The 9th commandment is one commandment that we are ALL guilty of and we are all spoken to by James when he says "these things ought not to be!" Characteristics you find in the world, but are they in the child of God who has been changed? The old man of the flesh is still within and so it does us good to be reminded of how we must speak in ALL matters of the neighbor and all governed by LOVE for the neighbor. (Remember the neighbor we have defined as anyone whom God places at our elbows at any given time.)

Ability: We are dealing with the tongue...a very little member of the body that has the ability to set on fire of hell. Sometimes even to irreparable places. I believe our speech is deeply rooted in our God as we have been created as image bearers of God who is a communicating God and we all stand as rational communicating creation of our God in our prophetic office opposed to many who believe it is an origin from many of the other members. The world speaks the lie. Lies and deceit against God and their neighbor from the Devil himself who is the slanderer. They are in the slavery of sin. Read the list of things in the catechism here and see how many have to do with speech! Scripture addresses us and the child of God here! Do NOT bear false witness! Do NOT rest a man's words or twist them. We can even do this with body language, unique looks or facial expressions, taking words out of context, inflection in your voice as you speak. Backbiting. Speaking something injurious to him behind his back. Slander. A very out and out LIE geared to set out the destruction of another. Quick to JUDGE without hearing another's words or judging them rashly. James says these things ought NOT to be....why? because....

The Calling: We have been born again of HE who is LIGHT and are no longer under the slavery of sin like the world. We are called to use our members unto righteousness! We are the prophets, priests, and kings of the LIVING God and as prophets we are those who must make it their business to know the truth, seek it, speak it in regards to God (the entire FIRST table of the law) and the neighbor (the entire SECOND table of the law!) And to speak the truth IN LOVE..or better we could say to speak the truth IN LOVE as it is love that trumps ALL things! If not in love or rooted in love it is in malice to the neighbor. We MUST and are called to speak in the virtue of love!

Dire Warning: There is a dire warning here. "Lest I incur the wrath of God upon myself." James is very candid here. He speaks very bluntly about this subject and we do well to listen. It sets on fire and destroys. It destroys in families, members, and yes even in churches! When we speak and put it in love then it will be toward the neighbor and for his good. Take note that this does not mean we do not say anything to the neighbors detriment, but we speak to them admonition in love when needed also.