September 3 Sermon

Does how you speak express your faith?

Today’s gospel [Mark 7:1-23] should have a warning – “parental guidance required”, or “not suitable for young children” – because it sounds like Jesus is saying “You don’t have to wash your hands before dinner”. That’s not something you want your children to hear.

Actually Jesus wasn’t giving a lesson in personal hygiene but was involved in a dispute with the Pharisees, who criticized his disciples for not following the ceremonial rules, like the ritual washing of hands

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Jeff Foxworthy has made a career of telling “redneck” jokes, like “You might be a redneck if someone asks you for identification and you show them your belt buckle.”

I wonder if there was a 1^st century comedian who told Pharisee jokes, like “You might be a Pharisee if your prayer begins “Lord, I thank you I’m not a sinner like these other folks...” or you think the world would be a better place if everyone was just like you. Or if you think Jesus might have overstepped his bounds when he turned water into wine.’ As one pious tea-totaler said sternly, “When I get to heaven I going to talk to Jesus about that unfortunate miracle.”

Today’s debate began over the various ritual washings the Pharisees claimed were necessary to make one clean before the Lord.

Someone once described Pharisees as being “obsessive compulsive”. They were obsessed with all kinds of rules that covered every area of life – from ritual washings to what you could eat. Jesus said You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. Mark 7:8

They had put their rules – a human tradition – above God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself.

Their rules separated them from their brothers and sisters – they were clean and everyone else was unclean.

The problem wasn’t that the rules were bad – they were generally good ideas. But they put the good ahead of the best. The rules were used to create a barrier. The Pharisees couldn’t share a meal - have fellowship with those who hadn’t washed the pots in the right way or didn’t east the correct foods.

Instead of loving their neighbor they looked down on them - and kept away from them.

Jesus told the Pharisees that it is easier to follow a set of religious rules than it is to transform our hearts – to bring our inner motivations in harmony with God’s ways. His example dealt with the food rules – what you could eat

Listen to me, all of you, and understand:

there is nothing outside a person that

by going in can defile… Mark 7:15

Can’t you understand that it’s not the food you put in your mouth that makes you unclean before God – but rather what comes out of your mouth that can make you unclean.

It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come … and they defile a person.

Mark 7:15,16

What goes in your mouth doesn’t touch your heart, but what comes out does come from your heart. In the bible, heart represents your innermost thoughts, desires and emotions – the real you. From within – from a person’s heart – come all kinds of sinful thoughts – greed and lust, pride and envy, slander and foolishness. All these things come from within – and that’s what makes a person unclean in God’s sight.

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Your speech – what you say and how you say it - mirrors the condition of your heart.

Whatever is in your heart determines what you say. Matthew 12:34

Your speech reveals what is inside. If your heart is filled with bitterness, your words will be tainted by it. If it is filled with the love of God, your words will express that love.

And it works both ways. If you discipline your words, so that you speak with Christian love to others – then the love in your heart will grow stronger and begin to overcome the bitterness.

In our lesson, James writes:

If you claim to be religious, but don’t control your tongue –watch your words – then you are just fooling yourself and your religion is worthless

James 1:26

We can change our hearts by disciplining our words. Weigh your words. Think before you make that comment – think before you respond.

Dear friends, be quick to listen, slow to speak,

and slower to get angry. Your anger can

never make things right in God’s sight. James 1:19

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The content of a Christian’s conversation should reflect the presence of the Spirit of Christ. One of the fruits of the Spirit – one of the Spirit’s gifts – is self-control. God gives you the power to control what you say. The person who has no control over their words is usually “out-of-control”. But the believer who disciplines their speech is thus yielding to the Holy Spirit and will then be able to keep other areas of their life in control.

Unfortunately the sins of speech are ones that we often excuse. Sins like gossiping, and talking bad about another person – tearing them down instead of building them up to others. Emphasizing the negative, rather than the positive – the Bible makes it clear that certain kinds of talk are wrong - sins of speech.

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Jesus gave a stern warning about how you speak to – and about – others.

And I tell you this that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or condemned. Matthew 12:36, 37

Jesus statement is emphatic. He warns us that we are held accountable for our idle words – they will either bring praise from God or condemnation. In the strongest possible tone, he cautions us to weigh our words. Because what we say is related to what is in our hearts.

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Be slow to speak - think before you talk - engage your mind before your mouth.

You’ll note on the sermon outline I’ve spelled out what “think” could mean.

First ask your self “Is it true?” – Do I know that what I am about to repeat is really true? Or is it just something I heard from someone else.

If falsehood and truth were to run a race, it’s said “A lie is halfway around the track before truth puts its racing shoes on.” That saying illustrates the power of malicious speech. One unfounded rumor, one careless remark, one morsel of gossip can cause the greatest devastation,

Be slow to speak. Think before you open your mouth.

“Words once spoken can never be recalled. ‘I’ll take it back’, we say, but nothing once spoken can be unsaid. Apologies can never remove the scars which are left by sharp, cruel tongues.”

Even what I have to say is true, then I have to ask “Is it helpful?” Will saying this help the person – or help the situation? Or is it just fuel for the fire in some disagreement?

Let everything you say be good and helpful,

so that your words will be an encouragement

to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29

That verse suggests a third question: Is what I’m about to say inspiring? Is this a word of encouragement? There is enough negativity around. Christians should be speaking positive words that uplift others. Let your conversation be an encouragement to others.

Then ask “Is it necessary to say this?” Or is it just idle talk?

Remember You must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.

Finally ask “Is saying this kind?” Will these words be an expression of the love of Christ?

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Our speech witnesses to our faith.

“Think” before you speak and ask whether this is the kind of thing Jesus would say in this situation. Or am I about to embarrass Jesus by what I say?

The point is simply that Jesus says we’ll be held accountable by the Lord for what we say. Because what we say both reflects the condition of our heart – and also shapes our heart.

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We are not saved by our deeds – by our life style. But we are accountable to the Lord for it. If we are striving to grow in faith, then our life-style should show tangible changes. There should be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes - a renewal that is apparent in how you talk to others.

Does your speech witness to your faith?

Can people see Christ in you from

the way you speak to them?

“Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers.”

Let your faith be active in all you do and say.

As we’ll sing “Lord whose love in humble service” ... the hymn continues

“we your servants, bring the worship,

not of voice alone, but heart; consecrating to

your service, every gift which you impart.”