Our Words, No. 2

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All are to a great extent under the influence of their own words. They act out the sentiments expressed in their words. Thus the government of the tongue is closely bound up with personal religion. Many by their own words are led to believe that a wrong course is right. Thoughts are expressed in words, and the words react upon the thoughts, and produce other words. The influence is felt, not only upon one’s self, but upon others. The Lord God alone can undo the mischievous result of unwise words. Often an opinion or decision, having been once expressed, will be acted upon, though it may lead to an entirely wrong course. The iron will changes not, because it would be too humiliating to acknowledge one’s self in error. The words hastily spoken, to give vent to strong feelings, produce their evil results in hurting, wounding, and bruising souls for whom Christ died. Satan is pleased, God is dishonored, and many souls are ruined by hastily-spoken words.

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Speak gently. Speak words of kindness and uplifting, for this is the fruit borne on the Christian tree. Overcome all harshness. Rash speeches do much harm to the souls of those who utter them and to the souls of those who hear. Eternity alone will reveal how greatly those who made these speeches needed to humble their hearts and make confession to God.

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Gossip reveals a lack of true culture and refinement, and of true goodness of heart; it unfits one both for the society of the truly cultured and refined in this world, and for association with the holy ones of heaven.

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We think with horror of the cannibal who feasts on the still warm and trembling flesh of his victim; but are the results of even this practice more terrible than are the agony and ruin caused by misrepresenting motive, blackening reputation, dissecting character?

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«Death and life are in the power of the tongue.»

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In the Scriptures, backbiters are classed with the haters of God, «with inventors of evil things,» with those who are without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful, «full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity.» It is «the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death.» He whom God accounts a citizen of Zion is he that «speaketh the truth in his heart;» «that backbiteth not with his tongue,» «nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.»

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God’s Word condemns also the use of meaningless phrases and expletives that border on profanity. It condemns the deceptive compliments, the evasions of truth, the exaggerations, the misrepresentations in trade, that are corrupt in society and in the business world. «Let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.»

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«As a madman casteth firebrands,arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am I not in sport?»

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Closely allied to gossip is the covert insinuation, the sly innuendo, by which the unclean in heart seek to insinuate the evil they dare not openly express. Every approach to these practices the youth should be taught to shun as we would shun the leprosy.

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In the use of language there is perhaps no error that old and young; are more likely to pass over lightly in themselves than hasty, impatient speech. They think it a sufficient excuse to plead, «I was off my guard, and did not really mean what I said.» But God’s Word does not treat it lightly. The Scripture says, «Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.» «He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.»

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In one moment, by the hasty, passionate, careless tongue, may be wrought evil that a whole lifetime’s repentance cannot undo. O, the hearts that are broken, the friends estranged, the lives wrecked, by the harsh, hasty words of those who might have brought help and healing. «There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.»

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«Who is the wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom,» My brethren and sisters, how are you employing the gift of speech? Have you learned so to control the tongue that it shall ever obey the dictates of an enlightened conscience and holy affections? Is your conversation free from levity, pride, malice, deceit, and impurity? Are you without guile before God? Words exert a telling power. Satan will, if possible, keep the tongue active in his service. Of ourselves we cannot control the unruly member. Divine grace is our only hope. Wherever there is purity of heart and nobleness of character, it will be revealed in purity and nobleness of action and speech. «He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friends.» Mrs. E. G. White.