Controlling the tongue...

[Twilight]

Did you know that if a man control' his "tongue", he can become a "perfect" Christian?

Quote:

If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.

Your thoughts?

[abelisle]

Suppose he offends in thought but not in word? Still perfect?

What's that verse that says if a man looks at a woman with lust, it's the same as committing the act?

I don't think you can take this verse literally unless of course one understands it to mean that he has the potential to be perfect and all of us have that, right?

Alex

[Twilight]

You raise a good point.

For the tongue to be under control, the heart and mind has to be surrendered to God...

No man can control his own tongue:

Quote:

Jam 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

And many give God their "lips" whilst witholding the heart:

Quote:

Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.

In fact many take precepts of men, as their religion, instead of surrendering the heart to Gods dominion, is this a description of many an experience?

Quote:

Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

[Dr. Shane]

While it may be true that no man can tame his tongue... it should be the goal of every Christian to do exactly that. Let us not foucs on "I can't" "I can't" lest we make such words into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Can God tame my tongue? Should I let Him do that?

[Twilight]

While it may be true that no man can tame his tongue... it should be the goal of every Christian to do exactly that. Let us not foucs on "I can't" "I can't" lest we make such words into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Can God tame my tongue? Should I let Him do that?

[Gail]

Maybe he calls him perfect because he knows how big an assignment that is!

[Overaged]

Anyone remember that song from Cradle Roll called "Teeny Tiny Terrible Tongue?"

[Gail]

Hmm... I don't know! Can you sing a bit of it for me and see if I remember? :)

[pnattmbtc]

I think the thinking is this:

a)The only way that the tongue can be controlled is if the heart is pure.

b)The only way for the heart to be pure, is for the person to be "perfect."

Regarding the lust question, this person wouldn't be able to control his tongue either.

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the man speaketh." This is the same principle.

Also "tongue" should be understood as an expression of the heart or mind. That is, a deaf person's "tongue" would be his or her hands. Also, we could consider that before one expresses oneself, one thinks of what one is going to say, so the verse is saying that the only way one can express oneself without fault (and hence think without fault), is to be "perfect."

[Twilight]

But is it possible Gail?

Good point Pnat.