C. M. S by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 4, 1913

C. M. S

By C. M. S.

up a reproach even against the wicked. Many of us feel that because we do not transgress the commandments by overt acts, we can pass judgment upon everybody and everything, and be perfectly guiltless. The Word of God gives us no warrant for any such hope; its admonitions are all against it. There is perhaps no more expressive form of that admonition than this: “I will keep my mouth with a bridle.” He would not give it free rein. He would not permit himself to canvass the shortcomings of his associates. He would not take up a railing accusation against even Satan himself, but left him for the Lord to deal with. And what was not safe for Christ to do is not safe for us to do.

Many of the admonitions of Scripture in reference to this matter apply to our experiences both in this life and in the life to come. In Prov. 21:23 we find this one: “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” That is as true here as hereafter; and so is this one: “He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.” 1 Peter 3:10. He who refuses to heed that admonition, will have no place among the one hundred and forty-four thousand; for “in their mouth was found no guile.” They will have learned, before probation closes, to control their tongues.

When sin and sinners have been burned out of the earth, and God has set up his kingdom here, it is written that “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” Isa. 11:9. That rules out the gossip and the talebearer; for we read that “the words of a talebearer are as wounds.” Prov. 18:8. “Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” Prov. 26:20. If God should take into his kingdom those who had not overcome the tendency to gossip and criticize, the peace of his universe would be broken again. Every talebearer taken into the kingdom would be another “accuser of the brethren,” and the great conflict between sin and righteousness would have to be fought out again.

Perfection in the sight of God must be the aim of every true Christian. He will not expect to reach it by his own powers or goodness; but that aim must be his aim. “Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Matt. 5:48. “Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on,” etc. Phil. 3:12. What is the test of perfection?—“If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.” James 3:2. Perfection is a prerequisite of salvation; but a tongue under control is a prerequisite of perfection. It is therefore one of the first requisites of salvation. That being the case, is it not surprising that so little consideration is given to a matter upon which so much depends?

James further admonishes us: “Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?” James 4:11, 12.

We had not supposed, when we were criticizing one another and judging one another, that we were putting ourselves in the place of God, usurping his prerogatives; but that is the way inspiration puts it. While we have been condemning the Papacy for putting itself in the place of God and usurping his prerogatives, we have been, in principle, doing the same thing whenever we have yielded to the temptation to sit in judgment on our brethren, “speaking one against another.”

This is no light matter. The destiny of our own souls is dependent upon how we relate ourselves to the matter of controlling our tongues. Verily, “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” If we would choose life, we must control the tongue. We must cease from our lingual activities in the line of criticizing one another and flaunting the faults and failures of one another before others. “To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17. On the other hand, “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.” James 3:18. Let us be like the worthy woman of the Proverbs who “openeth her mouth with wisdom;” and on whose tongue is “the law of kindness.” In doing so, we not only remove the barriers that stand between ourselves and salvation, but we also remove, by our example, barriers that would prevent the salvation of others.