QUESTION: What is the tongue?
I know, I know. You were expecting the question to refer to one of our assorted (or is it "a sordid") married state and Federal leaders from California to the New York islands whose two-timing antics have been chronicled all over the news lately.
No, the two-timer that I'm referring to is our own tongue. James 3:9-10 says, "My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn't right." (Contemporary English Version--CEV)
Those of you who are fans of the game show Jeopardy no doubt recognize the answer and question format reflected in today's title and opening line. Hopefully, all of us will also come to realize that when we use our tongues, or voices, to praise God and then turn right around and use the same tool for cursing and profanity, without question we put ourselves in jeopardy and will answer to God for our actions --and that's no game.
If you picked up the use of profanity or foul language during your teen or rebellious years, maybe it's time to put it down. Psalm 109:17-18 admonishes us that "as he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones." (King James Version--KJV)
That passage is probably not one often memorized or recited, but it's one we simply cannot afford to be ignorant of. Just think about it. Proverbs 18:20 explains, "Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." (KJV)
Those who are into New Age, Metaphysical concepts like "The Secret" view this as a reciprocal principle of the universe--whatever you put into the universe is what comes back to you.
As Christians, we understand that those teachings are nothing more than repackaged versions of what the Bible describes as reaping and sowing, "Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." (Job 4:8 CEV)
In light of the principle of reaping and sowing, is it possible that some people have so much to curse about because they curse about so much? I have heard conversations where profanity served as the subject, adjective and verb in the sentence. It's getting so out of hand that women are actually accepting and proudly referring to one another with the word for female dogs. Sorry, but our four-legged friends were not created in the image of God, we were.
Maybe a fast from cursing (or as some of us refer to it, "cussing") is necessary to begin to reset our tongues. If you are wrestling with a cursing habit, try substituting words of praise for profanity. Not in the way that some have turned the name of Jesus Christ into a swear word, but sincerely calling on the power inherent in the name of the Lord in a time of pain or crisis.
The Bible tells us that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow; that demons tremble at the name of Jesus; that healing takes place at the calling of Jesus' name. So, it seems reasonable to expect "Oh Jesus!" to be far more helpful to us than "Oh, s#*t!" And, if we have whatever we say, just think about which one you'd want to have shower down on you in a time of need!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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