Can Change the World Again
With a Praying People.
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A Brief Analysis of the Philosophy and Practice
Chapter VI.
Plain Religion or a Bridled Tongue.
If our Tongue
Reveals the Heart, What then of our Plain Clothes?
"If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless."
James 1: 26
"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good . . . so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is blameless, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2: 1-8
Ever since South African Evangelist Keith Daniel came to America in 1997 his sermons have been widely circulated by the Remnant people on tapes. He is well known for his speaking about James chapter three on the tongue. Well has he pointed out that these scriptures reveal the state of man's heart and the genuineness of one's religion. It does not matter just how plain or modest we look, and how dedicated we are, if we are speaking our own idle words it reveals a worthless religion. It is very hard for many plain people, who have such separated lifestyles and such 'pious' clothes, to admit that an unbridled tongue points to a worthless religion. Thousands of tourists go to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania each year to see and know about the horse and buggy Amish and Mennonite people. It is assumed by the same that these people are very religious in the right sense of the term. But as the 'Remnant' people know, who came out from such groups, there can be a world of sin and corruption in those buggies. It is not the object of this book to go into all those details, but we will mention a revealing fact. It is a common practice for many Amish to let their youth live it up for a few years before they settle back down, get married, and live an Amish lifestyle. This behavior is termed "sowing wild oats." It is very well known that this season is largely an indulgence of the flesh, and is considered normal for youth to go through. The 'Remnant' people have rightly pointed out many things like this to be utterly inconsistent with true religion and conclusive evidence of false religion. This is because they suppose that merely being plain and Amish makes someone a good Christian.
As many inconsistent practices or actions uncover the "dead men's bones" in a polished religion, there is nothing like the tongue to quickly reveal this fact. For no matter how much someone can cover their bodies and have everything in order, it is impossible to control the tongue without a right heart. Jesus said, "without me you can do nothing," and without His love, or having His motives in all that we do, not a week will go by where our tongues did not reveal the opposite. The only apparent exception to this is that certain people are so passive and quiet that they hardly say anything. But to show that this silence may not be any better, we will take this teaching about the tongue a bit further. It is not only what is said that reveals the heart, but what is not said. We all know that we can bear false witness by our silence.
In the Remnant movement many have confessed that they say things often that they should not. It is no secret that there is gossip floating around when ministers have often addressed it. Yes there has been much attempt to stop this infectious practice, and we would by no means want to discourage that. There are some people that are very serious, who will not tolerate gossip and silliness (such as mocking the broken English of Africans as we often heard the 'pious' missionaries come back and do). Nevertheless, gossip is still such a problem that some fear of telling private things to those who are entitled to know lest certain others pull it out of them and spread it abroad. Of course it is all justified by prayer and being under authority.
This problem will never go away without a change of heart. It is true that few people will allow themselves to gossip or speak foolishness when Keith Daniel is around. But the problem will not be solved by listening to tapes on the tongue, and memorizing the book of James (not that Mr. Daniel thinks this). Everyone who has seriously tried to tame the tongue has either given up, or has discovered that there is a deeper problem than just words. We mentioned above, that it is not just what you say, but what you fail to say that is important. But what is it that determines this? Sure we may say the heart, but what is the heart? What is the heart that it so uses that little muscle to misrepresent reality and wound so many people so often? If we consider these matters we will find that before the heart controls the tongue, a judgment must fist be determined. A decision must first be made about the objects we speak about. Facts present themselves to us for consideration. If we are holy and blameless we will consider all the facts fairly before we conclude on matters and tell people such decisions. If our heart is sinful and our religion worthless, we will be partial in our consideration of these facts. The judgment will then be used to look at all the facts that support the real desire of our hearts, and will at the same time ignore all or most of the facts against our wishes. We all have sat at the table where people have laughed about doing this with minor things.
"Oh don't tell me any more about it or I'll have to give it up!"
The eyes of the mind will look away from the light and consider only what is favorable. After all, opposition is wrong when self is of the highest importance.
This all can happen in the mind so fast after years of practice. The habit can then be so much of an established custom that people do not even realize that they are selective in their judgments. Most of us have known compulsive liars where this is very manifest. They have been so eager to deceive people that they eventually could not tell what the truth really was. In the same way, people who have long been unfair with evidence, by ignoring part of the whole picture, will eventually believe the lies they create in an instant. And it does not take more than an instant to deceive yourself. All it takes is someone bent on their own way (even when they pretend to be religious and living for others) to be placed in a given situation. Previous to this they desire something for their own advantage. And when they enter the place, they find the appearance of something in support of their desire. Instantly they can grab hold of this as all the truth without consulting any other possibilities. They are looking for only one thing and are oblivious to anything else. They are thoroughly blinded from the plain facts. If this is how truth is found, then the devil will give us many things to fool us. After some bad experiences, and some pangs of conscience, they might be a little more objective, and instead look around a bit more in order to appear to be considering other possibilities. They might even appear to be wise and fair men by granting the opposition enough supporting evidence to make it appear to others that they are objective and have thoroughly searched out the matter, and all of the different theories pertaining to it.
