Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1912 — THE SAVIOR'S TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE SAVIOR'S TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES

TRUTHFUL WORDS POLITE SPEECH. Matthew v, 33-37; James iii, 1*12; v,-12. May 26. < “Putting away falsehood, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for tee are members one of another."—Ephesians io, 15. IN today's study we note the contrast between Christ’s teachings and those of the religionists of His day. Others attempted to limit the habit of swearing, but the Great Teacher said, “Swear not at all.” How foolish Is swearing of every’ kind! We are not, of course, objecting to solemn affirmation or legal swearing as required by law. Note the injunction of the Master. “Let your speech be yea, yea, nay, nay"—anything further implies evil. The Master’s meaning evidently is. When you say yes, let It be yea; when you say no, let It be no! Tell the truth! Your friends and neighbors by and by will learn how to value your sj»eech. In the second portion of our study Saint James exhorts, “Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive severer testing. For

in many things we offend all. If any man offend not In word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Saint James seems to say that, while all Christians need to bridle their tongues, those In the more exalted positions

are all the more liable to error In this respect. They have a special gift of speech and another special gift of opportunity to use this speech, and so, exerting a wide Influence, their responsibility evidently Is proportionate. It is not for us to judge ministers or others; there is One that judgeth: the Lord. We greatly fear, however, that mgny ministers, as well as Christians In humbler stations, fall to fully appreciate their responsibilities for every word they utter or have the opportunity of uttering. Many tell us that for years they preached what they did not believe. How terrible! How stultifying to their manhood! How serious a reflection upon their brand of Christianity!

A Little Match Starts a Big Fire. Saint James gives some forceful illustrations. Christians should put a bridle of restraint into their own mouths even as they put them into the mouths of their horses, . Not all of us have such wide opportunities for good or evil, but in our homes, in our offices, shops, markets, we may send forth either good or evil influences, far reaching for either happiness or misery, either upbuilding or down tearing character, either of helpfulness or of discouragement. Surely no Christian could be Indifferent to this his most powerful member. Saint James suggests |:hat as a match will kindle a great fire so the tongue might start a great furor, a great commotion, and do much Injury. lie suggests boasting as being one of the most dangerous uses of the tongue. Our experience corroborates this. Boasting often leads us Into error and fastens us there because we are not humble enough to acknowledge the fault It often leads Into untruth from which we may have difficulty in escaping. It is an evidence of pride and therefore un-Christlike, Improper. Angry words, bitter words, sarcastic words, taunting words, may set ablaze the course of a whole life and impel it with angry force toward the Second Death, Gehenna. Hence Saint James suggests that such evil breeding words are like sparks from Gehenna, tending toward destruction. The only way by which to have our tongues brought Into subjection to the

Divine will and made useful as servants of truth and righteousness and love Is by having them converted. And since the tongue Is but the agent speaking for the sentimen t s of the heart, it follows that It Is the heart that needs

to be converted. The power of true conversion, true transformation of character, so that “all t things become new,” is of God. The child of God, begotten of the Holy Spirit, has an assistance In the mastering and taming of his tongue that the unregenerate have not. How important then the message, “My son, give Me thine heart.” Out of the heart are the issues of life. " Praising God—lnjuring Men. We may know that God will reject the prayers and worship coming from a heart full of bitterness, anger, malice, hatred, envy, strife, and manifesting itself In acrimonious speech. It was Carlyle who described sarcasm as being “the natural language of the Devil-” It was FaAer who wrote, “No one was ever corrected by sarcasm; crushed, perhaps, if the sarcasm was clever enough, but drawn nearer to God, never." Robertson wrote: “Love Is the remedy for slander.” Surely the Golden Rule needs to be applied to our speech as well as to our actions.

The Bible isn’t trueue are higher critics.

for -reaching influence