LIARS OR LIVING LETTERS?
Text: Colossians 3:5-9a
In the Walt Disney movie "Pinnochio" there is a scene where Pinnochio's nose grows every time he tells a lie. And the point of that scene is that the more you lie, the more you have to lie to make all your stories sound as if they were based on the truth.
We often think about lying in the context of telling something that is contrary to the truth to someone else and to God. But, the lies that we overlook are the lies that we tell ourselves, which is clear cut denial. It is possible for us to tell ourselves something that is not true for so long until we believe that it is. Some of the best rumors in the world are made of that kind of material.
The Bible makes it clear that nothing shall be hidden that will not be revealed.
When Paul wrote this section of his letter to the church at Colosse, he was naming sins that were uncomfortable
but necessary for mentioning for the sake of the truth. This morning, the category that we shall focus upon is the ethics of true Christian speech. It is a painful issue but a necessary issue. Christian speech involves kindness, purity and truth as the three elements of godly speech for Christians. Take away any of those three and you are in danger of being a liar when the Bible makes it clear that we are to be living letters for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
CHRISTIAN SPEECH MUST BE KIND
Kindness is the opposite of meanness.
Being kind is connected to being friendly. Kindness and friendliness can be exhibited through words as well as. Actions. There is more to speech than just words. The tone of a person's voice can indicate whether or not they are in a bad mood or a good mood.
I used to lead a youth Group in my previous appointment where the kids would sometimes say some things to each other that were unkind. I asked them not to do that to each other. But, it went on anyway. Finally, I sat them all down and told them that if they could not say anything kind to each other, then they should not say anything at all.
Kindness looks at the positive in people.
It is simply impossible to be sympathetic with someone if the people in a relationship do nothing but nag each other about the other's faults. Far too often, people are so busy looking for the bad in others instead of the good. When we do that, it is almost always possible for us to "think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think" (Romans 12:3). Why? Well, why are we so busy looking for the bad in others in the first place. Obviously, that is not true for everyone. But, there are people who fit that category. If that category should fit us, then we need to ask ourselves what it is that we hope to gain by "thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think" (Romans 12:3)? How can we truly offer ourselves as holy and living sacrifices when we are conforming to the worldly patterns (Romans 12:1-2) exalting ourselves while putting others down? Are we commending the ministry of Christ or ourselves when we act like that (2 Corinthians 3:1)? Paul said to the people of Corinth, that they we his "living letters of commendation" (2 Cor. 3:1). They were not letters commending themselves or Paul, but the ministry of Jesus Christ. And that is a ministry of love, kindness, humility, purity and the truth in the name of Christ. "Love must be sincere" (Romans 12:9). And if we avoid selfish ambition (Philipians 2:3), but do not "hate what is evil and cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9), then we are not going to be devoted to one another in brotherly love wherein we will authentically honor one another above ourselves (Romans 12:9 paraphrased).
Here is a test that will determine whether your speech is both Christian and kind. "Is it worthy of repeating? Is it true and kind? Is it necessary?" (William Barclay. The Daily Study Bible Series. The Letters to The Philipians, Colossians and Thessolonians. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975, p. 153).
CHRISTIAN SPEECH SHOULD BE PURE
Purity is the opposite of corrupt.
This principle makes it clear that it is not pure speech when we swear at someone or tell them where to go. That does not mean that everybody is perfect. But, it does mean that we should strive to avoid using language that is inappropriate. Here is a good test. Is what you say, something that could be repeated in Church? Is what you say something that could be repeated by children without causing them to get in trouble with their parents.
When it comes to speech, purity means more than just words that are foul, it also means motives that are foul.
ILLUSTRATION: The old saying that says "Sticks and stones will break my bones, words will never hurt me" is not true. There is the story about a college student who was working at a YMCA who got slandered even though he was innocent. Two young girls who were at that YMCA swore up and down that he molested them. But, he was innocent. And to prove his innocence he asked to a polygraph test to clear his name. Later, after he had lost his job because of the accusations, the two girls said to him, "see we told you we could get you fired." They fabricated a lie to get even with that counselor because they got jealous over the amount of time that he was spending working with the other kids on the basketball court.
