WRONG SPEAKING | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 10, 1881

WRONG SPEAKING.

In one respect especially may wrong speaking work a great evil—we allude to the expression of opinion asked for by a young man of a superior. Thus a young minister will ask, "What did you think of my sermon?" And very often the reply will carry undeserved compliment, whereas the timely word of discriminating but kindly criticism would have conferred a permanent and salutary benefit.

No; let not the word be trifled with; however kindly the heart may be, do not let it prompt the lips to utter inconsiderate, undeserved, and therefore valueless commendation. The effect may not be as pleasant as we might always wish; but the result is not ours but God's, and he will take care of it. It is our duty to see that everything that we do say is truth and that only.

How many conversations would be cut short, how much scandal would be saved, were this rule constantly observed! And how greatly the sermons of some preachers would be abridged if this rule were always implicitly followed! A man who asks our opinion has a right either to a refusal, or to a true opinion. There is no middle ground. When we consider the effect of opinion expressed in speech; when we realize as every Christian should realize, the solemn responsibility which he assumes in speech, and when he reflects upon the measure to which every man is measurably his brother's keeper, surely we can not be too much on our guard in this matter, that we may prove worthy followers of Him who said, "I am the truth."—Christian at Work.