When this is done, young and ignorant people fall prey to such experts who sit in positions of authority. But the sinful heart is so very sneaky, and can find all sorts of reasons for not considering all the facts. And once the mind is convinced, after finding some support for its desires, it usually will come out of the mouth. The greatest deception of all this is that there is always a good reason for what people say and do. Everyone has good reasons for what they believe and say, and they are ready to tell you all about it if you dare challenge them. Even very wicked people will be upset with you when they know you think they are acting without good reason. Everyone has good reasons for their judgments, but are these fair and honest reasons that heaven would be convinced of?
A bad report is told about someone whom we differ with, or dislike. What are we naturally tempted to do with our judgment? Those who just believe it without verifying it, are bent on their own way and deceiving themselves. And those who pass it on are even worse. Many people feel perfectly justified in reviling the devil or some notorious sinner, supposing themselves at liberty to assume any evil they wish. But just because a sinful heart may be guilty of more evil, it does not follow that they actually have done it, when facts do not really prove it. Proof is that which they would expect others to be convinced of if they were the person judged. As we have seen in scriptures already quoted, it was this kind of prejudice that Jude and Peter were exposing in fanatics. And it is not an uncommon thing for certain preachers and passionate people to bombastically curse the devil while supposing his involvement in that which they do not fully understand, or which they have no success in. It would be very easy then to go from this to similar defamations and suspicions about those who are supposed to be in rebellion. All it takes is possible evidence, and whole groups will easily believe it is proven. There is no pretending that these supposed troublemakers ought to be treated as fair as their friends would be under the same circumstances. In such cases, alternative possibilities would be considered under the right to give the benefit of the doubt. All such people do not love their enemies as themselves, and are guilty of hatred without a cause. Let the righteous especially keep themselves aware of this subtle form of injustice! This was what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5.
Getting back to our point above, how about when a fact appears that supports our idea of something? Are we inclined to rest our case with it or to thoroughly search it out? When we have an idea which we wish to prove, do we look up the concordance for proof-texts and take little time to investigate the context and original rendering of the words? Do we grab and run? You can be sure that anyone who does such things will tell someone their partial conclusions. This, as we have seen, is making confident assertions about things we do not really understand.
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"You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with an unrighteous man to be a malicious witness. You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute."
Exodus 23: 1-3
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The problem with the tongue is perversion of justice and a selfish heart that can have no control over its conclusions. All this is strengthened by multitudes doing the same thing. Eventually the individual seeks to justify its method of injustice by all sorts of wisdom. Perhaps they suppose themselves a prophet or boast,
And when they are pressed harder they might presume:
"Look, I just don't have the time to get into these things now.
But you know that the Lord will correct us if we are wrong."
The fact is, despite all claims of sincerity, this is just covering up a heart that perverts justice, and is too proud to admit they might be wrong. But the more they get praise from multitudes doing the same things, the harder it is to really estimate the true condition of one's heart before God—never mind the truth in the matter.
This perversion is known enough that people often confess that they have mixed motives for all their actions. It is unfortunate that these do not understand the implications. As we have seen in a former chapter, mixed motives imply walking in darkness and separation from God. All these things above are either stated or implied in our text, and these verses that precede it:
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"But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. . . Therefore, putting away all filthiness and all that remains of unrighteousness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless."
James 1: 19-26
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We will not escape fatal delusion if we merely confess that we have impure motives and an unbridled tongue. Notice in verse 21, that only that which puts away all filthiness and all that remains of unrighteousness, is humility, and is able to save our souls. We must "receive the word" in this way or else be "deluded." To merely confess our needs and then pretend that everything is fine after all, is like looking into the mirror and forgetting what we look like right away. It is, after all, ignoring the facts about our destiny and relations to God in the same way. He is so deceived that he has "forgotten what kind of person he was." Such a religion that is impartial to justice, and free to share it quickly, cannot be progressively improved, because it is "worthless!"
"From the same mouth come blessing", but it is still "worthless" to God. Perhaps people delude themselves in no greater way than when they mindlessly sing hymns against the truth of their heart. If leaders are not guarding against this then they are supporting the delusion, and care not that God is mocked by hypocrisy. Song leaders should frequently warn the people against this and bring their attention to the solemn realities in the songs before the congregation is to sing. In former days the leaders would first read most hymns to the people to prevent this. Will people be expected to bridle their tongue in this way? Or is it that singing many words contrary to heart reality will be the best thing to win them from hypocrisy and falsehood? Yes many people worship an endearing Santa in the sky and fall in love with this soothing creation. But God is the same as in the days when holy leaders formerly feared the Lord, and He will not listen to songs sung with unrighteous hearts and lives.