Gossip is a sin. It is considered a sin because usually its motives are not pure. The motives behind gossip are hurtful and hateful. Gossip is what the Bible calls "idle talk": "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell that men will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word that they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will condemned" (Matthew 12:34-37 NIV).
Psalms 101:5 says "Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will put to silence" (NIV). Slanderers, it seems in some cases have a lot in common with conspirators because they both seem to work anonymously.
When Matthew 12:36 refers to "idle words," it is talking about words that accomplish nothing (Warren Wiersbe. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Volume 1. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1989, p. 43). Whenever we let down our guard in anger, a lie, slander or malice aforethought (Colossians 3:8) with "idle words" (that accomplish nothing be it through gossip or disagreement) we reveal our true character (Wiersbe p. 43). The Greek word for idle is "aergos" which is the prefix "a" attatched to the Greek word "ergon" which is Greek for "deed"
(according William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel Of Matthew. Volume 2. Philadelphia: Wetsminster Press, 1975, p. 46). Therefore, it translates as "idle words" in the English language because of the fact that it refers to a word or words that accomplish nothing (p. 46).
CHRISTIAN SPEECH MUST BE TRUTHFUL
Our speech reveals our integrity and its lack.
It is impossible for us to speak without saying something about who we are and how we feel. We may be able to hide our feelings, but as mentioned earlier, when we let our guard down, we reveal what it is that we have hidden not only from others, but also that which we have sometimes hidden from ourselves.
ILLUSTRATION: There was a church meeting years ago where a parishoner let the cat out of the bag about how she felt about the pastor's style of preaching. She had always been complimentary of his preaching until the night of this meeting. Unbeknownst, she had let her guard down while the members of a committee were discussing things about the worship services and out came her true feelings because she spoke before she thought about what she said. A. Plummer in his commentary An Exegetical Commentary On The Gospel According To Matthew, describes that potential problem as "calculated hypocrisy" (as quoted by William Barclay in T.D.S.B.S. The Gospel of Matthew. Volume 2. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975, p. 46).
Our speech as Christians should be something that Jesus would approve of.
That one test should be enough to make us think. After all, Jesus told us that "if we know the truth, the truth shall make us free" (John 8:32), so that we would know longer have to be slaves to sin. Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 NIV). The devil is the father of lies, because lying is his native language (John 8:44).
Jesus who exemplified the truth can help us to see the truth as it really is. Jesus can help us to grow by helping us to look for the best in people so that we might bring out the best in people. Jesus can also bring out the best in us. But, if we are busy trying to dig up dirt to throw on others, then we are not seeking to bring out the best in them. And when we follow that fault-finding motif wanting to put someone down, then we make it so easy for ourselves to deny where we are sinners. Remember "The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector" (Luke 18:9-14)? When we look at that parable, we need to ask ourselves who it is that we resemble most.
ILLUSTRATION: "Sin does not come from the eye, the hand, or foot; it comes from the heart, the evil desires within. Centuries ago in England, if a pickpocket was convicted, his right hand was cut off. If he was convicted a second time, his left hand was amputated. One pickpocket lost both of his hands and continued his "trade" by using his teeth! Physical surgery can never change the heart" (Warren Wiersbe p. 135).
What about the condition of your heart? We speak what is in our hearts, be it good or evil (Matthew 12:35) that is stored up in us. Does your heart need a healing touch this morning? Borrowing from the four soils as representatives for the four kinds of hearts Jesus illustrated in "The Parable of the Sower" (Matthew 13:1-23), let us examine our own hearts. Is your heart hardened by sin? Is your heart shallow lacking root in Jesus Christ because of persecution? Is your heart strangled by the worries of this world or the deception of riches or anything that makes it unfruitful? If you answered yes to any of the three questions above and you want a change, a healing touch then ask Jesus to open your heart to Him in the ways that it is closed to Him. Let us open our hearts to Him, exemplify His love and strive to be living letters for the forwarding of His kingdom. Let us also strive for true Christian speech that builds fellowship so that we will not lie to ourselves, each other or God so that we can worship in spirit and in truth. AMEN.
