Every Idle Word

[saturneptune]

Matthew 12:36-37 makes it clear Jesus thinks speech is part of a Christ like character. Here is an excellent article on the subject:

http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-matthew-12-36-37.htm

My question is, since we all as Christians will give an account before Christ, how many will stand before Jesus explaining our Baptist Board posts, and what will it feel like to have them seen in front of our Lord and all His Creation?

 

[Arbo]

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned," (Matt. 12:36).

This is a sobering passage to me.

 

[saturneptune]

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned," (Matt. 12:36).

This is a sobering passage to me.

Yes, it is sobering. I suppose it would be one thing if the idle words had been face to face to correct a real life situation. But the idea that words like will be given account for have saturated this board is almost beyond excuse.

 

[Bronconagurski]

Yes, it is sobering. I suppose it would be one thing if the idle words had been face to face to correct a real life situation. But the idea that words like will be given account for have saturated this board is almost beyond excuse.

What is just as sobering is that Jesus went further than that, as He included thoughts of anger and lust and linked them with committing adultery and murder. Without God's grace, none of us would make it.

 

[Aaron]

The unforgiveable sin is manifest in a work of the tongue.

 

[Van]

Yes our yes should mean yes, our no should mean no, we should speak with clarity and kindness. We should not misrepresent the views of others, or claim they are wrong without posting specifics.

In the OP it was stated we as Christians will stand before Jesus and give an account. What is the basis of this assertion, what scripture supports this view?

Will our posts be burnt up, earning no rewards, because they are made of straw?

Consider this view presented by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

...And each one must be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. 14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

 

[Monster]

Matthew 12:36-37 makes it clear Jesus thinks speech is part of a Christ like character. Here is an excellent article on the subject:

http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-matthew-12-36-37.htm

My question is, since we all as Christians will give an account before Christ, how many will stand before Jesus explaining our Baptist Board posts, and what will it feel like to have them seen in front of our Lord and all His Creation?

Good post, pertinent point. It needs to be restated over and over again until it sinks in, and then over and over again, ad-infinitum.

I kinda-sorta touched on this with a thread about "the tongue, the rudder and the fountain" a while ago. Threads like these go largely ignored though and are probably symptomatic of the general zeitgeist that currently exists here.

It's sad because it's a community killer and there's no excuse for it. There's hardly any sense in posting when you can count on a rapid devolution and nearly the complete lack of edification "if" you find yourself the target of righteous-indignation-demanding-harsh-and-immediate-correction (insults, castigation. chest-thumping, stumping and general dogmatic harassment all free of charge).

As examples, in my short time posting here (looong time spent quietly on the sidelines), I've been told that I'm uneducated, ignorant, probably unsaved, a "hit-n-run" poster, "drive-by-poster", legalistic, liberal, etc... blah-blah-blah. I've not even passed the 200 post mark.

And, the shame of it all is that there really are great people and the opportunity for wonderful, edifying fellowship. I think/believe that the idea of "debate" is paramount to the exclusion of everything else. I guess that I'm a Pollyanna and simply wish it were different.

/me waits patiently for the "BUT WE HAVE TO '__________' ANYTHING WE SEE AS BAD DOCTRINE AS LOUDLY AND BLUNTLY AS POSSIBLE!!!" :wavey:

 

[Bronconagurski]

Good post, pertinent point. It needs to be restated over and over again until it sinks in, and then over and over again, ad-infinitum.

I kinda-sorta touched on this with a thread about "the tongue, the rudder and the fountain" a while ago. Threads like these go largely ignored though and are probably symptomatic of the general zeitgeist that currently exists here.

It's sad because it's a community killer and there's no excuse for it. There's hardly any sense in posting when you can count on a rapid devolution and nearly the complete lack of edification "if" you find yourself the target of righteous-indignation-demanding-harsh-and-immediate-correction (insults, castigation. chest-thumping, stumping and general dogmatic harassment all free of charge).

