Consider #2: An unbridled tongue slanders under the guise of zeal:
Gross misuse of the tongue not dealt with (no brainer).
We are dealing with the tongue of the religious person – the religious person has usually put an end to gross sins with the tongue.
We are dealing with the subtle unbridled tongue of the one who thinks they are religious.
The one who thinks themselves to be religious, but their religion is useless…is the one who slanders others continually under the guise of zeal.
(a subtle form of slander).
As R. Kent Hughes points out, the one who thinks themselves religious…is usually one who has given up on grosser sins.
They are those who think themselves to be the model of how others should live.
Often times these will draw attention to themselves as examples of how others should behave.
And in so doing…they slander others who they perceive to be beneath them (under the guise of zeal).
R. Kent Hughes, “what James’ metaphor points to most is the uncontrolled slanderous tongue – carping, critical, judgmental. The outwardly religious person characteristically avoids filth and lying, but falls easily to slander.”
Calvin, “When people shed their grosser sins, they are extremely vulnerable to contract this complaint. A man will steer clear of adultery, of stealing, of drunkenness, in fact he will be a shining light of outward religious observance – and yet will revel in destroying the character of others; under the pretext of zeal…(goes on to say) (this) bloated…pride…feeds indulgently on a general diet of smear and censure.”
One who carps (Hughes) is one who continually finds fault – they are harshly critical – and feel themselves justified in their criticism of others (very self-centered view of things).
The ones who do this must do this because of their own high level of religion – they feel it is their duty to show how religious they are to others (it is a very self-centered attitude under the guise of helping others).
This is usually done under the guise of ZEAL.
The one who carps is the one who is very judgmental of others under the guise of concern for them.
And this person is easily recognized because they are usually very critical of others to others.
In others words…they are very judgmental and critical – under the guise of zeal…under the guise of concern for others.
But they are sharing their criticism (not with the person they are critical of), but rather with others in the church.
Slander puts on a subtle disguise when one is carping about someone…to someone else (continually).
This is certainly useless religion!
The one with an unbridled tongue is a religious person.
They are pleased with their own level of religion.
In fact their own level of religion is the bar that everyone else must come to.
And this is the subject matter of much of their conversation.
Their religion is so exemplary – they must employ their mouths often and let others know how others are not living up to their standards.
Matthew 18 clearly spells out how we are to deal with a concern for others…
We are to go to them!
The one who continually “shares” their concern and observations about others – in a judgmental and critical fashion…is one whose religion is useless.
Jude v. 16 “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly,
And again, Jude is speaking of those in the church...
Pr 10:18 whoever spreads slander is a fool.
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Continual murmuring and complaining about others and to others…is a sign of useless religion.
“Once while John Wesley was preaching, he noticed a lady in the audience who was known for her critical attitude. All through the service she sat and stared at his new tie. When the meeting ended, she came up to him and said very sharply, ‘Mr. Wesley, the strings on your bow tie are much too long. It’s an offence to me!’ He asked if any of the ladies present happened to have a pair of scissors in their purse. When the scissors were handed to him, he gave them to his critic and asked her to trim the streamers to her liking. After she clipped them off near the collar, he said, ‘Are you sure they’re all right now?’ ‘Yes, that’s much better.’ “Then let me have those shears a moment,” Said Wesley. “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I also gave you a bit of correction. I must yell you, madam, that your tongue is an offence to me – it’s too long! Please stick it out…I’d like to take some off.”
On another occasion someone said to Wesley, “My talent is to speak my mind.” Wesley replied, “That’s one talent God wouldn’t care a bit if you buried!”
Gift of admonishment (through others) self-proclaimed gift!
One man (one time) told how KEEN of an observer he was – and he had observed this, and he had observed that.
He had the self-proclaimed gift of observing and commenting on others (these do much damage in the church).
Too bad these do not have the gift of observing Matthew 18
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Part 4 will be posted tomorrow
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