Let the Words of My Mouth...

In 1st Peter 4, we read a powerful passage of Scripture that can instruct us about the words we use, the condition of our hearts, and our position toward others.   
8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.10As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.11If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

We have to be so careful with what we say about other people.  I believe as Christians, that we have a responsibility to speak words that are coated with the love of Christ - that doesn't mean that we are not firm in our convictions, but we have to be so careful that when we speak of others, that we do not cross over into gossip or slander, which the Bible warns against.   So, our hearts have to be right - if we are harboring bitterness and/or resentment toward another person or group of people, then that may be reflected in our words, which will not reflect the glory of God.   And, we have to be sure that we are not trying to position ourselves in a haughty or arrogant way, but rather that we are walking in humility before God and people.

Yesterday, I shared some of Dr. Martin Luther King's statements on the nature of love, true love, rooted in the teachings of God's Word.  I used a passage from Romans 12, and I return to that chapter today, to an earlier portion:
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.3For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Be careful what you say about other individuals or groups of people - because as a Christian, that's a poor reflection on us.

And, there are two people right now who have made some seemingly outrageous statements that I would think they would want to reconsider.   One actually has apologized, as I understand.

First example of how not to paint certain groups of people with a broad brush and summarily dismiss them: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who, in a recent interview, denounced, “extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay,” and said, “They have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”

Marvin Olasky of WORLD says,

Hmmm. Once upon a time Catholics were unwelcome in New York. (See the “Native American Party” of the 1840s and 1850s, or Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York.) So were Italians, specifically. (See Andrew and Mario Cuomo, ancestors.)

Other questions arise. Should New York exclude pro-lifers? (See Mother Teresa and millions more.) If we took a time machine to any New York era before the current one and removed everyone who was “anti-gay,” wouldn’t the state have been virtually uninhabited? Does Cuomo want his state police to round up the pro-assault-weapon folks, whoever they are, and machine-gun them?

WORLD's Emily Belz relates that Cuomo backtracked from his comments later in a letter to the New York Post, saying his words were “distorted,” and he was saying that “an extreme right candidate cannot win statewide.”

She quotes Kirsten Smith with New Yorkers for Life, who said Cuomo was wrong to paint New York pro-lifers as all “conservative Republicans.” She added that he could not characterize himself as a champion of diversity in his state while excluding pro-lifers. She pointed to polling that shows upwards of 40 percent of New Yorkers describe themselves as pro-life.

“Why would the governor find so appalling those who stand up for the right of an unborn baby?” Smith said. Referencing Cuomo’s Catholic roots, she added, “He was raised in that tradition, it’s not like he hasn’t understood that position.”

Christian author Eric Metaxas, who lives in New York City and whose wife Susanne Metaxas heads up the Midtown Pregnancy Support Center in Manhattan, called on Cuomo in a tweet to resign.
Pro-lifers are currently engaged in an intense struggle against the governor's proposal to expand the legality of late-term abortions and remove criminal penalties associated with botched abortions, 2nd degree abortions, or the murder of a pregnant mother. New York currently offers legal protections to babies in the womb who are older than 24 weeks. The bill would allow an abortion at any point in the pregnancy for the sake of the mother’s life or health, which includes emotional health.

Then there's the much talked-about post-game rant by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.  In case you missed it, San Francisco was driving for a potential game-winning touchdown, quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw a pass intended for Michael Crabtree in the end zone, and it was deflected by Sherman into the hands of linebacker Malcolm Smith to preserve the 23-17 win.  Here's NFL.com's report on the exchange of his postgame conversation with FOX's Erin Andrews::

"I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that is the result you are going to get. Don't you ever talk about me," Sherman shouted.

Andrews then asked, "Who was talking about you?"

"Crabtree. Don't you open your mouth about the best, or I'm going to shut it for you really quick," Sherman screamed.

In a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder on Monday, he said, "I apologize for attacking an individual and taking the attention away from the fantastic game by my teammates ... That was not my intent."

His subsequent interviews have been subdued, by comparison, but he still contends Crabtree is mediocre and that he's the best cornerback in the league.  But, some would contend that's just Sherman being Sherman, he's known for being rather, let's say, provocative, on and off the field.  

By the way, he shouldn't be regarded as the example of the team's behavior and attitude.   By contrast, long snapper Clint Gresham organized an effort to make a video called, "The Making of a Champion", inviting people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  It features QB Russell Wilson and other team members and 2 coaches.

Governor Cuomo generalizes groups of people.  And, even though he has attempted to soften the blow, the harsh words remain.  Richard Sherman is attempting to put a softer spin on his postgame rant, but that video will be out there essentially forever.   These two instances can teach us about our words, our hearts, and our position.

First of all, our words.  The Scripture is replete with references about speaking words that please God, that build up and not tear down.   We are called to walk in love, and as we talked about yesterday, that is in effect for those who we might term our "enemies".  I believe that the approach of "love" could apply to people with whom we might disagree.  I think we have to watch ourselves and not go around denouncing another person or persons when our course of action would more rightly be to engage them personally or not engage at all.    The Bible is clear about gossip and slander, and in our humanity, we can find ourselves prone to speak ill of another person without stopping to think about the effects.  We will find ourselves on opposite sides of issues with other people. In the pursuit of and education about Biblical matters, we may have to stand on truth and point out areas that run contrary to Scripture.  

Next, our hearts.  Jesus said out the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  We have to make sure that we are not harboring ill will toward another person.  Apparently, there have been some unkind words spoken between Michael Crabtree and Richard Sherman.   I would say the best course of action would be to try to work things out and make things right, especially now that it has gone public.   And, we should work to make sure that certain issues between ourselves and others don't "go public" or get other people involved. A sure way to pursue peace is to check our hearts and make sure that we don't have resentful emotions in our hearts.

Finally, our position.  The Bible warns against thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.  We are called to humility - before God, and before other people.   None of us has the corner on truth, and we have to be careful when we find ourselves passing judgment on someone's character, motives, or actions. We have to make sure that we are aligned, as best we can be, with the standards of the Word of God and that we are attempting to live by the truth - that would exclude inflammatory language, even against those with whom we have a disagreement.  We have to make sure that we would not rather spend time degrading a person than praying for him or her.  In Christ, we are called to walk in love - that doesn't mean we don't speak truth, but it does mean that we are very, very careful in our approach.