“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger
and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to
one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also
has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31, 32).
Tongue problems are not new in God’s family! That is evident in the context of
the above scripture. These people, converted from an idolatrous lifestyle, did
not “learn Christ this way” (Ephesians 4:20). They deceived, they acted in
anger, they stole, they used words to tear down people, and they grieved God’s
Spirit. Their sense of spiritual community was grossly immature! To address
their problem, Paul suggested that they allow God’s forgiveness in Christ to be
their model. Tongue problems are ancient, and (sorrowfully) each generation
renews them by adding new vigor to them.
Consider a prayer:
God, grant us, as a community and as individuals, spiritual maturity’s courage
to see and take responsibility for our tongue problems. May we refuse as
individuals to allow our personal anxieties to infect the community of
believers, and may we not as a community of believers encourage the abusive use
of the tongue. May we be forgiving instead of bitter. May we be encouragers
instead of being wrath-filled Christians. May confusion diminish because of the
way we speak and our words. May we be quick to extol good and slow to destroy
reputations. Instead of acting in the hate and spite of malice, give us faith’s
courage to understand that evil is destroyed by doing good."
Congregations too often are more discredited by Christians’ treatment of each
other than by beliefs. May that awareness make each of us fear self. May we be
quick to repent, and slow at self-justification. May we feel sorrow rapidly, and
feel resentment slowly. May we not say things about each other that we would not
repeat to God—for we shall!
May we be as kind to each other as You are to us in Your perfect knowledge of
us. May we be as tender-hearted to each other in our community as we are to one
rising from baptism. May Your forgiveness be our model to forgive.
May we have faith’s courage to expect more of self because we know You. May
others be attracted to Your community because our words evidence Your wisdom.
Because of our words, attitudes, and emotions, may those who do not believe in
Jesus not dismiss Your love. May our mouths and the actions our words produce
advertise Your greatness. May our words make it obvious You live in us. May the
way we treat each other declare the value of Your living in a person. May we
understand the privilege of approaching You through Your son as we understand
the privilege of being Your child.
May we each aspire to spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ. May we have the
courage to be an example that challenges and encourages. May a godless society’s
regulations never be the rules of godly spirituality. May God’s people find the
direction in Jesus Christ to transform our world instead of letting the world
reduce us to its level. May God in Jesus Christ form our holy manners. May the
Savior teach us how to behave with the courage that transforms the immature and
challenges the unformed in Christ to rise to God’s standards as His people. May
our manners in our words be in His hands alone!
Link to other Writings of David Chadwell