“Oh Be Careful Little Mouth…”
The very fact that Jesus is called God’s logos (”word”/John 1:1f) shoud strike fear into our mouths. The Son incarnatte is God’s Word to humanity. We too are called to speak God’s Word into a world that abuses language with every exhale of God-given breath. Oh, be careful little Christian mouth what you say. The Psalmist pleaded with God, “ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). This is a verse every Christian should memorize and meditate on before speaking or writing. God is our Rock. The certainty of what we believe is founded on His eternal being and not the craftiness of our speech or the multitude of our words. God is our Redeemer. Yes, even our speech has been redeemed. Thus Christians should be satisifed to “let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay” (James 5:12). When we speak much beyond “yea” and “nay“ we run the risk of falling “under judgment” (James 5:12).
James Bradley’s “Flag of our Fathers” (old book, new movie) reinforces the truth that people die for ideals. Ideals like the American flag are encapsulated in words like “liberty” and “freedom.” Throughout history people have actually died for the ideals represented by words that moved them to sacrifice their own lives. Ideals may create passion but it is the words that help us understand the ideal. It is the words that actually move us to action. Thus words are directly responsible for life and death.
The gospel is the “word of life” (Philippians 2:16). As such, our words should be life-giving. God created everything that exists by words. Our words can also create or destroy worlds, give or take life. But to be Christ-like is to speak the words of God. In part, this is why Jesus could claim that “I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8:29). It is why the Father said that He was “well pleased” with His Son (Matthew 3:17). Christ-likeness requires that God be pleased with “the words of our mouth.“ There will one day be an accounting of every word either privately or publicly spoken. God-pleasing behavior demands that our conversation rightly represent God who commands that our “speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). So “if” we speak (we don’t always have to), “when“ we speak (timing can be everything) and the “way” (”a soft answer turns away wrath” - Proverbs 15:1) we speak is as important as what we say. Remember too, that a sin of omission is often committed by remaining silent in the face of intentional, blatant error or injustice. Such ocassions require humility and sincerity both of which are evidenced by the words we use to respond to such issues.
These are certainly important thoughts to think about as we stand around the office water cooler or instruct our children or openly debate a subject in class. Far too often the gospel is not heard simply because it is hidden by our conceit or unkindness. When we choose to speak, how we do so is as important as what we say. So “be careful little mouth what you speak.” By all means, speak…but do so to please the Audience of One.