The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Richard P. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Research on Self-Government
It was not a pretty sight. Slightly late, a tad disheveled, I was ill-prepared for this next musical rehearsal. There I stood in the parking lot, the second lead, without my script. Though I now regret it, I pinned all of these difficulties on my younger brother. My tongue freed, it proceeded to relay some of the fire of James 3:6. I soon learned learn that everything would sort itself out, except for my torrential tongue.
It wasn't until later that I thought critically about that day and the tongue's power. The process began with a question asked at church: "How do you use your tongue?" Because it sparked a whole train of thoughts, the time was right to investigate.
The Bible is full of full of descriptions about the tongue, most specifically I found Proverbs and Psalms to be most concentrated. Scripture speaks of: the lying tongue (Proverbs 25:18), the flattering tongue (Psalm 5:9), the proud tongue (Psalm 12:3-4), and the slanderous tongue (Proverbs 6:19). It is a recurring theme in these books, mentioned again and again.
So what is the purpose of the tongue?
The tongue's purpose is simple and direct; it is to administer the Gospel to all. That's it; there is no special secret, no confusing conundrum, no esoteric enigma. Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)
The many idle words we speak do nothing but drag us down. Though it may be hard to hold our tongue in check, it is certainly easier than dealing with the consequences of when we do not. As the poet, editor, and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier once wrote, "For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been.'"
After these readings I must conclude that the only proper way to use the tongue is to administer the Gospel. At first, this sounded like a drastic step and I was taking warning verses too seriously, especially James 3: 8-9 which says, "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." While these warnings are dramatic, they mirror the scope of profound changes that ought to be happening to those that follow Christ.
Recall the records of the apostles, especially that of Paul. They talked a lot, but only when the comments could benefit Christ. Then I considered Paul. Though he delivered great speeches and debates, Paul was best known for his writing. Even then, Paul limited the words he put down, making his message concise. For Christ said, "...you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you." (Matthew 12:36-37)
Scripture indicates that speech is matter of great importance to God. David even asks in Psalm 109 that God would curse those who curse others. Because the first glimpse of the Church is often given to others through a word, members of the Church need to be extremely cautious in the words that we use.
As the oldest child in a family of 12, I'm held to a different standard -- not just by others, but also my own family. My little siblings follow my lead; sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. This study has given me a clearer understanding of what my words need to convey, especially for my family.
I once heard that to change the world, you need to start with your home; to change your home, you need to change your words. It's not Soli Deo gloria (to God alone be glory) in some things, it's in all things. I hope to reflect that in my words from now on.
