舌头

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.

雅各书 3:5-8

“5 舌头也是一个小肢体，却夸耀大事。看啊，一点点的火点着多好啊！

6舌头是火，是罪恶的世界；我们肢体中的舌头也是，它玷污全身，点燃自然的进程；它被点燃了地狱之火。

7因为各种走兽、飞鸟、蛇和海里的东西，都被驯服了，人类也已经被驯服了：

8 但舌头不能驯服；它是一种难以驾驭的邪恶，充满了致命的毒药。”

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.

我们是一体的

罗马书 12:5

“所以，我们是多人，在基督里是一个身体，每个成员都是另一个。”

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.

以弗所书 4:32

“你们要善待彼此，心地善良，彼此宽恕，就像上帝因基督的缘故已经宽恕了你们。”

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.

詹姆斯 1:19  

“因此，我亲爱的弟兄们，让每个人都快快地听，慢慢地说话，慢慢地动怒：”

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.

雅各书 1:23-26

“23 因为若有人听道而不行道，他就像一个人在玻璃杯中看到他本来的脸：

24因为他注视着自己，走他的路，立刻忘记了他是怎样的人。

25但谁研究了完美的自由法则并继续其中，他不是一个健忘的听众，而是一个工作的实践者，这个人将在他的行为中受到祝福。

26 你们中间若有虔诚的人，不勒住自己的舌头，反欺哄自己的心，这人的虔诚就是枉然了。”

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.

（歌曲）

If you can’t say something nice shhh, say nothing
接受一些好的建议 嘘 什么也不说
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.

对八卦说不！

利未记 19:16

“你不可在你的百姓中上上下下说谎，也不可与你邻舍的流血为敌；我是主。”

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.

1. 改变主题
2. Say, I am not interested in listening to that and walk away
3. 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.

腓立比书 4:8

“最后，弟兄们，凡是真实的，凡是诚实的，凡是公义的，凡是纯洁的，凡是可爱的，凡是有名的；如果有什么德行，如果有什么赞美的话，这些事你们要思念。”

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.

马修 18:15

“而且，如果你的兄弟侵犯你，你去告诉他你和他一个人之间的过错：如果他听了你的话，你已经得到了你的兄弟。”

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.

处理对抗

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.

箴言 15:1

“回答轻柔，可以平息怒气；严厉的话，可以激起怒火。”

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:

“说过的话，永远也收不回来。已经送到了。”

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