The Bible overflows with teachings and warnings about the power of the tongue--a gentle tongue is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4), but it is also a powerful and destructive weapon, causing irreparable damage upon oneself and others (James 3:5-12), and must be guarded and its words curated with the utmost care (Psalm 141:3, Proverbs 13:3). Thus, we have decided to take two episodes on Sins of the Tongue--and today, we are wrapping up this two-part topic with Lying and Cursing.
Lying can be a complex topic, not merely the misuse of data but of truth, and truth makes up not just our lives but our identities as Christians (John 14:6, 17:17)--and God calls us to speak the truth to our neighbors in unity and fellowship (Ephesians 20:16). On that note, he also calls only to use words that "are good for building up" (Ephesians 4:29) and are "gracious, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6), and not to listen to the whispers of our hearts: for our hearts will always want us to do what serves us or satisfies us best, by lying to get out of trouble or by cursing to gratify an impulsive emotion, because our hearts are fallen and broken instruments (Matthew 15:18-20, Jeremiah 17:9). Only through the Holy Spirit can we learn to use our tongues not for our own selfish desires, but to "give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).
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Rev. Squires joined the First Presbyterian Church staff in January 2014. He is a graduate of Belhaven University with a B.S. in Psychology; a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) with both a M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, and in Counseling. Josh started a...
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