Lookahead:  This evil speaking can happen anytime, anywhere–even in the sanctuary…basically it amounts to gossip which can be true or false (accusation or slander).  According to Bible Hub, the Greek word for gossip comes from the root, ψιθυρίζω, to whisper, speak into one’s ear.  This characterizes the primary, most diabolical aspect of gossip–it’s done on the sly so that the victim cannot defend themselves with the truth…I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my entire impression of people up-ended by gossip…I think they’re one person and walk away thinking they might be someone else. 😦  But I can’t condemn gossipers without first dealing with the person in my mirror who’s peering back at me! 

Recapping James 3:1-5:  Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. (Amplified Bible)

More on the tongue–James 3:6-8:  See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell [Gehenna]. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. (Amp)

So true that the tongue can ignite a murderous firestorm!  I did a web search on “wars that have been fought over words,” and came up with examples of spoken (eventually written) words that were misinterpreted…or outright ignored…which resulted in actual wars and the death of many innocents.  

French Pastry Chef Ranted Up The Chain!  “In 1828, angry mobs destroyed large parts of Mexico City during a military coup. One of the victims of the rioting was an expatriate French pastry chef named Remontel, whose small café was ransacked by looters. Mexican officials ignored his complaints, so Remontel petitioned the French government for compensation…The king was already furious that Mexico had failed to repay millions in loans, and now he demanded they pay 600,000 pesos to compensate the pastry chef for his losses. When the Mexicans balked at handing over such an astronomical sum, (King) Louis-Philippe did the unexpected: He started a war…by December as many as 250 soldiers had been killed…”¹

France Again? Fake News in 1870! Otto Von Bismarck, known as the Iron Chancellor of Prussia, pencil-whipped the contents of a written debrief (dispatch) from King William (or Wilhelm) 1 of Prussia.  The debrief summarized the details of an impromptu meeting that had taken place (during a leisurely walk on a Spa Town promenade) between King William I and the French Ambassador, Count Benedetti.  Their discussion had had some negative overtones and the ambassador had tried to apply a certain amount of pressure. But the King had remained non-committal and they parted on OK terms.  The Chancellor changed the King’s account of what was said to inflexible absolutes and accusations and “pushed the send button:”  “Following the dialogue, Bismarck shrewdly issued a communiqué to the press that falsely characterized the polite tête-à-tête as a volatile confrontation in which Wilhelm icily rebuffed the foreign minister.”^2,3 This got France whipped up into such a frenzy that it declared war against Prussia.  

And not to exclude the USA…where it wasn’t a case of mis-comm…but really bad-comm:

Shouted Retorts Turned Into Musket Reports = Revolutionary War!  “…On March 5, 1770…Private Hugh White of the 29th (British) Regiment of Foot took up a sentry post outside of the Customs House on King Street (in Boston). The Customs House had taken on symbolic meaning as the center of British taxation. As a young (American) wigmaker’s apprentice, Edward Garrick, passed the sentry, he yelled at a British officer that he had not paid his bill for a wig. The sentry, White, reprimanded the young man. The two engaged in a heated conversation when Private White swung his musket at Garrick, hitting him on the side of the head…Word traveled through the streets about the altercation and a large mob began to descend on…the Custom House…At one point a club or stick was thrown at the soldiers and struck one of the British soldiers.  The soldier fell to the ground. He stood back up and yelled, “Damn you, fire!” and fired his musket into the crowd. The musket ball struck (an American–a former slave 😦 ) who fell dead to the ground. A few seconds later, the other British soldiers fired into the crowd.  Eleven people were hit, five men were killed and six were wounded…American blood had been spilled at the hands of British soldiers for the first time…Not the Battle of Lexington or Bunkers Hill; not the surrender of Burgoyne, or Cornwallis, were more important events in American history than the battle of King Street, on the 5th of March 1770.”⁴

…and is itself set on fire by hell [Gehenna]. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison.  James 3:6-8

