IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK
James 1:5 says, “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”
Just one little spark can ignite a wildfire. Verse 6 says, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… it is set on fire of hell.”
Yikes. What a powerful little member.
My wife and I talked a lot this week about a firestorm of words flurrying around Facebook. On one hand, the watchdogs are justified in their own eyes for calling out churches slipping into worldly practices. On the other hand, the defenders are pushing back with their own form of slander, albeit in a nicer tone.
Sure, reproofs of instruction are a way of life, and very little is private in this publicized livestream world we live in. So, public rebukes are not all bad, and I’ve learned from them.
But at what point is the tongue “a fire, a world of iniquity,” and “set on fire of hell”? Probably sooner than we care to admit.
My tongue gets me in a lot of trouble, especially when I compare it to Scriptures like this:
Proverbs 10:18-19 “He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Often in zeal, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” I’ve been there.
Covering slander by “Christianizing” it is not the answer, but neither is shirking from our duty as Christians to “mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Romans 16:17
At some point, we’re called to make a doctrinal stand, and we must do so with the boldness of the apostles. Some might construe this very bulletin note to be another veiled lob at “them,” whoever “they” are, but with God as witness, I’m convinced that my calling is to Calvary Baptist Church. If I can help you to have speech that is “always with grace, seasoned with salt,” (Colossians 4:6), I am happy.
—Pastor Ryan