence those with whom we disagree. And the silencing we practise is usually ruthless and deliberately cruel. Hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet, or even hiding behind masks, we imagine that it is acceptable to savage the reputation of others. Even we who follow the Risen Lord of Glory have become masters of traducing, willfully savaging others when we disagree with them.
“Traduce” is a somewhat rare verb that speaks of misrepresenting wilfully the character or conduct of another. Contemporary understanding of the word would convey the thought of defaming, of slandering, of maligning. The tongue that slanders is a traducing tongue. It is like a hidden assassin who shoots his arrows in the dark. We need not wonder at the intensity of the words of Titus Maccius Plautus when he said, “Slander-mongers and those who listen to slander, if I had my way, would all be strung up, the talkers by the tongue, the listeners by the ears.” [2] There is little question about what he thinks of those who assail the character of another.
The traducing tongue steals a good name, which according to the Wise Man is to be chosen rather than great riches [see PROVERBS 22:1]. A man’s name is an expression of himself. To rob a man or a woman of his or her good name is fundamentally to violate the eighth commandment, which commands, “You shall not steal” [EXODUS 20:15].
Truly did Shakespeare write:
Who steals my purse, steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing;
‘Twas mine, ‘tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed. [3]
Destroying the reputation of another is a dastardly affair. No follower of the Risen Saviour should ever be found guilty of destroying another through such vile calumny. And yet, it often seems as if we Christians differ little from the world in participating in this vile act of destroying others, even fellow believers.
To traduce one’s good name is like stealing bread from the hungry with no better purpose than to throw it in the sewer. It neither benefits you nor the one traduced. The traducing tongue of slander and gossip is yet the cancer of the social body, the leprosy of the community, the pestilence that walks at noonday, the destruction that wastes at midnight, the hailstorm beating with icy hammers, the flood sweeping away sacred things, the fire that burns to ashes, and the cold that freezes to the marrow.
George Meredith is quoted as having said, “Gossip is a beast of prey that does not wait for the death of the creature it devours.” Surely, it is such destructive power of the tongue that is in view when the Psalmist writes,
“When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.”
[PSALM 27:2]
As Jeremiah speaks on behalf of the Lord GOD, he confronts the slanderous deceit of the people to whom he prophesied, writing, “Thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘Behold, I will refine them and test them,
for what else can I do, because of my people?
Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
it speaks deceitfully;
with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor,
but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.’”
[JEREMIAH 9:7-8]
The talebearer is a slanderer, a busybody, one who takes up a reproach against his neighbour and spreads it abroad. It is to our eternal benefit to remember that there is a “shall not” with respect to this matter of slander, and we must remember that it is just as binding on us from the Divine point of view as is “You shall not murder” [EXODUS 20:13]. God demands of us, “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people” [LEVITICUS 19:16].
In the Name of God and of holy religion, let everyone who hears my words in this hour covenant with God, and with one another, that we will forever quit all such vile, despicable business. Let us determine that we will restrain our tongue and refrain from speaking ill of anyone, especially avoiding even giving the appearance of thinking ill of a fellow Christian. Surely, this is the intent of the warning that James includes when he writes, “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law, and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge” [JAMES 4:11].
Later in this missive, the half-brother of our Lord cautions followers of the Christ, “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door” [JAMES 5:9]. Grumbling, complaining too frequently leads to slander against those who stand athwart our right to never be challenged when we have taken a stand. Keep your tongue from even indicating ill when speaking of your fellow follower of the Risen Lord.
At the close of a talkative ladies aid session at which the ladies had over-indulged in gossiping comments about various members of the community, a young woman who had attended for the first time proceeded to call the group the “Ladies Raid Society.” Nor would she stand correction. “Raid Society!” she exploded. “You have raided homes and good names and reputations plenty this afternoon. Good day!” Would you be surprised to learn that the society at once underwent a radical change.
I concede that the message this day differs in construct, if not in intent, from what you would usually hear from this pulpit. Christians anticipate that the preacher will inveigh against those sins that we all agree upon as qualifying as sinful. We routinely name such sins, including theft, murder, drunkenness, lying. However, some sins seem to be tolerated among the faithful, even when we know that these sins are destructive. Some sins are held in reserve to be used when we want to employ them against others. The grave problem is that we don’t really want these sins to be named until they impinge on us personally. Then, we want the one who has the audacity to assail us to be held accountable, to be exposed for the dastardly act that has wounded us.
