Rev. Claudia & Dr. Timothy Emerick
Missionaries of the Cross
I Corinthians 1:18
How bad is your mouth?
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. James 1:26
Words are powerful. They have the ability to heal or to wound, to build up or to tear down. Throughout history—and even in our own personal lives—words have destroyed marriages, fractured families, cost people their jobs, and damaged countless relationships. When we reflect on the sins that God warns us about most strongly, many of them are connected to the way we speak.
Personally, I have come to realize that my words have caused more problems in my life than almost anything else. I have a tendency to be critical of others. It’s something I have struggled with throughout most of my adult life. There are times when I make progress—weeks when I am mindful and careful—and then, almost without noticing, I fall back into old habits and begin criticizing again.
It’s a common struggle. We speak negatively about our bosses behind their backs while smiling in their presence. We criticize our spouses, our children, our family members, neighbors, coworkers, and even our friends. The question is: why do we do this? Why are we so quick to find fault in others? At its root, I believe it comes down to pride. We begin to think more highly of ourselves than we should. We convince ourselves that we are better, that our way of living is the right way, and that others need to be corrected or “fixed” according to our standards. We attempt to rearrange other people’s lives to match our own idea of what is acceptable.
But this raises an important question: when did we take God’s place? No one has the authority to judge others except God. Scripture reminds us of this in the story of the woman caught in adultery. When the religious leaders brought her before Jesus, ready to condemn her, He responded with these powerful words: “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” One by one, they walked away. God alone is the righteous judge. He sees the full picture—the parts of people’s lives that we can’t see. He understands their struggles, their battles, their past, and their pain. Where we see only surface-level faults, He sees the heart.
So, let’s ask ourselves honestly: do we enjoy being criticized? Of course not. And yet, we often treat others in ways we would never want to be treated ourselves. Scripture reminds us that with the same measure we use toward others, it will be measured back to us. For that reason, we must learn to guard our tongues carefully. If we control our words, we can avoid so much unnecessary hurt, conflict, and regret. Choosing our words wisely is not just about avoiding trouble—it is about reflecting grace, humility, and love in a world that desperately needs it.