This verse shows the root cause/origin of a lot of the evil words that are spoken…Hell!…more specifically, from hell’s ambassadors.  The Greek translation of the Old Testament corroborates the New Testament in the almost universal use of the name διάβολος for our adversary, the devil.  διάβολος means slanderer.  In Rev 12:10 he is referred to as κατηγορέω or the “accuser of our brethren.”  Jesus Himself was very clear that the enemy is a consummate liar, and that he told the very first lie: John 8:44 “(he) does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” When someone says something to us that is nebulous enough to be misunderstood, any negative emotional response that we might subsequently have will be based on lies, distortions, assumptions from past pain, etc…straight from Hell as instigated by the Father of Lies. Those lies, like the Iron Chancellor’s corruption of the truth, can whip us up into a lather in a NY second–and soon we’re responding in kind. The adversary restlessly goes from mark to mark.  1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

This evil speaking can happen anytime, anywhere–even in the sanctuary…basically it amounts to gossip which can be true or false (accusation or slander).  According to Bible Hub, the Greek word for gossip comes from the root, ψιθυρίζω, to whisper, speak into one’s ear.  This characterizes the primary, most diabolical aspect of gossip–it’s done on the sly so that the victim cannot defend themselves with the truth. Deliberate or not, slander injures another’s good name/rep. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my entire impression of people up-ended by gossip!  I think they’re one person and walk away thinking they might be someone else. 😦  But I can’t condemn gossipers without first dealing with the person in my mirror who’s peering back at me!  Gossip is a stronghold that the LORD is constantly helping me with.  And it’s one that will all too quickly come back and bite me once again, if I’m not vigilant.  My How-To Post #3 provides actual accounts in which gossipers (incl. moi) were caught red-handed/in real-time by the poor victims. 

Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water: and it happened to me again the other day!  I was drawn into a gossip session and was actually defending the victim from an inaccurate account of the events–because I had firsthand knowledge of what had really gone down.  Sadly, in attempting to stick up for the victim, I recounted the actual mistake that they had made–a mistake that did not need to be re-lived–the person had been forgiven!!  Naturally his brother and sister-in-law walked up behind me while I was trying to convey the truth of the matter.  Fortunately, they were more charitable than I was and did what I should have done–moved on down the road–and let God handle it.  

Nevertheless, how can we ever tame the tongue?  I believe that only God can tame it.  If we are plugged into Him, the Holy Spirit can help us on a real-time basis.  He will show us the hurt that our words can cause.  Usually in a gossip situation He will have us remain silent/zip our lips.  In my case, I may need to pray for His help before I go into situations with people who have a gossiping tendency.  In some instances, He has led me to bring correction, in a gentle way.  For example, in the past I’ve told people that I’m working on my gossiping problem, so could they please help me not to go there.  Sometimes He’s had me confess to the perp that I have just gossiped myself and apologize on the spot.  The sad thing is that those who speak and give into these lies are characterized as…fools. Prov 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.  But obviously I wouldn’t counter with, “Zip it Fool!” unless I get a Crystal Word from On High.  

My general rule of thumb is that if I cannot truthfully say something good about someone (imagining they were standing right there in front of us) then say nothing at all.  And then let God lead my response to the gossip that I might hear in the moment. 

In conclusion, we should always defer to God.  This will ensure that we don’t live in condemnation (should we mess up), or fear (that we will do so).  If we can realize that it’s a process, and He will continue to perfect that which concerns us, success will be ours.  The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Ps 138:8  And when we are weak, He is strong.  2 Corin 12:9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 

James himself says that “…no man can tame the human tongue (NIV)…”  So we are destined to fall short of the goal if we’re open loop. God will help us get the victory, even if it comes incrementally. 

I’m at my best when at my worst

I passed the test, even when I don’t come in first

And sometimes I win

When the score says I lose

Because even in my weakness I still have You

I still have joy when I’m feeling pain

I’m moving on when my life has clearly fallen down again

Sometimes I win when the score says “you lose”

Because even in my weakness I still have You⁵

++++++++++++

¹https://www.history.com/news/6-wars-fought-for-ridiculous-reasons

²https://militaryhistorynow.com/2015/07/15/damned-lies-nine-wars-started-under-false-pretexts/

³https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/Words-that-have-shaped-history

⁴https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/boston-massacre

⁵https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/smokienorful/istillhaveyou.html