When I remodeled our kitchen in Ohio, I decided to knock down two walls to increase our dining room space. Ripping out the kitchen floor, cabinets, and walls was not only liberating - it was a bit therapeutic. After a long, strenuous and difficult day, I have to admit that it felt good to take out some of my frustrations on that kitchen. It was easy too. There’s nothing a crow bar and sledge hammer can’t knock down.

Unfortunately, I think it comes natural for us to tear down and destroy things. It was one of the easiest things I did – and it only took me a couple of days. The hard part came later: Dry walling, patching up the walls and ceiling, painting, wallpapering, laying down the floor, putting in new cabinets, countertop and sink, hooking up new appliances, new lights, rerouting duct work and electrical outlets and light switches, trim work, etc.… Not to mention the two months of not having a functional kitchen to use. Tearing down was fun, putting the necessary pieces back together was long, difficult, tedious, and exhausting.

In a similar manner, it can be quite easy to tear down someone’s life …the only tool necessary is our tongue. Just as a crow bar and sledge hammer can physically knock down almost anything, our tongues can do the same on an emotional level – accept I believe it can leave even more devastation. The words you use can destroy someone’s life.

James says, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.” (James 3:9-10)

James also says that a great forest fire can be started by a small spark. Though our words may be small, they have the potential of creating an inferno that can destroy lives. Whether it’s a lie, foul words, put-downs, slander, cursing, or gossip – our words can destroy lives. We participate in it because it’s easy, but also because there is a sinful bent in us that enjoys it….finds it satisfying. It’s satisfying because when we knock someone else down, we somehow feel better about ourselves. Suddenly our flaws, our shortcomings, our lives seem better in the shadow of someone else’s flawed issues. So we slander, gossip and curse others.

The MDS volunteers from our church saw first hand in Mississippi how a hurricane can level and destroy a community in just a couple days. Yet it has taken years to rebuild…and they are not even close to being done. I want you to understand that your words, whether they come in the form of gossip or slander or cursing can leave tremendous blows that can take someone years to recover from. Choose your words wisely. Once they are said, you cannot take them back. Let us use our tongues to offer words of praise that please our Lord - building people up and restoring lives…not words of evil that only play into the enemy’s tactics to destroy and devastate lives.

If you would like to know more about our congregation or talk with someone, e-mail me at bmc@velocity.net.

God Bless!

Jay Conn