De tong - de ware bijbelse leer

Have you ever seen the result of a fire that burned out of control? Where the fire left devastating damage, destruction, and ruin? We have fires here in California, and just 100 miles north of where we live, a fire burned a whole town where over 10, 000 homes were lost. Fires can be very destructive. Do you know that you have a member, or a part of your body, that can cause damage and destruction just like real fire? This member is destructive, and it can destroy friendships, cause division, cause irreversible damage in homes, and be a very destructive part of someone’s life. This member weighs less than 1% of your body weight but can do more damage than your fist or foot.

Take a moment to stick out your tongue. Oh, such a little member, but it can be very destructive.

Jakobus 3:5-8

“5 Zo is ook de tong een klein lid, en roemt op grote dingen. Zie, wat een grote zaak ontsteekt een klein vuur!

6 En de tong is een vuur, een wereld van ongerechtigheid: zo is de tong onder onze leden, dat hij het hele lichaam verontreinigt en de loop van de natuur in brand steekt; en het wordt in brand gestoken.

7 Want alle soorten van beesten, en van vogels, en van slangen, en van dingen in de zee, is getemd, en is getemd door de mensheid:

8 Maar de tong kan niemand temmen; het is een weerbarstig kwaad, vol dodelijk vergif.”

James is writing about this little member, the tongue, which like a fire, is so destructive it can destroy many things. God is calling on his saints with the challenge to control their tongues! Only God can change a man from the inside and tame an out-of-control tongue. If you do not know God, you will find you have little or no control over your tongue. If you are serving God, you will want to control your tongue as a Christian.

Do you know the devil would like nothing better than to cause us to lose control of our tongues and then cause severe damage? The devil works on young people in this way, and he endeavors to cause young people to lose control over their tongues, which creates trouble wherever they go.

Wij zijn één lichaam

Romeinen 12:5

"Dus wij, met velen, zijn één lichaam in Christus, en iedereen is lid van elkaar."

We are all a part of the same body – one body. Suppose that the finger on your left hand was bleeding. Would your right hand jab your left hand with an arrow or a knife? No! Your right hand would bind your bleeding hand with a bandage and stop the bleeding. You would not use harsh words against your finger. Like, “you stupid little finger you got in the way!” You would say, “Ouch!” and get a bandage to stop the bleeding. You would care for your injured finger, show it kindness, make sure it was helped and in good condition. This example is how we need to be with the members of the body of Christ. If you find yourself hurting others or causing ill feelings with your tongue, it might be good to start praying earnestly to God for help to control your tongue. Our tongue can cause much hurt and damage if it remains out of control.

Efeziërs 4:32

"En wees vriendelijk voor elkaar, teder van hart, elkaar vergevend, zoals God u om Christus' wil heeft vergeven."

God calls his young people who are part of one body to treat each other with kindness. When we think about what we say before we speak, we are treating each other with kindness.

Jacobus 1:19

"Daarom, mijn geliefde broeders, laat een ieder snel zijn om te horen, langzaam om te spreken, langzaam tot toorn:"

Sometimes we find we are too slow to hear and too fast to speak. In James 1:19, the writer challenges us to be swift to hear what is said and slow to respond.

Jakobus 1:23-26

“23 Want als iemand een hoorder van het woord is en geen doener, is hij als een man die zijn natuurlijke gezicht in een glas ziet:

24 Want hij aanschouwt zichzelf en gaat zijn weg, en terstond vergeet hij wat voor man hij was.

25 Maar wie inziet in de volmaakte wet van vrijheid en daarin blijft, die geen vergeetachtige hoorder is, maar een doener van het werk, deze man zal gezegend worden in zijn daad.

26 Indien iemand onder u godsdienstig schijnt te zijn en zijn tong niet in toom houdt, maar zijn eigen hart bedriegt, dan is de godsdienst van deze man ijdel.”

In verse 26 of the same chapter, the writer is now challenging us to bridle our tongue. A bridle is a tool that fits on a horse or other animal and is used to control the animal. James, the writer, says, “if any of you have religion but do not bridle your tongue, this man’s religion is vain.” God help us all to bridle our tongue!

Some people have different sets of words and tones they use in which they speak, depending on whom they are around. If people visit the home, they might be agreeable, speaking kind words in pleasant tones. But, when it is just them and their family, they become cross, speaking harsh words in unpleasant tones. God wants to help us control our tongue wherever we are and whoever we are with.

(Liedje)

If you can’t say something nice shhh, say nothing
Neem een beetje goed advies shhh zeg niets
Think of friendly things to say. That’s the path to follow
When you think of unkind words, button up your lip and swallow gulp
If you can’t say something nice, take a bit of good advice, and don’t say anything at all!

