TETHERING THE TONGUE

There is a transfer from the mind to the tongue that often gets us in trouble. It is our ‘thinking’ concerning religion that causes our mind and tongue transfer to short out. The apostle James says, “If you claim to be (or think you are) religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” Those who ‘claim to be’ religious often have a way to make sure the tongue tells others about it. The loudest tongue has the smugness of self-satisfied knowledge. It is also the clearest sign of deadness, prejudice and rot.

James continues with the comparison, “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” Pure spirituality goes racing by knowledge at this turn on the racetrack: To care for those in distress and to keep clear of the danger of having others notice. There is no greater deception we may have than being accepted and applauded by man and ignored and unnoticed by God. It requires a tethering of the tongue or we are just fooling ourselves.

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.” Jesus