p. 69 | Our Words by A. O. Tait

International Tract and Missionary Society · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Feb 4, 1886

Our Words.

By A. O. Tait

THERE is nothing in the line of Christian duty that we should guard more carefully than our words. We can make our words so that they will be a power for good, or we can have them so loaded with evil that they will not only keep ourselves continually in trouble, but will have the community around us always in an uproar. I have been connected for sometime with the church, and have had more or less opportunity to observe its workings; and I have noticed particularly that in churches where trouble has existed, almost if not every case was wrought up and kept in a boil by words, that we, as Christians, have no right to speak.

Some people are so shallow minded that unless they can be discussing the faults of their brethren or neighbors, they have nothing about which to talk. As long as the mind dwells upon such themes, it is evident that it will not rise any higher, and will always be of this low order.

Our talk may be taken as a good index to our minds and thoughts. Those who think much about good things, will talk about good things. They will heed the admonition of Paul, who says: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil. 4:8. This tells us plainly that about which we should think. It is not the dark side of our brother's character, but the good side. If we think of the faults of others, we are sure to talk of them, and this will certainly injure the ones talked about; and then the things of which we are accustomed to think will insensibly influence our own lives and bring our characters into close conformity to the dark things of which we think.

God's word is very explicit throughout in regard to talking about each other. And it would indicate that the Lord is displeased with those who will persist in it. He calls them "busybodies," "tattlers," "talebearers," and such like. "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people." Lev. 19:16. "And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." 1 Tim. 5:13. In 1 Peter 4:15 the apostle classes the "busybody" with the "murderer," "thief," and "evildoer." These scriptures show unmistakably in what light God views this sin. And "thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people," is just as positive a command as, "Thou shalt not steal." Would not reasoning similar to that in James 2:11 be in place here? If we do not steal, yet if we act as talebearers we are convinced of God's word as transgressors. Certainly this reasoning would be correct. Wherein lies the difference between the common thief and the talebearer? Which is the worse? Proper consideration must teach us that the talebearer is decidedly the worse of the two. He throws suspicion on our character, and tries to steal that from us, while the thief only steals our goods, which are of little consequence in comparison. Surely we have no time to engage in such work. It can do no one any good; for its tendency is to alienate friends, and it may result in the final destruction of precious souls.

Some of us seem to have the idea that if a brother or sister has a fault, it is necessary for us to talk about it to every one we meet. And we try to clear ourselves from the reproaches of our consciences by saying, "Of course he has some good qualities. These, about which we are talking are only his faults. We all have our faults, you know." This does not help things one bit. For the person with whom you have been talking will be quite sure to forget this latter remark, and all he can think of will be the faults you have brought out. No Christian has any right to talk to others about the faults of his brethren. It is positively a sin. There is just one person to whom we can talk about the wrongs of our brother, and that is the brother himself who has done the wrong. This is plainly the instruction of our Saviour in Matt. 18:15-17. Then how can we expect to merit his approval while we go about and talk to everybody we meet of the failings of our brethren?

There is one thought, it seems to me, that we should dwell upon a great deal; that is the love the Saviour requires us to have for one another. The new commandment of Christ is, "that ye love one another, as I have loved you." John 15:12. His love is manifested in the sacrifice he made in leaving the bliss of Heaven and coming to earth to die for man. "He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant." Phil. 2:7. He "endured the cross, despising the shame." Heb. 12:2. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8. What did he do all this for? To save fallen man. And in return he grants us the privilege of assisting in the same work, and calls upon us to have the same spirit which he had. "If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." If we have the love for each other that we are required to have, and are so anxious for the salvation of our fellow-men that we are willing to sacrifice as Christ did, we shall have no taste for talking about the bad qualities of our fellow-men. And in speaking of them we shall use the same care as we would in speaking of ourselves; we shall dwell upon and extol their good qualities, passing the bad ones by unnoticed.

Still, if we are very sure that we see faults in a brother which we are convinced will have a tendency to lead him to destruction, this places upon us a weighty responsibility; not to go to others and talk over his short-comings, but to seek God in earnest prayer, that our own hearts may be softened and made tender by the spirit of Christ, and then go directly to our brother and talk with him of his faults. Let him see by our kind and humble spirit, that we are doing it for his good; that we are working for his salvation and have no personal feeling in the matter. When we reprove faults in others, we are too apt to go with a petulant, angry spirit. We try to make our words cut, and thrust them out in such a way that instead of bringing repentance, they strengthen the reproved in their evil course.

It means a great deal to be a Christian; and, too, the Christian's reward is great. We cannot afford to lose it. Therefore let us not deceive ourselves by thinking that we are Christians, or that we shall obtain the Christian's reward, while we are violating such an important and plain precept as the one forbidding tattling and evil talking about one another. The Lord holds us accountable for the words we speak, and we shall have to meet them in the Judgment. Matt. 12:36, 37.