In the course of the message this day, I will endeavour to focus our attention on the words penned in the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. This is by design since the words found therein are so relevant to understanding God’s view of how we speak and the power of the tongue to injure, even to destroy, another person. May the Lord our God create in us a holy revulsion against the traducing tongue.
A WILLINGNESS TO HEAR EVIL REVEALS A GODLESS CHARACTER —
“An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.”
[PROVERBS 17:4]
How you respond to the provocation and the words of the wicked reveals more about you than you might imagine, or wish! When provoked by wickedness or tempted by evil people, your response reveals who you are in reality. Character is said to be defined by what you do when no one is looking. Reputation is a statement of who others think you are, but character is distinct from your reputation. In this particular proverb, the Word informs us that even listening to that which is evil identifies the listener as an evildoer. Moreover, giving ear to malicious talk reveals that the one listening to such talk is a liar.
The disturbing point of this proverb is that you don’t need to actively engage in a particular action that is recognised as wicked or recognised as scandalous to be identified as evil in the eyes of the Lord—you need only give ear to the malicious speech that someone is spewing. To allow your ear to serve as a funnel into which verbal filth is poured is to position yourself as an evildoer! Wicked lips and a mischievous tongue are instruments that will contaminate your life and drive you into becoming an evildoer.
Slander and innuendo have become the currency of the Internet today; and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram—social forums in general are too often a vehicle that ensures debased minds are enabled to destroy those who are not part of their pack. Otherwise timid people are emboldened by supposed anonymity offered by the Internet, masking who they are with an avatar and a catchy title. Believing themselves hidden, they are more than willing to write some of the most vile statements presenting half-truths and outright lies designed to destroy others. Little do the internet ninjas realise that they are destroying themselves as the bitterness they foster festers in their own minds, destroying even the capacity to think rationally.
You are safer grasping a cobra to your breast than you are embracing the slander fest that seeks to demean others with the bitterness that drives you to attack them. Christian, there is no justification for practising traducing. You do not elevate yourself in your suppose conflict with another, though you do demean and besmirch them. In the process, you expose yourself as petty and lacking in intelligence.
Twenty years ago or more before this day, these individuals who had given themselves over to evil were forced to accomplish their evil through speech whispered into the ear of others willing to receive the filth pouring forth from their mouths. Those who received the falsehoods whispered to others in turn, and the vile gossip was spread.
However, matters have degenerated at an astounding pace in this present day. Those who assail the character of others no longer need to confine themselves to one or to a few individuals in performing their nefarious work to destroy others. Those who seek to destroy the reputation of others can reach masses while employing the destructive power of social media. And the greater tragedy is that there appears to be a ready audience willing to hear the salacious slander and the gross gossip delivered by these malignant muckrakers, these vile and vicious victimisers.
Gossip, slander, defamation are characteristics that mark the speech of far too many frequenting social media sites in this day. Allow me to state without equivocation that no Christian should ever be found among those who trade in such currency. It is difficult to even condone Christians who casually participate in the exchange of vapid thoughts on social media sites. Little of value seems to come from such wasteful activity. What is worse, those who frequent such sites are continually indoctrinated in the attitudes of this dying world. They are indoctrinated without even understanding how they are being changed into conduits for evil. And without question the potential for evil is great! Even when you do not deliberately offer up salacious thoughts yourself, it seems as if there are plenty of debased minds who are prepared to distort whatever you may have written to make it appear as though you are part of their wicked mindset.
I hear from some individuals who attempt to justify posting on social media sites that argue that great good can be accomplished through those sites. I suppose it is possible that good can come from posting on these various social media sites. However, it does appear that for every potentially positive post that glorifies the Saviour, there must be scores that promote the wickedness associated with and defining of this dying world. And that causes me to question why we followers of Christ would continue to support the means for promoting such evil. I seem to recall a warning against casting pearls before swine? Perhaps it would be helpful to review Jesus’ words, warning of the folly of some of our acts. Jesus said, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” [MATTHEW 7:6].
