The Tongue - Edition #11: Sound Speech

April 12th, 2006

The Tongue – Edition #11: Sound Speech

Titus 2:1-10
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Colossians 2:1-5
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

I have to speak in such a way that others can not have anything bad to say about me… or for that matter, the church. And in this society that I live in, that is difficult at best. I mean, I cut up, crack jokes, and have fun… and I think the Christ had a fun time with the disciples, but there is a time and place for everything. And when it comes to my tongue, I don’t have the self-control and respect for others that I should. I feel that I am working in that direction, but I still have a ways to go.

Looking back at verse 7 and 8: a Johnny Ray translation:
In all things present yourself as a worthy model. Through doctrine show purity, honesty and speak true words that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may respect you because they have nothing bad to say about us.

I don’t think I spent so much time in the Greek before… but I like what I found out. If I have sound speech, those who oppose me will at least respect me and have nothing to say about me, and more importantly, the church. That is challenging but it is a good challenge, a strong challenge, and a worthy challenge.

I want to share some good news. I have been accepted into DBU. I think I may have shared that before, but yesterday, I signed up for classes. I want to appeal to you all to pray that there won’t be trouble with financial aid. Should things go well, I could end up graduating at the end of May 2007 and start teaching the following fall. The thought is a bit exciting, to say the least. Thanks so much, Johnny Out.