February 20, 2024
Dear Friends,
We often think that taming our tongues simply means not saying things we might regret in the heat of the moment. There’s a fight or flight instinct that kicks in when we’re confronted with conflict, and we assume that the virtuous thing is fleeing instead of fighting. Or, biting our tongues instead of lashing out. It’s true – you can belittle, offend, insult, crush, or murder someone in what you say to them.
But that truth should not overshadow what is the more important truth. If you are harsh and uncharitable with someone to their face, you have not done nearly as much damage as you do if you are harsh and uncharitable behind their back.
Taming your tongue not only means watching what you say to someone. It also means watching what you say about someone.
“[The tongue] is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:8-10).
So, here are some rules for your tongue:
1) If you wouldn’t say it to their face, don’t say it behind their back.
2) If it makes them look bad, don’t say it about them.
3) If someone else is making them look bad, refuse to listen to it, correct it, and defend their name.
There’s enough work to do there to keep a Christian busy for a long time.
Martin Luther notes in his Large Catechism explanation to the eighth commandment, “Honor and a good name are easily taken away, but not easily restored.” Luther’s words on the eighth commandment are helpful, and you can listen to his whole explanation here: https://storage.googleapis.com/concordialcms/8C.mp3
The driving force behind everything a Christian does is love for God and neighbor. So, the question to ask at all times is: am I truly loving my neighbor and seeking his good in my words? If he has committed some sin or has hurt me in some way, am I seeking to restore him with gentleness or to punish him with disgrace? Do I regard those who are weak as indispensable members of Christ’s body? Do I bestow on those members who are less honorable the greater honor, just as I do with the parts of my physical body (1 Cor. 12:14-27)?
Take up the task of taming your tongue, and help one another in this task! Luther concludes: “There are included, therefore, in this commandment quite a multitude of good works. These please God most highly and bring abundant good and blessing, if only the blind world and the false saints would recognize them. For there is nothing on or in a person that can do both greater or more extensive good or harm in spiritual and in temporal matters than the tongue.”
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, February 21
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
6:00 pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00 pm – Evening Prayer (Midweek Lenten Service)
Sunday, February 25
9:00 am – Divine Service
10:30 am – Sunday School/Bible Study
Wednesday, February 28
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
6:00 pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00 pm – Evening Prayer (Midweek Lenten Service)