An insipid statement, or perhaps even a statement uttered or written thoughtlessly, despite appearing to present pious religiosity changes nothing. Undoubtedly, the one posting such a statement feels as if they have done something notable or righteous, though the impact of what is posted is probably questionable. I suppose such “feel good” statement can be thought superior to slander, but it fails to address the vile sentiments that bubble just beneath the surface of many posts, and it seems to give tacit approval of the general tenor of contemporary social media. I should imagine that the words penned by the wise man are applicable in this case.
“Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you.”
[PROVERBS 9:7-8a]
Even a mild rebuke of the aggressive verbal assault against the innocent is sure to be met with wild invective in many instances. Perhaps there is another Proverb that applies as well in this particular instance.
“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
for he will despise the good sense of your words.”
[PROVERBS 23:9]
In biblical parlance, the word “fool” does not convey the concept that one is stupid or incapable of rational thought; rather, throughout the Word of God a fool is one who is morally bankrupt, one who is godless and without either capacity or desire to be righteous. Okay, I suppose that could be construed to mean that they are stupid. However, the primary thought to be conveyed is that the individual has no relationship with the Living God.
Let me state without equivocation that one who assaults another with his tongue is a fool. To attempt to destroy another with vile and vicious words demonstrates that you have no ability to expose any error, so you are forced to resort to slander and calumny. Hence, you demonstrate that you are a fool. This is the thought revealed when the Proverbs presents the situation arising when a wise man attempts to respond to a fool.
“If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.”
[PROVERBS 29:9]
The wise won’t get far in any discussion with a fool. The fool is capable of only raging and mocking because there is no argument against God and His Word.
And through the Word we have already established that one who engages in traducing is a fool. The individual who resorts to slander, maligning, and defamation is a fool. Little is to be gained beyond rebuking that one for the evil they are perpetuating. At least with the rebuke, those observing the scene will know there is a distinction between you and the one whom you rebuke. And it is critical that you separate yourself from their foolishness.
Before leaving this point, I believe I am justified in making a brief excursus in order to focus our attention on what some have imagined to be a pair of contradictory proverbs. Two proverbs are set in conjunction with one another, and they are of interest to the message because they appear to contradict one another. The proverbs in question directly address the matter of attempting to address the vitriol and vicious attacks that mark contemporary social media. Therefore, the point that I am about to make does bear on our understanding of the proverbs that serve as our text for the message this day.
We read in the Proverbs,
“Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.”
[PROVERBS 26:4-5]
I am certain that casual readers of the Proverbs have wondered at what is written. I can assure you that highly respected scholars have struggled with responding to what is written in these proverbs. These two proverbs are set in close proximity to one another, indicating deliberation on the part of the writer or the compiler of the proverbs. On the surface, they certainly give the appearance that they are in opposition to one another.
I have already stated that a number of otherwise excellent scholars have concluded that these two proverbs contradict one another—and superficially, I concede that does appear to be the case. The problem with that particular view is that if that view should be granted, it would mean that the Book of Proverbs is not to be taken as truth. To treat these proverbs as contradictory statements would compel us to adopt the position that we should rather treat what is written throughout the Proverbs as generalisations. If we drew such a conclusion, however, we would be in error in our thinking.
These particular proverbs are teaching us not to answer a fool in a foolish way. Avoid lying, mocking, or being unkind in an effort to prove your point. You don’t have to win the argument to quiet their foolishness. In short, you do not need to fight fire with fire. You do not need to sink to the level of the fool just to win an argument. At the same time, know that on some occasions you dare not allow foolish, ignorant statements to go unchallenged and without rebuttal. If you fail to respond in some selected instances, you strengthen the fool in the conceit that characterises his or her life. Exposing her shallow thinking may at least humble her, giving her reason to investigate more deeply the foolishness she has espoused.
In the context of the verses comprising our text, this would indicate that we must not adopt the attitudes of this dying world by engaging in sarcastic rebuttal when someone begins to destroy the reputation of another or attacking their good character. However, because you are a Christian and one who follows the God Who is true, you must not allow the traducer’s slander to stand unchallenged. You must be concerned for the impact of maligning the character and the intent of others; you must be concerned that the innocent can be swept along by the wickedness that is allowed to go unchallenged. Ultimately, because you are a servant of God Who is true, you must accept that you have responsibility for the innocent. For that reason, you may be compelled to speak.