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"Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; as when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Amos 5: 18-24
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Yes, in fact such singing only goes to confuse them all the more. For sinners naturally appreciate harmony, and can readily sympathize with many endearing truths. But what really happens is that they get so caught up in the excitement and beauty of it all, that they suppose by this that they do agree with it in heart. The fact that this happens with millions of people who are obviously unconverted, does not mean that they have some good motives after all; but rather that such experiences are merely passive or natural, and do not at all determine the state of the heart. If leaders were careful to guard against this, perhaps one of the greatest stumbling blocks in churches would be removed.
But for those who think religion is about good feelings and pious clothing, sanctified by a united vision, these things will not be so important. They do not care to justly understand the things they are saying, and will conveniently forget about any evidence to the contrary. They will thus fail to rebuke those who sin—unless it threatens their piety— because they do not want this impressive religion to appear as worthless. Again, sins will be called "needs" to be worked on, instead of something to be reproved or feared.
They will also fail to speak up because of the fear of man, and will thus throw in their lot with a multitude in evil. People may be silent and still sin with their tongues. When they fail to speak out against noticed injustice, and leave people with the impression that they agree, then they have just as worthless a religion as those who initially ignore the facts and publish it. This is a true coward, who is in the same danger.
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"But for the cowardly and unbelieving . . and all liars,
their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21: 8
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There is no place to ride the fence in life. Either we have a heart that welcomes and embraces all truth, no matter what the consequences bring, or we merely say this is the case while settling for partial truth. Oh how grievous it is to meet such people when they manifestly close their eyes to evidence and insist that they are open and willing to conclude differently if only there was any proof! This is sinful sincerity that deceives the naive. Here these people conveniently wait for the evidence to come to them, when they should never have concluded in the first place, without first gathering all the facts. It seems some people are so bent on their own way, and so full of pride, that they feel justified in always concluding on matters after the first evidence comes in their favor. Instead they ought to be humble and search matters out before pronouncements are made. But there is no time, you know. We need to confess our ignorance when partial evidence is only given. And experience shows that often there is a bigger picture than what we supposed at first.
Everyone who cannot bridle their tongue is guilty of these things. It is for this reason that such a religion is worthless. Yes it is true that an unbridled tongue causes much outward damage. But guilt is not determined by what it actually results in. It is rather determined by the motives of the heart and the amount of light rejected. If someone tries to commit crime but does not succeed, they are just as guilty as those who do. Again, the worthlessness of such a religion is not because of all the trouble it causes others, but because it stems from a deceived heart that is not walking in the Light and truth as God is. It selectively decides what is true and creates its own reality. Such religion is made up of as much truth as will allow itself to appear religious to others. And it gives in to evidence that goes against its desires and flesh, only as far as it can silence a perverted conscience. They will not go farther, as they would if it affected their own character. Thus they are solidified in deception by a twofold trick. There is no real delight for truth in itself, but rather to use it for personal advantage (this is real greed that few notice). And as the morals in society decrease in areas or in general, so will the concessions of such people. If religion is accepted that allows people to break minor laws of the land, or to commit little sins, then they will not object to it. And if such things are brought to their attention, they will look at you with amazement that you are being so conscientious and dare to go against the flow.
There is no "seeking to know what is pleasing to the Lord" in all such matters—'there isn't time.' 'We must get busy with life and advance the gospel!' These are the last of the last days!
We can not fail to stress just how important it is for us to only speak about that which we justly understand when we are making conclusions about a given matter. All that we have said in a former chapter about this applies to this truth: that if we neglectfully misrepresent the subjects we are talking about, or fail to talk about, then our religion is worthless and false.
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"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now in the Lord you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of the Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, 'Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5: 6-17
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Everyone who has the true religion "that keeps itself unspotted from the world" well knows these facts from experience. They well remember the time where truths were place in their minds for consideration and they turned away. More and more of this resisting continued. Eventually, after much consideration, they finally could see that it was not a matter of occasional resisting of truth, but that their whole life was a lie. From that point they might have tried to do better and gave in where they could. But they could never find God in the Light, so as to walk with Him "just as He Himself is in the Light," until they could admit that thus far they had only selfishly embraced truth, and had never honestly turned around to welcome and diligently seek out all truth. Until we have left such a partial path of "walking in darkness," and have become light that "exposes the darkness", we have no business considering ourselves "the children of Light," but rather "hearers of the word who delude themselves," and whose "religion is worthless."
"But let justice roll down like waters and
righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
Or by check to:
Rick Friedrich
8071 Main St.
Fenwick, MI 48834-9649
