March 18, 2007

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

The Tongue and Hell

 

There is a biblical relationship between the tongue and hell. I know that this is shocking to hear, but it is true. It seems that the purpose for telling us about this connection is to warn us of the misuse of the tongue. The only way to avoid the power of this is to deny that hell exists. Some deny its existence, but one cannot claim allegiance to God and the Scriptures while so doing. Jesus said more about this place than anyone else in the Bible. If hell does not exist, then Jesus cannot be trusted when he speaks. Hell does exist and the misuse of the tongue abounds. Here are some statements connecting the tongue and hell.

 

Luke 16

 

The rich man and Lazarus both died. One went to a place of comfort in Abraham’s bosom; the rich man lifted up his eyes in hell.  (Luke 16.) The rich man saw Lazarus afar off in Abraham’s bosom and asked Abraham to allow Lazarus to bring water and cool his tongue because he was tormented in the flames of hell. His tongue was tormented in the heat; he desired the cooling effect of water in his mouth. The tongue will be the reason for many suffering in the place of eternal punishment. There is no indication in this account, of course, that the rich man suffered in hell because of the misuse of his tongue. It was rather because he had opportunity to help the poor man and was indifferent toward his plight. However, it should not be surprising that the tongue is mentioned in this context. The suffering of the tongue when we have high fevers and are dehydrated should remind us to discipline the tongue.

 

James 3

 

James wrote extensively about the misuse of the tongue. He began his comments on the tongue by saying, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.” (1:19-20.) Near the end of the first chapter, he wrote, “If any man among you seems to be religious and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is. . .” (1:26-27.) In chapter 3, James reaches the powerful point of his message about the little tongue. He described the destructive fire of the tongue as coming from the fires of hell itself. (3:6.) How else can we account for the terrible destructive power of the tongue? Where did it get such power? It came from hell.

 

James gave several illustrations. Great forests are burned down by a small fire. (3:5.) Bridles on horses turn and control such a great animal. (3:3.) Small rudders control large ships in the sea. (3:4.) If one is going to control the rest of one’s body, one must learn first to control the tongue. Man has tamed wild beasts, serpents, birds, things in the sea and on the land. But the tongue can no man tame. What did James mean by this? Once beasts are tamed, they need not be chained. Their spirit has been broken. But the tongue cannot be tamed once and forgotten. We must continue to be diligent lest it become wild again.

 

James cautioned about people being too anxious to be a teacher of God’s will. We should reluctantly enter into that task, because it involves the tongue. (James 3:1.) It is easy to offend others and cause them to stumble.

 

Matthew 12

 

Jesus said, “By thy words, thou shalt be justified. By thy words, thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt. 12:37.) There are many things in the Bible that are said to justify us. Good words come from a justified person. Evil words come from one who shows that he is not justified or saved. We will give an account of every idle (evil, vain, useless, careless) word that we speak in the judgment. (Matt. 12:36.) Earlier, Jesus said if your hand offends you, cut it off. If you foot offends us, cut it off. If your eye offends you, pluck it out. It is better to enter life halt and maimed, than to have all your members and be cast into hell. Jesus did not name the tongue, but he gave enough illustrations for us to surely include it. If your tongue constantly offends you, cut it out. Better to enter into life without a tongue, than to have one and be cast into hell with it. (Matt. 5:27-30.)

 

Sins of the Tongue

 

Solomon wrote: “In the multitude of words there is no want of sin, but he that refrains his tongue is wise.” (Prov. 10:19.) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Prov. 18:21.) Since Solomon wrote about wisdom, we might expect such choice words from him about the tongue.

 

More sins are associated with the tongue than any other member of the body. Of course, we understand that the tongue alone cannot sin. The tongue represents the heart and allows expressions from the heart. This is how we know an evil person from a good person. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matt. 12:34.) Have you ever considered the number of sins associated with the tongue? Three of the seven things that the Lord hates and that are an abomination before him are sins of the tongue. Here are some sins of the tongue named in the Bible:

 

a) Lying (Prov. 6:16). All liars shall have their part in the lake of fire, says Rev. 21:8. Satan started the sad story of lying. He said to the first parents, You shall not surely die. (Gen. 3:4.) Jesus referred to this incident by saying that Satan was a liar and murderer from the beginning. He murdered the whole human race by this lie. (John 8:44.)  Abraham lied to two rulers about Sarah being his sister. Ananias and Sapphira lied about their contribution and both died because they lied not unto men but unto God. (Acts 5.) Lying has a long sad history among men. It continues unto this day.