AN INABILITY TO RECOGNISE GOOD EXPOSES GODLESS CHARACTER —
“He who has a crooked mind finds no good.”
[PROVERBS 17:20a NASB 95]
I appreciate the manner in which Eugene Peterson has dealt with this particular verse. Seeking the manner in which the first readers would have understood what was written, Peterson brought the verse into contemporary understanding by translating,
“A bad motive can’t achieve a good end.”
[PROVERBS 17:20a THE MESSAGE]
This particular proverb presents what must surely qualify as a shocking revelation for most of us living in this time; nevertheless, the revelation is one which each follower of Christ must recognise. Motives matter! Why would anyone imagine that attempting to destroy the character of another will result in a positive outcome for either one?
Wicked people are incapable of recognising what is good! Thus, wicked people are incapable of doing good. This is not my view; this is God’s view of the wicked. Moreover, the Word of God says wicked people have no way to discover what is good. They are condemned to grubbing in the filth of this dying world. Anything that is good will be twisted and mischaracterised until it is unrecognisable in the view of those with a crooked heart.
Thus, we have witnessed an incessant drive to eliminate marriage throughout the days of my adult life. The attitude that you need but just begin living together without any open commitment as though sleeping together is the sum of marriage, has not just gained traction in this day—this view has come to dominate the thinking of our fallen society, even becoming tolerated among the churches of our Lord!
I must make a brief excursus at this point to remind you that we are tripartite beings. We occupy a body, but we are in reality a living soul. And we have a spirit which must return to God. The physical is what is most readily recognised by most people. That should not be surprising since we live in a physical world. However, we know that we are more than mere physical entities.
While the world would like to imagine that we can fully define our existence by appeal to physical phenomena, when we permit ourselves to think, we know that we are defined by more than our physical attributes. If you lose a limb, you are no less you, though you may have limitations that you didn’t have before. If you lose one of the sensory attributes of your being, you are no less you. Though you may no longer be able to see, or to hear, or to smell, you are still you. And your ability to love and to be loved, your desire to know and to be known is not diminished because you now have a deficit.
I’ll speak of the soul as the you, the conscious, sentient aspect that defines you. This is the intellectual aspect of you, the characterisation that reveals your interests, your ability to think, to question, to search out the tough questions that challenge your thinking. While the physical may initially attract us to one another, it is the soul that enriches our relationships and binds us together so that we weather the storms of life united with our hearts, and not merely attempting to bind ourselves through the physical. I have often told couples considering marriage that sex is a lousy glue.
While we speak of the body and the soul, we who are born from above realise that we have a spirit given by God. That spirit was dead when we were part of this world, which simply refers to the fact that we were not alive to God. We focused on ourselves and what we wanted; we were seated on the throne of our life, or at least we imagined that we were seated on that throne, and we were dead to God. When we came to faith in the Risen Saviour, however, His Spirit took up residence in our lives and we were alive to God. He became our Father, and we were no longer dead to Him.
I said all that to bring us to the understanding that because we are born from above from the moment we receive Christ as Master over life, we no longer think as the world thinks. Yes, the old nature is still very much a part of our life, but we now have the Spirit of Christ living within. As James reminds us who are followers of Christ, “Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’” [JAMES 4:5]?
When we were identified as belonging to the world, we were able to think only as the world thinks. Having come to faith in the Saviour, our ability to think was transformed, and we no longer are limited to thinking as the world thinks. One contemporary translation presents this truth in this manner. “From this time on we do not think of anyone as the world does. In the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks, but we no longer think of him in that way. If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between us and himself, and God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with him. God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold the world guilty of its sins. And he gave us this message of peace. So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is as if God is calling to you through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God” [2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-21 NCV].
