WWJD? WWJS?

Do as I say, not as I do. If you've heard this saying before, then you know how ludicrous it sounds. Actions speak louder than words; therefore quit the talk and walk the walk. There are too many people today who will chatter idly and appear to listen. Heed the words in James 1:22. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." If you are not applying the scriptures to your daily life, then you are lying to yourself.

We are instructed in Titus 3:1-2 " . . . to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." How can you be peaceable when you gossip, complain, argue and slander one another? Where is your integrity? "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." {James 1:26.)

We must be holy. 1 Peter 1:16 explains that we must be holy because God is holy. Therefore, do not let evil pour forth from your mouth. 1 Peter 4:11 says "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God." For a long time, society embraced the fad of WWJD bracelets. The noble intent was to consider your actions and compare them to Jesus. Is what you were about to do something that Jesus would do? It also applied to facing situations where you didn't know what you should do. Looking at the bracelet and seeing the WWJD was supposed to inspire you to consider what Jesus would do in your situation so you could act accordingly. It's time for a new bracelet. WWJS. What would Jesus say?

Satan and his minions are hard at work. The Bible compares Satan to a lion. He is a hunter and if you lack self-control and let down your guard he will worm his way into your heart and release the reins on your tongue. We were forewarned of the godlessness in 2 Timothy 3. Verse 2 states that "People will be lovers of themselves . . . slanderous . . . without self-control . . . [and) . . . having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." Do not allow Satan to enter your heart. He will not only destroy you, but everyone around you.

If you are running your mouth and saying things you ought not to say {You might earnestly believe some things need to be said but you better think twice.) then you are living in sin. You are a stumbling block to your fellow Brothers and Sisters, not to mention the unbelievers. How can your preach the gospel and allow folly to pour out at the same time? You're a hypocrite and the nonbeliever sees it. As Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Let us meditate on the wisdom from Proverbs. Chapter 12 and verse 23 say, "A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly."

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 18:2
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Let us not be fools, but be wise. God will grant wisdom to those who seek it. James 1:5 tells us so. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Tend Your Garden

Have you ever been 'thrown under the bus' by anyone? Have you ever fabricated the truth to make yourself look good, even at the expense of another? Self-preservation often takes control when we encounter situations that may expose our sins and flaws. Gossip and complaining and arguments lead to quarreling and quarreling spawns slander.

Consider 2 Corinthians 12:20. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

What exactly is slander? It is defamation, malicious and false. If you slander, then you are lying. If you slander, you are gossiping. If you slander, then you are tearing down the church. Why would you raise such derogatory accusations against a Brother or Sister in Christ? You may fool some of the people, but you can never fool God. He knows your heart and He weighs your motives. 1 Corinthians 4:5 tells us that "He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts."

2 Corinthians was written by Paul and he addressed the church in Corinth. Paul feared for the Corinthians. Look closely at the list of fears he has for the church. Quarreling. Jealousy. Outbursts of anger. Factions. Slander. Gossip. Arrogance. Disorder. If Paul were to walk in the doors of your church building or fellowship with the body of believers today what would he find?

We have Christians parading around and patting themselves on the back because they have not stolen or murdered. They congratulate themselves for perfect attendance. They are just like the Pharisees. They keep the letter of the law but not the heart of the law. They allow evil to fester in their hearts and they release the reins on their tongues.

We must cleanse ourselves. Ephesians 4:31 says, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Likewise Colossians 3:18 also urges us to ". . . rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Then again in 1 Peter 2:1 it says "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind."

Getting rid of these horrific attributes will not come easy. First, you must fill your heart with goodness. Meditate on God's Law. Memorize scriptures. Sing hymns. Look at Galations 5:22-23a. It lists the fruits of the Spirit. Focus on your fruits and memorize them. Take note of any fruits you produce throughout the day and go out of your way to produce more of the fruits. " . . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Plant your garden and fertilize it so that you can produce good fruit.

O Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say

When we talk of 'taming the tongue' many people automatically assume that it means to watch your language. Don't curse. Don't say bad words. After that, we conclude that it refers to gossip. All of those things are correct, but there is another aspect of taming our tongues that often goes unnoticed. Complaining and arguing.

Turn your Bibles to Philippians 2:14. Read it. Read it again. "Do everything without complaining or arguing."

The key word I want you to focus on is "everything." Everything. All. Without exception. Each and every thing. Now notice the word "do." For you non-English majors out there, do is a verb. Do is an action word. As Christians, we are called to serve. What type of servant are you? Are you the one that mumbles and groans and nitpicks?

People say that they just to need to let it all out, or that it helps them get through the task. Well, folks, that's not what the Bible is teaching us. Complaints and arguments have no place in the body of Christ. Our mothers taught us that if we had nothing nice to say then we didn't say anything at all! Complaints and arguing are not "nice." In fact, if you "have" to get it out, then perhaps you need to take a closer look at the condition of your heart.

Turn to Matthew 15:1-20. The Pharisees question the disciples of Jesus when they do not wash their hands and Jesus takes this opportunity to explain the true cause of uncleanliness. If you find yourself muttering under your breath then you need to repent and purify your heart. You are unclean.

What should come out of your mouth, then? Turn to Ephesians 4:29. "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." Complaints do not edify anyone, nor do they bring lost souls to Christ. Complaints and arguments are just as "unwholesome" as foul language and gossip.

Look at 2 Timothy 2:23. "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." The Bible says it like it is - arguments are stupid. Stupid. What do they do? They produce quarrels. People continue to believe that if they "argue" then they will convince or change someone else's opinions. If you are on Facebook, then you know full well that no one's mind has ever been changed by starting an argument. What happens when someone posts an argument? Everyone starts quarreling and someone eventually resorts to name calling and maybe even a 'caps lock' just to show how loud they are really yelling. Read Romans 16:17-18. Arguments not only lead to quarrels but they also lead to division. Division is detrimental to our mission as Christians.

Now imagine how you look to non-believers. Did you bring them to Christ? Did you show them Jesus? Not by a long shot. In fact, you have driven them away. Repent. Memorize Philippians 2:14 and recite it every time you start to complain or argue.

Tattle Tales All Grown Up

"It's not gossip if it's true!"

"We're not gossiping. Bless your heart; we were just discussing how we could help you."

"I only told Jane. It's not like I was gossiping."

"I'm not trying to gossip, but did you know?"

"I saw it myself."

"He/she informed me him/herself."

How many times have you heard someone say one of the above? How many times have you said one of the above? Take a moment and reflect on the conversations you have had and be honest with yourself. Are you gossiping? Are you trying to deny or sugarcoat your actions?

Let's take a moment to define "gossip."

Dictionary.com defines gossip as "idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others" and "light, familiar talk or writing." I really like the 3rd definition they list: a person given to tattling or idle talk.

If you gossip then you are a tattle-tale.

We need to understand that any form of idle chatter that concerns the personal and private affairs of a third party is malicious. When you open your mouth to discuss some tantalizing piece of news, you are spreading rumors which will inevitably evolve and deteriorate into an outright lie. Don't believe it? Then you must never have played the game "telephone." This popular children's game sets a perfect example how one piece of information becomes construed as it is passed from one person to another.

Perhaps the most outrageous information about gossip is the inappropriate claim that gossip is an acceptable and even beneficial social act. The claim that gossip helps bond friends is simply preposterous. This article {right-click here to read it in a new tab or window) suggests that most gossip is not malicious. Such a claim is hogwash. There is absolutely no form of gossip that anyone should consider acceptable.

My dear Christian Brothers and Sisters, take a moment to read James 1:26. It says, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless." Now look at James 3:4-6. It says, "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 body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

Now consider what we read in Matthew 12:36. "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken."

The subjects you choose to discuss can easily grow into a wild and uncontrollable fire. Gossip is nothing but a wildfire. Stay away from it. Control your tongue; bite it if you must. If a Brother or Sister begins to stoke the blaze then put his or her tongue out with a bucket of ice cold water!