The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-25

| Ir~th t0sth MS netDhooT, Tor ice are members
one of another. ''-EphesidHs TO- 25
In today's study we note the contrast
between Christ's teachings and those OF
| the religionists of His day. Others at
| tempted to limit the habit of swear
| ing, but the Great Teacher said,
| Swear not at ALL" How foolish is
| swearing of any kind, We are not, of
| course, objecting to solemn affirmation
or legal swearing as required by law.
Note the injunction Of the Master,
| Let your speech be yea, yea, nay, nay''
| anything further implies evil. The
Masters meaning evidently is, When
| you say yes, let it be yes; when you
say no, let it be no! Tell the truth
Your friends and neighbors by and by
will learn how to value your speech.
In the second portion of our study
Saint James exhorts, BE not many
teachers, my brethren, knowing that
we shall receive severe testing. For
in many things VIC offend all. If any
man offend not in word, the same is u
perfect man, and able also to bride
the whole BODY Saint James seems
to say that while all Christians need to
bride their tongues, those in the more
exalted positions are the more liable
to error in this respect. They have a
special gift of speech and another
special gift of opportunity to use this
speech, and so, eXerting a wide influ-
ence, their responsibility evidently is
proportionate.
1t is not for us to judge ministers or
others; there is one that judgeth: the
Lord. We greatly fear, however, that
many ministers, as well as Christians
in hum bier stations, fail to fully appre-
ciate their responsibilities for every
word they utter or have the opportu-
nifty of uttering. Many tell us that
for years they preached what they did
not believe. How terrible! How stupe-
flying to their manhood! How serious
a reflection upon their brand of Chris
tianity
A Little Match Starts a Big Fire.
Saint James gives some forceful IL
Illustrations. Christians should put a
bride of restraint into their own
mouths even as they put them into
the mouths of their horses.
Not all Of US have such wide OPP
portunities for good or evil, but in our
homes, in our offices, shops, markets,
we may set forth either good or evil
influences, for reaching for either hap
piress or misery, either upbuilding or
down tearing character, either of help
fulness or of discoura cement. Surely
no Christian could be Indifferent to this |
his most powerful member. Saint |
James suggests that as a match will |
k1ndle great fire so the tongue might |
start a great Juror, great commotion, |
and do much injury. He suggests |
boasting as being one of the most dan
gerous uses of the tongue. Our expert |
ence corrOborates this. Boosting often |
leads us into error and fastens US there |
because we are not humble enough to |
the fault 1t often leads |
us into untruth from which we may
have difficulty in escaping. 1t is an
evidence of pride and therefore I'M
Christlike, improper. Angry words Bit
ter words, sarcastic words, haunting
words may Set ablaze the course of a
whole life and impel it with angry
force toward the Second Death, Gehen-
ma. Hence Saint James suggests that
such evil breeding words are like
sparks from Gehenna, tending toward
destruction.
The only way by which to have our
tongues brought into subsection to the
Divine will and made useful as ser
wants of truth and righteousness and
love is by having them converted. |
And since the tongue is but the agent
for the sentiments of the
heart, it follows that it is the heart
that needs to be converted. The power
OF true conversion, true Transformation
Of character. so that 'taIl things become
new" is of God.
The child of God, begotten of the
Holy Spirit, has an assistance in the
mastering and tanning of his tongue
that the unregenerate has not. How
important then the message, my son.
give Me thine heart" Out of the heart
are the issues of life.
Praising God-Injuring Men.
We may know that God will reject
he prayers and worship coming from a
1eart full of bitterness, anger, maHce.
hatred, envy, strife, and manifestine
tseIf in acrimonious speech. 1t was
carlysle who described sarcasm as he
ng "the natural language of the devil :"
t was Faber who wrote, mo one was
'Ver corrected by sarca SIN; crushed. |
perhaps. if the sarcasm was clever
enough. but drawn nearer to God. new
r. Robertson wrote: Love is the
emedy for SANDER" Surely the Cold
m Rule needs to be applied to our
speech as well as to our actions