The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-24
Ministers Should be Truthful

In the second portion of our study St. James exhorts, Be not many teachers,
 my brethren, knowing that we shall re- ceive severer testing. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word. the same is a perfect man, ana
 able also to bridle the whole body Saint James seems to say that, while all
 Christians need to bridle their tongues, those in the more exalted positions are
 all the more liable to error in this re- spect. They have a special gift of speech
 and another special gift of opportunity
 to use this speech, and so exerting wide
 influence their responsibility Is proportion ate. It is not for us to judge ministers or others; there is One that judgeth, the
 Lord. We greatly fear, however. that many ministers, as we'll as Christians in humber stations, fail to fully appreciate their responsibilities for every word they utter or have the opportunity of uttering. Many tell us that for years they preached what they did not believe How terrible. How stultifying to their manhood, How serious a reflection upon their brand of Christianity However we should re- joice that finally their conscences tri-
 umphed.
 Not all of us have such wide oppor- tunites for good or evil. but in our own
 homes, in our offices. shops, markets, we may send forth either good or evil in-
 fiuences, far reaching for either happiness
 or misery, either upbuilding or down.
 tearing character, either of helpfulness
 or of Encouragement. Surely no Christian
 could be indifferent to this his most
 powerful member Saint James suggests
 that as a match will kindle great fire
 so the tongue might start a great furor,
 great commotion and do much Injury.
 He suggests boasting as being one of the
 most dangerous uses of the tongue. Our
 experience corroborates this. Boosting
 often leads us into error and fastens us
 there because we are not humble enough
 to acknowledge the fault. It often leads
 into untruth from which we may have
 difficulty in escaping. It is an evidence of pride. and therefore un-Christlike. im- proper.
 Angry words. bitter words, sarcastic words, taunting words, may set ablaze the course of whole life and impel it with angry force toward the second death. Gehenna. Hence Saint James sug- gests that such evil breeding words are like. sharks from Gehenna. tending toward destruction.
 No Man Can Tame the Tongue The apostle reminds us that beasts and birds and fishes are all subject to a tam ing power under mans direction, but that no man can tame another mans tongue. Yea. is it not safe to say that no fallen man can tame his own tongue? The only way by which to have our tongues brought into objection to the divine will and made useful as servants of truth and righteousness and love is by having them converted. And since the tongue Is but the agent speaking for the sentiments of the heart, it follows that 1t is the heart that needs to me converted. The power of true conversion, true transformation of character, so that ''all 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 unre- generate have not. How important then the message. My Son, give Me thine