 

b) Giving false testimony against another (Prov. 6:19). In both ancient and modern courts, two or three witnesses determined the fate of an accused. If false testimony was given in court, a man could lose his life. Potiphar’s wife gave false testimony against the innocent young man, Joseph. He was put into prison based upon her words. (Gen. 39.)

 

c) Sowing discord among brethren (Prov. 6:19). Unity is such an important thing to God and for the success of the Church. Jesus’ prayer of unity before his death is touching. (John 17:20-21.) What is sowing discord? It is talking about one another to the point of dividing one member against another. Scores of churches have been divided because of some loose-tongue members sowing discord. Sowing discord is using the race card to divide the church. Sowing discord is tearing down the leadership of the church; speaking against the eldership. Sowing discord is dividing brethren over every unimportant thing in the world by the misuse of the tongue. In our congregations, all one has to say is that brother so and so is liberal and his reputation will be diminished.

 

d) Slander. Libel is a written defamation of another’s character. Slander is a spoken misrepresentation of another; seeking to tear down their reputation. These are not only sinful; they are offenses which are punishable in a court of law. Solomon wrote, “He that utters a slander is a fool.” (Prov. 10:18.) “Whoso privately slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off.” (Psalms 101:5.) The qualifications of elders’ and deacons’ wives are listed in 1 Timothy 3. “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things.” (3:11.)

 

e) Blasphemy against God, His Son, the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 12:31-32.) Jesus said that all manner of speech against him would be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this age or in the age to come. It is blasphemy to say that Jesus committed fornication with Mary Magdalene, when no such evidence can be produced. It is blasphemy against Jesus to say that he had a child out of marriage. It is blasphemy to say that God has given us a Bible that cannot be understood. It is dangerous blasphemy to say that God did a poor job in creating the world, blaming God for the present difficulties in life. The Bible explains that God cursed the good world because of the fall and disobedience of man. God did not do a poor job creating the world; He did a powerful job in cursing it afterwards!

 

f) Cursing (blessings and cursing come from the mouth—James 3:10). Cursing is a terrible habit and misuse of the tongue. To curse means to denounce and to reject, usually by using God’s name in the same sentence. Cursing is usually caused by anger, a loss of self-control. Temperance or self-control is a mark of a spiritually mature person. There is a difference between cussing and cursing. One of my Bible teachers, Lamar Plunkett at IBC, said all that men can do is cuss; only God can truly curse something. Jesus once cursed a fig tree; it withered away so quickly that the disciples were amazed. Jesus will say to some, “Depart me from ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41.)

 

g) Negative words that destroy edification. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29.) Paul wrote that we should think upon things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. If there is any virtue, any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8.) There is so much negative talk; it is an easy habit to fall into and a difficult one to break. There are so many good things that you could be thinking upon. There is God Almighty who has given us richly all things to enjoy. One person said, When we are born into this world, we have received a windfall.

 

h) Foolish talking and jesting. “But fornication . . . let it not once be named among us as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.” (Eph. 5:3-4.) Foolish questions are condemned by Paul. (2 Tim. 2:23, Titus 3:9.) A lot of talking is not using God’s name in vain or cursing or giving false testimony; therefore, many people think that such empty talk is acceptable. But foolish talking is not profitable; great and noble things are not the subject. The time is wasted and could be spent in prayer which is profitable. (Eph. 5:4.)

 

i) Calling a brother empty-headed, or a fool. (Matt. 5:21-24.) The kind of anger that produces murder is also expressed by those who hate others and say harsh things about them. If you so speak to your brother or about him, you will be in danger of the judgment, the counsel and hell fire.

 

Look at These Times

 

Look again at what happened in Eden to cause the Fall of Adam and Eve. Satan lied to them saying, You will not surely die. (Gen. 3:4.) Satan said that God told them to not eat of the fruit because he knew that it would make them as gods, knowing good and evil.

 

 

Look at the Ten Commandments given to Israel by God. What did He

condemn? Taking the name of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20:7). Leviticus         

19:12 condemns swearing falsely by the Lord’s name and profaning his      name. Taking his name in vain means using it without reverence and     soberness.

 

Look around at the time of Jesus’ death and note the sins of the tongue. You can imagine that they would be plentiful because emotions were strong and intense. False witnesses were there; Peter denied knowing Jesus; Jesus’ words about being a king and about destroying the temple were misrepresented; sinners mocked Jesus about saving others.

 

Look around at the seven churches of Asia and you will see some sins of the tongue. (Rev. 2 & 3) Some blasphemed by saying that they were Jews, but were not. They were of the synagogue of Satan. Others claimed to be apostles, but were not. They lied.