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"The human tongue is physically
small,
but what tremendous effects it can boast of .... "
"And of the same mouth comes praise and curses ...."
James 13:6-12
Our lives are governed by rules and regulations
to do with relationships and how we live individually and
collectively in society.
The Ten Commandments of the Bible have been
the basis for laws meant to ensure that people lived with
due respect for one another. Their basis, faith in God, has
not prevented them from being used by those people and nations
whose faith is in another God or they have no religious faith
at all.
This study is on the Ninth Commandment:
"Thou shalt not bear false witness."
Honesty is integral to good conduct in all human relationships
for while this commandment is to be taken in the setting of
a law court it has the wider connotation of honesty in everything
and with everybody. The Jewish courts which were held in the
synagogue took very seriously the testimony of witnesses.
Two or three were required before there could be a conviction
on a misdemeanor. The innocent had to have the protection
of the court. The truth was what mattered. For not telling
the truth a witness was severely punished.
People tell lies for their own reasons, and some appear to
have no purpose to other people. Because false witness is
about purposeful lying there can be no doubt the intention
to adversely affect another. Honesty is ensuring that what
is said is true, Shakespeare in "Othello" with the
thought of an innocent man falsely accused said:
"He who steals my purse steals trash.
But he that filshes from me my good name,
Robs me of that which not nourishes him,
But makes me poor indeed."
The spoken word can not be recalled.
The proverb has it:
"Three things come not back - the shot arrow,
the spoken word,
and the lost opportunity."
The importance of things said, whether for good or ill, was
emphasised when Jesus said that we shall be required to give
an account to God of every word we speak. A lie is a sin against
God and those who suffer from it and it belittles the liar.
The commandment requires a careful, thoughtful, and sensitive
use of the tongue, that bit of the human anatomy which James
claims need to be tamed by God. The tongue is a two-edged
sword which separates the good and the bad in human nature.
It is the reminder that in people there is something of the
saint and much of the sinner and that is no more evident that
in the use of the tongue.
The Christian should be recognisable as one who speaks the
truth, uses his tongue only for good purposes and by it to
display the qualities which persuades others to come to faith
in God through them.
"Oh that my tongue could so possess
The secret of His tenderness
That every word I breathed would Bless.
For those who mourn a word of cheer,:
A word of love for those who fear,
And love to all men far and near.
Oh that it might be said of me
Surely thy speech betrayeth thee,
As friend of Christ of Galilee.
Peter and Paul in these quotations
state the case for the careful tongue.
"He that would love life,
I And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil.
And his lips that they speak no guile,
And let him turn away from evil, and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it,
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.
And his ears unto their supplication;
But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil ...."
1 Peter 3:10
Paul spells it out to the Colossians, the speech of the Christian
should be gracious, kindly and sensitive always.
"Be wise in your behaviour toward non-Christians,
and make the best possible use of your time. Speak pleasantly
to them, but never sentimentally, and learn how to give
a proper answer to every questioner."
1 Peter 3:10
Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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