In contemporary society, because the wicked cannot recognise good, they have decided to make sex itself the highest good—and that is how we once thought. And since sex has been elevated to the highest good, it no longer matters whether those having sex are two dudes or two dolls, or, as far as that goes, whether there are three or four dudes and dolls in the bed. Nothing matters anymore because we are utterly focused on our own gratification. So long as we are pleased, that is the highest good. Therefore, we are prepared to give ground on those who twist and pervert the gift of sex which God gave, and which was given to bind us together in marriage. In effect, what were weird perversions only a couple of decades past are today accepted as normal, and even celebrated as rational and reasonable. It is the application of Paul’s warning given in the first chapter of Romans, when after detailing the wickedness of society, he wrote, “They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best” [ROMANS 1:32 THE MESSAGE]!
Now you can understand why the broken movements that are identified with this fallen world react so badly when we refuse to agree with their distorted view of reality. Now you can understand why those who are fully identified with this dying world are prepared to resort to violence when they cannot get their way, or when someone fails to fully approve of what they espouse. They have no rational argument for what they want to be true, so they can only attack and destroy.
Here is the logical conclusion of modern thought: If whatever we decide to be good is deemed good, then why not do away with all sexual distinction, calling the genetic definition of who you are “gender.” And that is precisely what has happened! You can be whatever you want to be—and with your own pronouns. My pronouns are “Sir,” “Your Highness,” and “Mighty Potentate!” Of course, the whole pronoun debacle quickly degenerates into absurdity. To play this degenerate game requires that the players surrender all rational thought in order to accept the madness of those demanding that you use “their” pronouns. Our entire society plays along with the charade, insisting that to fail to use the pronouns chosen by an individual is attempted murder.
Frankly, those poor souls that demand that we agree that their pronouns are “they” and “them,” are likely correct. You may recall part of a conversation that is recorded in the Gospel of Mark. In that conversation, we learn of a man demonised by multiple demons. The conversation went as follows. “Jesus asked [the demon possessed man], ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many’” [MARK 5:9]. How about that! Jesus met someone with a legitimate claim on the pronouns they/them! I’m beginning to understand what is going on! People who insist that we go along with their madness must be demon possessed by multiple demons just as was the man Jesus encountered when He travelled into the country of the Gerasenes.
I need to say as gently as possible that I grieve whenever anyone is mentally disturbed in such a manner that they are prepared to mutilate themselves. However, I am not prepared to go along with their madness by pretending that they are sane.
GODLESS CHARACTER AND THE DESCENT INTO RUIN — I’m going to point to repeated portions of the wise sayings of the Proverbs, so you will need to listen carefully. In fact, you may be well advised to listen with a pen in hand, making note of the Proverbs that I will endeavour to share with you. They are given with the intent of equipping you to avoid falling into insidious, heinous sin that can destroy both you and those about you. Here is the first of those Proverbs that I ask you to weigh.
“One with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.”
[PROVERBS 17:20b]
In the words of John Lennon, erstwhile spokesman for the superficial spirituality that passes for wisdom throughout contemporary society, we might be inclined to say, “Instant karma’s gonna’ get you!” Calamity does befall those who are afflicted with a dishonest tongue; but it is not some nonspecific universal power that strikes, it is a basic law of God. God surveys all the earth, noting the evil that people perform and exacting divine vengeance. Have you never heard the cautionary statement Solomon delivered?
“A man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD,
and he ponders all his paths.
The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,
and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is led astray.”
[PROVERBS 5:21-23]
Among the Psalms is one which speaks of the struggle the Psalmist experienced as he observed the arrogant. He complains that they seem never to be held to account. He writes of these people, people who qualify as traducers,
“They have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them.”
[PSALM 73:4-10]
Their speech is unrestrained, even being used to march throughout the earth in order to attack others. As they conduct their destructive assault against others, even God’s own people are persuaded to approve of what the wicked are doing, embracing their wicked style of life. And the Psalmist is ready to join in approving the evil that he witnesses.
Though it appears that God does not judge the wicked immediately, and though even the people of God begin to emulate the wickedness these people promote, the Psalmist at last is led to observe,
“But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.”
[PSALM 73:16-17]
He was prepared to approve of wickedness, until he at last turned to spend time in the presence of the Lord GOD. That is where we find the answers we need when we find ourselves tempted to approve of evil, even embracing that wickedness for ourselves.