As examples, in my short time posting here (looong time spent quietly on the sidelines), I've been told that I'm uneducated, ignorant, probably unsaved, a "hit-n-run" poster, "drive-by-poster", legalistic, liberal, etc... blah-blah-blah. I've not even passed the 200 post mark.

And, the shame of it all is that there really are great people and the opportunity for wonderful, edifying fellowship. I think/believe that the idea of "debate" is paramount to the exclusion of everything else. I guess that I'm a Pollyanna and simply wish it were different.

/me waits patiently for the "BUT WE HAVE TO '__________' ANYTHING WE SEE AS BAD DOCTRINE AS LOUDLY AND BLUNTLY AS POSSIBLE!!!" :wavey:

One thing I have always wondered is what words Paul and Barnabas used when they debated on whether to take John Mark. I would hope they just debated on the merits, and did not get personal.

 

[Monster]

One thing I have always wondered is what words Paul and Barnabas used when they debated on whether to take John Mark. I would hope they just debated on the merits, and did not get personal.

:tear:

Me being dust & they being dust, I'd say they got down-right nasty. Then, they probably/hopefully felt convicted by what they knew in their hearts, and likely, revealed in their flesh (all by the Grace of God), and made it right.

Tempers flare, the tongue runs wild, thank God Almighty it's all forgiven, made clean and washed away by the blood of Christ. He did it for us, we're required to do it for each other...that part is sorely lacking and it's such a great blessing to take part in reconciliation, without which, we're cheating ourselves of something eternally valuable.

I think I saw a confession (I seem to recall that it was you), a desire for forgiveness and dare I say "repentance" in another thread. That was a beautiful thing. I was humbled by it, nearly brought to tears. Without that process and the desire for it, we're doomed to run-aground, set great forests on fire and spew forth bitterness.

 

[Bronconagurski]

:tear:

Me being dust & they being dust, I'd say they got down-right nasty. Then, they probably/hopefully felt convicted by what they knew in their hearts, and likely, revealed in their flesh (all by the Grace of God), and made it right.

Tempers flare, the tongue runs wild, thank God Almighty it's all forgiven, made clean and washed away by the blood of Christ. He did it for us, we're required to do it for each other...that part is sorely lacking and it's such a great blessing to take part in reconciliation, without which, we're cheating ourselves of something eternally valuable.

I think I saw a confession (I seem to recall that it was you), a desire for forgiveness and dare I say "repentance" in another thread. That was a beautiful thing. I was humbled by it, nearly brought to tears. Without that process and the desire for it, we're doomed to run-aground, set great forests on fire and spew forth bitterness.

My prayer is to be so close to God, that I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit and how to react to others. I have to learn over and over that it is not what is done to you, but how you react. Joseph is the perfect example of this, and I consider him to be a type of Christ in the O.T. Jesus said He always did those things that pleased the Father, and that included His speech and thoughts, btw. Oh to be like Christ in this regard and to stem the rise of the flesh that rises up as an enemy of God, and tries to drag us down to sin against others. It's in the mind that the battle is fought, where the ideas come, where they need to be stemmed. Once I have given into the thoughts, the actions are almost a done deal. This is very difficult for me as I carry my emotions on my sleeve, and that got me into trouble before I got saved, and I found out that after I got saved, I had the same tendencies, only now I want to do something about them. I have seen there are some very intelligent people on this board, with all kinds of differences. I told another poster that what tears at me is how so many different ideas are held by people that I think are my brothers and sisters in Christ, yet we differ drastically on things sometimes. How can this be? Do I automatically say they have to be wrong? God has impressed upon me that He can use different kinds of people to reach different kinds of people. The love of God meant nothing to me before I got saved and I was not impressed by do-gooders as I called them. But what got my attention was that there was a God in Heaven that was my judge, and I knew what the verdict would be for me should I die. Then the love of God, how He took my place and died for my sins, made sense to me.

