THE UNRULY MEMBER by C. A. Osgood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 21, 1878

“THE UNRULY MEMBER.”

By C. A. Osgood

James 3:8 reads: “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil full of deadly poison.” Wild beasts, birds, and serpents, have been tamed by human skill; but the tongue is so full of evil, that without the aid of divine grace the attempt to tame it must be fruitless. The influence of the untamed tongue is far-reaching; it is dreadful. A small spark of fire kindles into a blaze and spreads many miles around, destroying every combustible thing that comes in its way. So fiery words issuing from the tongue, kindle a fire that frequently extends far around, destroying the peace of individuals, families, churches, communities. “The tongue is a little member,” but it does great mischief. We read of unconverted men and women, “whose throat is an open sepulcher.” From it foul and pestilential odors escape, which poison the atmosphere, and produce disease and death! “With their tongues they have used deceit.” Like Satan, they have sought to injure others by deception. “The poison of asps is under their lips.” As the bite of a serpent is fatal to the life of the person bitten by it, so the words that fall from their lips are destructive to the peace and happiness of mankind.

The fountain from whence these bitter waters issue must be cleansed, in order that sweet waters may flow out. Then there will no cursing proceed from the mouth. Then we shall not “render evil for evil nor railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing.” 1 Pet. 3:9. We shall then imitate the Saviour, of whom it is truly said, there was “no guile found in his mouth.” Peter exhorts the children of God to “lay aside all guile and all hypocrisies.” Exact truthfulness will be one of the characteristics of those who shall be translated “at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Of them it is said, “In their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev. 14:5. But the fearful and the unbelieving, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev. 21:8.

Oh how important it is that “the words our lips express” should be acceptable in the sight of God! Said our Lord, “I say unto you, that for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” If this be so, how will the most of mankind come out at last! Jesting and foolish talking are heard everywhere now; but how awful the scene before them!

Again the Saviour said, “Swear not at all; neither by Heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matt. 5:34–37. Alas, how many idle and even profane words are uttered by the professed disciples of Christ! These expressions convey no idea to the hearer, unless it be that the speaker is angry or otherwise excited. The conscientious person is often pained to hear such expressions as: “Good Lord,” “good gracious,” “Lord have mercy,” “my conscience,” “heavens and earth,” and many other like expressions which no one for a moment believes that the Saviour or the apostles ever used. Nor does any person of true refinement use them now.

“Let your yea be yea; and your nay nay.” This means that we should simply affirm what we wish to affirm, and deny what we have to deny, without the addition of useless words to seem to give force to what we say. All these profane expressions, or substitutes for the profane, are evil, and only evil. Truly excellent are the teachings of the apostle concerning the right use of the tongue: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.” Eph. 4:29. “Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Col. 4:6.

Reader, do you heed these inspired injunctions? Is it always your aim, in all you say, to do the hearer good, to build up and not pull down, to minister grace? Or is your speech corrupting and injurious in its influence? If it be the latter, will you not seek earnestly the power of God’s grace, that you may experience that renewing of the mind, from which will flow out streams of good will to all mankind?

C. A. Osgood.