Christian friend, perhaps you are tempted to attempt to justify what you are now doing by foolishly saying, “Well, it is the truth; and the truth hurts no one.” That may be true, but the repeating “your truth” is “evil speaking,” and we now know that God condemns “evil speaking.” The wisest of men, Solomon, has repeatedly addressed this excuse in Proverbs. I am well aware that the proverbs I am about to cite are numerous, and that it can seem tedious at times to see such a compilation. However, I invite you to follow along as I point to multiple instances of God’s censure of such speech.
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets.”
[PROVERBS 11:13]
“He who repeats a matter separates close friends.”
[PROVERBS 17:9]
“The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.”
[PROVERBS 18:8]
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore, do not associate with a simple babbler.”
[PROVERBS 20:19]
“For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.”
[PROVERBS 26:20]
It is almost overwhelming to realise that the Wise Man condemns slander and gossip as he does. Obviously, such seditious action is offensive in the sight of the Lord.
It takes no brains to find fault. Folksy wisdom leads us to acknowledge that a buzzard can always find a carcass. A fly can always find a sore. A hog can always find a place to wallow. And the thoughtless person can always find fault. However, finding fault and seeking to demean another does not honour the Lord, and it is ultimately offensive to the One Whom we worship. God does not hold our sin against us, and when we receive the Saviour we are born again and into the image of God’s Dear Son. Therefore, if we will reflect the glory of the Christ Who redeems us, we dare not give in to the evil of demeaning others.
For us who are followers of the Risen Saviour, we know that we are taught to love one another. Has not our Master commanded us who look to Him for salvation, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” [JOHN 15:12]. And if we love one another, we will not speak ill of one another. In fact, we will go out of our way to honour one another [see ROMANS 12:10], we will live in harmony with one another [see ROMANS 12:16], we will welcome one another [see ROMANS 15:7]. If we genuinely love one another, we will reveal that love by serving one another [see GALATIANS 5:13]. Loving one another means that we will refuse to become conceited, and we will avoid provoking one another or envying one another [see GALATIANS 5:26]. We will truly bear with one another in love [see EPHESIANS 4:2]. Need it be said that because we love one another, we will encourage one another and build one another [see 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11].
If these expressions of love are not evident among us, then we must question whether we are in fact following the Saviour. That is not the way in which He has treated us. He received us, forgiving our sin and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our brokenness, and has brought us into the fellowship of God’s holy family. He has given us a place among the saints of the Most High God, ensuring us that we will be forever included among the saved. Because of His grace, we are no longer excluded from the precincts of Heaven. We are now accepted before the Father.
We who are born from above do not avoid using our tongues for evil in order to become children of the Living God; we avoid using our tongues for evil because we are children of the Heavenly Father. We do not want to dishonour Him by destroying or by demeaning others, so we will speak with our Father to register whatever displeasure we may have with another. He will deal with whatever discipline or whatever restoration is required. We can leave such matters in His hands.
Some will not be capable of trusting the Father to care for these matters. If they are His children, He will discipline them Himself. If they are not His children, they haven’t the ability to trust Him. Perhaps that is you, in which case you need to hear what I am about to say. God sent His Son to die because of our lost condition. When Jesus, God’s own beloved Son, died He was surrendering His life as a sacrifice for our sin. In Scripture, we read, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” [ROMANS 5:8-10].
Above all else, hear this gracious offer. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” [ROMANS 10:9-10].
Should you say this is too difficult to understand, then God simplifies this gracious promise by stating, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [ROMANS 10:13]. When you are saved, God will empower you to bridle the tongue so that you no longer slip into the trap of the traducing tongue. And He will empower you to love even those with whom you imagine yourself to be incapable of loving. What you can’t do, God does for you. Amen.
The suggestion for this particular message came from a sermon by Robert G. Lee, "The Tongue of the Human Body," 1954. One of the points of that message was, "Traducing Tongue." https://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=WlLeSHUjOhI%3D&tabid=214&mid=699, accessed 4 May 2023
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] Titus Maccius Plautus, Inspirational Stories, Titus Maccius Plautus Quotes: Slander-mongers and those who listen to slander,… - Famous Inspirational Quotes & Sayings (inspirationalstories.com), accessed 19 September 2022
[3] William Shakespeare, Othello (3.3.168-74), cited in Sir Thomas North, 1. Iago's Speech on He Who Robs Me of My Good Name - Sir Thomas North, accessed 19 September 2022