 

[Monster]

My prayer is to be so close to God, that I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit and how to react to others. I have to learn over and over that it is not what is done to you, but how you react. Joseph is the perfect example of this, and I consider him to be a type of Christ in the O.T. Jesus said He always did those things that pleased the Father, and that included His speech and thoughts, btw. Oh to be like Christ in this regard and to stem the rise of the flesh that rises up as an enemy of God, and tries to drag us down to sin against others. It's in the mind that the battle is fought, where the ideas come, where they need to be stemmed. Once I have given into the thoughts, the actions are almost a done deal. This is very difficult for me as I carry my emotions on my sleeve, and that got me into trouble before I got saved, and I found out that after I got saved, I had the same tendencies, only now I want to do something about them. I have seen there are some very intelligent people on this board, with all kinds of differences. I told another poster that what tears at me is how so many different ideas are held by people that I think are my brothers and sisters in Christ, yet we differ drastically on things sometimes. How can this be? Do I automatically say they have to be wrong? God has impressed upon me that He can use different kinds of people to reach different kinds of people. The love of God meant nothing to me before I got saved and I was not impressed by do-gooders as I called them. But what got my attention was that there was a God in Heaven that was my judge, and I knew what the verdict would be for me should I die. Then the love of God, how He took my place and died for my sins, made sense to me.

I was saved young but otherwise, we're in the same boat it seems.

It's all about process. Our differences, our similarities, we're all in the Potter's hands awaiting an outcome that isn't ever finished according to our understanding. It's not always easy being the clay, more-probably, never easy.

Our differences can be instructive, up and until, as I believe that saturneptune originally pointed out, our words and those of others begin to consume or destroy. It's so easy to tear down, so hard to build-up...all about process.

 

[Iconoclast]

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned," (Matt. 12:36).

This is a sobering passage to me.

Yes.....from JLDAGG-

Self-righteousness is ruinous to the soul. It may be highly esteemed among men; for the Pharisees, who loved the praise of men more than the praise of God, obtained their reward, in being honored for their great sanctity. But God searches the heart, and in his view the outward sanctity avails nothing, while all within is rottenness. Yet the disguise cheats mankind, and cheats him who wears it.
Blindly and stupidly trusting to his own righteousness, he is at ease, and cries Peace, Peace, until sudden destruction comes upon him. It is one of Satan's most successful artifices, to lull men to sleep in their own righteousness.
Many who have been alarmed by a view of their outward sins, have reformed their lives; and, relying on their morality, have, without any heart-religion, without any true faith in Christ, fatally dreamed their life away in the vain hope that all will be well at last. So difficult is it to rouse men from this delusion, that publicans and harlots entered into the kingdom of heaven before the self-righteous Pharisees.

 

[salzer mtn]

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned," (Matt. 12:36).

I think this passage of scripture has more to do with the fact that no man can be justified at the day of judgement by keeping the law. If a person is going to be saved by keeping laws of speech then you might as well include thoughts too. Oh Lord, if thou shouldest mark iniquities, who would stand. If you people want to be judged in your own person go ahead, as for me when i stand before the judge i will be robed in the righteousness of Christ imputed unto me and washed in his blood.

 

[Monster]

I think this passage of scripture has more to do with the fact that no man can be justified at the day of judgement by keeping the law. If a person is going to be saved by keeping laws of speech then you might as well include thoughts too. Oh Lord, if thou shouldest mark iniquities, who would stand. If you people want to be judged in your own person go ahead, as for me when i stand before the judge i will be robed in the righteousness of Christ imputed unto me and washed in his blood.

To your first point; it doesn't necessarily have to be either-or.

What's in bold, I'm all in with the basics of what you've said. BUT, that does not give Christians license to use their tongue in an unworthy manner. Otherwise, we can rationalize any act, done in the flesh, and in the present, because we're covered.

If I'm picking too much at your words, I apologize in advance. It seems like there's some moderation somewhere to be had.

 

[salzer mtn]

As christian's why would we want to use our tongues in a unworthy manner, but if we do, we are not to let the sun go down upon our wrath. Some beliefs have us going through a half dozen judgements after we die. We can and do have our day's of judgement down here while we are alive, the chastening rod.