We teach children to sing this song, but the lesson here is just as important for us who are older. We need to look at our family and friends that we attend church with as the body of Christ. Remember, we are all part of the same body. Being a member of the same body means we should not be shooting arrows of criticism and unkind words at each other. Remember, our tongue is like a fire and will destroy and leave things in ruin behind us if we do not control it. So, will you allow God to control your tongue? Sometimes this can be difficult, especially when someone speaks harsh words to us. Our first response may be to defend ourselves and say something harsh or unkind in return. But God is challenging us to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, and forgiving. When we say something and another person hears it, we cannot take back words already delivered. I want to challenge you to think about what you say before it comes out of your mouth.

Zeg nee tegen roddels!

Leviticus 19:16

“Gij zult niet op en neer gaan als een lasteraar onder uw volk; noch zult gij standhouden tegen het bloed van uw naaste; Ik ben de Heer.”

This scripture in Leviticus is simply stating thou shalt not gossip among God’s people. Do you know there are places in the Bible that teach us God hates whispering, talebearers, slanderers, and backbiting? Young people, I encourage you not to be the kind of person who knows everything about everyone and tells everyone else what you know. People who gossip often try to raise their reputation by destroying someone else’s reputation. We need to watch our tongue simply because people who are not Christian are watching us. People that we want to win to Christ. If you are a gossiper, the person who is not Christian watches you go to church, and at the same time, sees you telling stories about others. This testimony is not a soul-winning example. God does not want gossip among his people. If you know someone that is always a gossip, here are a few tips for handling them.

Verander het onderwerp
Say, I am not interested in listening to that and walk away
You can say stop! I don’t want to hear it.

We have a right to choose what we hear. We do not need to listen to tale-bearing, bad news about someone or gossip. Here is a little secret for you, a talebearer needs an ear to listen. So, if you do not allow the talebearer to use your ear, they will take their gossip somewhere else.

Filippenzen 4:8

“Ten slotte, broeders, al wat waar is, al wat eerlijk is, al wat rechtvaardig is, al wat zuiver is, al wat lieflijk is, al wat goed is; als er enige deugd is, en als er enige lof is, denk dan aan deze dingen.”

Before you talk to someone, make sure the words you say are compatible with this list in Philippians 4:8. Most people that carry gossip are not sharing anything good about someone else. The Philippians writer is challenging us to listen to things that are of an excellent report. Sometimes young people feel they were wronged and say, “But he did something really bad to me.” or “She hurt my feelings. Don’t I have a right to tell them off?” The Bible tells us exactly how we need to handle this scenario.

Mathew 18:15

"Bovendien, als uw broer tegen u overtreedt, ga dan heen en vertel hem zijn fout tussen u en hem alleen: als hij u hoort, hebt u uw broer gewonnen."

Here, Jesus was teaching us how to deal with an issue in a case where someone hurt our feelings. Jesus did not say, take what they did and run to tell ten friends about the wrong thing they did or said. The scripture teaches if someone has offended us, we need to work it out directly with the offender and not run and tell ten people. God gave us a way to control our tongues.

Omgaan met confrontatie

Other times, young people have come to me and said, “What if someone is in my face and trash-talking me? Don’t I have a right to yell back and give them a piece of my mind?”. The Bible has an answer for this scenario too.

Spreuken 15:1

"Een zacht antwoord keert woede af, maar pijnlijke woorden wekken woede op."

I have often needed to practice Proverbs 15:1 with people I work with. We must remember that people who do not know God will often allow their tongue to get moving in the wrong way, which can stir up many bad feelings and situations. God is challenging us to take the Bible way so we will not stir up destructive emotions and situations, but instead, we can help people toward kindness. Next time someone is in your face yelling at you, upset, or saying mean things to you, remember Proverbs 15:1, a soft answer turned away wrath. In my experience, I have found this scripture is true.

Using God’s Name in Vain is Sin

Finally, do not take God’s name in vain when you speak. Misusing God’s name is something that can separate us from God. Cursing or using God’s name in profanity is called – taking God’s name in vain. The old testament teaches that using God’s name in vain is unacceptable; it is a sin and will separate us from God. So, be very careful of what comes out of your mouth. Let us be fast to hear but slow to speak.

Our tongue has a Purpose for Good.

We want to use our tongue for good to help and encourage others. Use your tongue to edify each other or build up and strengthen each other. The Bible teaches us to use our tongues to minister to each other. We can teach and admonish each other. The Bible teaches us to comfort each other with our words. If someone is going through a hard time, we should not put them down. We need to help lift them up. If someone fails an exam, we don’t tell them they are stupid. We say, “let me see how I can help you. I think you can do better next time.” Remember the quote from the beginning of this lesson:

“Een gesproken woord kan nooit worden teruggenomen. Het is al geleverd.”

Let God help you bridle your tongue. If you allow God to do this, he will bless you, and all people you meet will see you as one that strengthens and encourages.

RHT