There is a reason why many Christians are labeled hypocrites. As it was once said, our video does not often match our audio. To be sure, we are pious and humble in worship and around other Christians, but at work, school and around our non-Christian friends, we are more liberal with the lip.
This liberality is seen in a variety of ways:
- "But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?" Acts 5:1-3
- "But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;" James 1:19
- "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." James 3:8-10
- "For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting." Rom 16:18
- "...and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting," Eph 5:4
Beloved, this is, by no means an exhaustive list. Such as it is however; can you identify with any of these issues? Are you at one time or another guilty of all? Let us instead pursue seasoning our words with salt, uplifting, encouraging and edifying our fellow man. By this use of our words and the conservative use of our lips will we attract others to the cause of Christ. Remember, we represent him who saved us and Him who spoke the universe into existence.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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