10/10/2024
Let not this weak, unknowing hand
Presume thy bolts to throw,
And deal damnation round the land,
On each I judge thy foe.
—Alexander Pope
Enough is enough!
A Christian’s tongue reveals his heart. James writes:
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 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.” (James 3:3–6, NIV84)
I have grown weary of Christians dealing damnation on those with whom they disagree on non-essential dogma and praxis: judging other Christians over different but valid interpretations of a scripture; condemning others because their liturgical practices do not look like their own; labeling creedal Christians as teaching an “heretical” doctrine as they engage in a straw man fallacy. These voices do not build up the body of Christ but foolishly divide her. These voices are especially present on social media—they are internet trolls, maliciously tearing down the reputation of others. If they perceive error, have they first lovingly engaged the other in private conversation? Have they been willing to listen to the other fairly? Paul writes about such in the early Church:
“But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:9–11, CSB)
I have also grown weary of Christians who choose to engage in political discourse on the world’s terms and not as representatives of Christ Jesus. We must choose to not offend unless it is truly the offense of the gospel. We are the aroma of Christ, so let us never allow the stench of demagoguery to be issued from either tongue or pen. We are to speak truth in love to our world. If love is found wanting, then truth will invariably be absent as well.
This is a season when we must be especially mindful of both what we say and how we say it.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29, NIV84)
