The Coolidge examiner., 1937-10-14

PRIMARY TOPIC-The Words l Say.
JUNIOR TOPIC-A Bride on the
Tongue.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Christian Speech.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Christian Words and Works.
Christian speech and conduct may
we'll be studied in the book of
James, for he stresses the impor-
tance of works as demonstrating
faith. There are two common err
rors-one is to attempt to be justi-
fed by good works apart from faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ-the other
is to talk about believing in him
and then fail to live in accordance
with ones profession. Some have
assumed that James fell into the
former error, urging works as a
substitute for faith, but an intelli-
gent reading of his epistle clearly
indicates that he is in no sense con-
tradicting the Scripture doctrine Of
justification by faith. but is show
ing that professed faith which does
not result in Christian living is in
reality dead and useless thing.
/. Christian Talk (vv. 1-12).
AS he enters upon his searching
and convicting discussion Of the
tongue and its misuse the writer dis
tinguishes between
l. Two kinds of takers (vv. I'D.
a. Teachers" " 1.) who have a
peculiar responsibility because they
stand as the representative of God
at the sacred desk 1t is not a
place to be sought after, and the
man who fills it at Gods call needs
divine grace and direction that he
may speak the truth.
b. I'VE alP' ". D. The speech
Of every one Of us counts either for
or against God. even though we
may not fill the teachers chair or
stand in the pulpit.
g. A single danger (vv. 3-12). All
of us have the one danger-lack of
tongue control" Developing that
thought the text first points out that
a. Powerful things need control
wv. $50. The horse is wild and
useless animal without the directing
and restraining bit. A ship without
a rudder will be lost. A tongue
needs direction and control, for
while little thing. it is tremen-
dously powerful.
b. An uncontrolled tongue is dam
gerous ((vv. $50. How vivid is the
imagery of the words before us. A
fire spreading and destroying, an
untamed animal running wild in all
its fury. a deadly poison eating
away the life-such is the mcon-
trolled tongue.
We recognize the truth of these
things We see how vile and care
less speech debases man, how words
chosen for their power to destroy
pour forth from the press, over the
foothghts, from man to man and lit
orally "set on fire the course Of
nature" ". g..
c. An uncontrolled tongue is in
consistent wv. 9-12). Again the fig
ure is striking. The fountain which
pours forth fresh pure water to suS-
tain life does not at the same time
bring forth the bitter brackish wa
ter. Fig trees do not bear olives,
vines do not bear figs. Nature is
consistent and dependable.
But the tongue-ah, that is an
other matter! How sadly do we
confess our failure, for here do we
"offend ALL ". %. We bless God,
and defile and destroy man, with
the same lips. These things ought
not so to be" ". 10). May God
give US grace and strength that they
may not be so.
III. Christian Walk (vv. 1919.
The word conversation" in v. 13
Is arr English word which now
means talk" but which formerly
meant manner of living"
/. Words and works must agree
(vv 1910. 1t is only right that
those who speak Of following Christ
should prove it in their manner of
livins. Talk may be smooth and
broad in its claims, but the demon
stratiOn of its reality and honesty is
in the daily walk. This calls for
wisdom which is divine-earthly wis
dom will not suffice.
2. Earthly wisdom is false (vv
1910. There is a wisdom apart
from God. Men of the world are
brilliant and able, but scrutinize
their wisdom and you will find that
it is "sensuar'-that is, of the
senses-or natural as distinguished
from spiritual. All too often it is
downright 'devilish" ". 16).
3. True wisdom is from above (vv
1919. Undefled, unselfsh, uncom-
promising, but not quarrelsome or
stubborn, impartial and sincere
and full of mercy and good fruits"
such is Gods wisdom for the
Christians life.