Speak the Truth in Love.

     "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, The Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
                                       Mark 8:38 NASB

     We are clearly living in an adulterous and sinful generation. One does not need to look too hard to see that perilous times are upon us in these days (2 Tim 3:1-5). We see that men are lovers of self, pleasure, etc.....
     As Christians, we are called to stand out, exposing the darkness of this wicked world with the light of the truth of the gospel of Christ (Eph 5:11-14). This means that we do speak up, that we do tell a wicked world that what it is promoting is wrong, sinful in the eyes of God. It means that we do tell of the judgment to come. We do these things not to offend others, or to point a self righteous finger, but to set forth the truth in hopes of reaching those who are lost in sin.
     Understand what Jesus was doing in the sermon on the mount when he addressed issues such as lust and adultery, divorce, anger and murder, honesty and the taking of oaths, non resistance etc. (Matt 5:21-48). He was refuting the compromised teaching of the day that allowed people to live and act in ways contrary to God's law, while still believing that they were keeping it.
     We see Jesus confront an adulterous woman in Samaria. She was looking for something that her life and empty religion could not give her, but before she could find it, she had to deal with her sin (John 4:15-18). Jesus gently confronts her with the fact of her multiple marriages, because it is impossible to merely "add" Jesus to our already busy sinful lives. Jesus demands all; our hearts, wills, our lives. We must turn from our sin if we would embrace the Savior.
     Many are ashamed to speak truth. They are afraid of offending others. Pastor are afraid to preach on certain topics because they see so many in their congregations living in this sin or that sin, so they remain silent.
     It is time to give up this fearful tolerance of sin, and embrace the message of the cross (Mark 8:34); the crucified life. It is time to raise our voices strong, and lift up Christ as a Savior form sin. It is a message that the world does not want to hear, but it is also the message that will set them free (John 8:31-36).

Use Discernment.

     But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
     Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned;
     and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
                                             2 Peter 2:1-3 NASB

     This is a call for the body of Christ to exercise our God given discernment (1 Cor 12:10). Understand that false teachers are everywhere. The bible warns us that they will come from within (Acts 20:29-30). This is what makes it hard. Many people are easily carried into error, because they assumed that they could trust someone that they thought they knew.
     False teachers can quote scripture and teach solid truths, giving people a false sense that they can be trusted, Then they slip in a half truth, or a stretched truth, or even an outright falsehood, but unsuspecting individuals swallow it down.
     Look at what Peter tells us about them. They will exploit you with false words, because they are greedy (2 Peter 2:3). They will tell you what you want to hear, they will appeal to your flesh, they will take advantage of you, for their own selfish desires.
     John tells us that the spirit of anti-Christ is coming, and is even now in the world. In other words, false teachers are here, with all of their false teachings designed to benefit them, and lead you away from Christ. He also encourages us with the truth that we can overcome them because "Greater is He who is in you, then he who is in the world" (1 John 4:3-4).
     We do not have to be blind to heresy. We do not have to be led astray by a false teacher. We do not have to be taken advantage of. Use the God given discernment that is available to the body of Christ. Test all things by the standard of God's revealed word, and reject all that is false (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21-22).

Test All Things.

     But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
                     1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NASB

     I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
                                        Acts 20:29-30 NASB

     These are evil days that we live in. Even within the church, we must beware of being led astray, through false teaching. Paul speaks of false teachers coming in like savage wolves, seeking to lead people astray. What makes this so subtle is the fact that these teachers will arise from within our own ranks. People will be so easily carried of by deception, if they are not on constant guard.
     That is why we must test all things. The pastor's sermon, does it line up with the bible? How about the guest speaker? Does he bring a "new teaching", something that has never been heard before, or maybe never accepted before?
     Lining up with biblical revelation is the key. Just because it sounds good does not mean that it is right doctrine. If it can't be shown from God's written word, it is a false teaching, and should be shunned.
     We live in such a careless age when people are blindly accepting every new wind of doctrine. Our souls are at stake, the souls of our families and friends are at stake. We will study for doctorates and diplomas for earthly purposes. How much more should we study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)?

What Your Speech Says About You.

     From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
     Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
     Can a fig tree my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
                           James 3:10-12 NASB

     Consider what James is saying here. There are many supposed followers of Christ who use filthy language on a regular basis, with little or no thought of what they are saying, or how offensive it is.
     James is telling us that those who both bless and curse, are an anomaly. They deviate from what is a set rule, from the way things are supposed to be. Look at the examples he presents in nature. Fresh and bitter water do not come from the same fountain, figs come from fig trees, olives come from olive trees, and salt water does not produce fresh. There is something wrong with the testimony of an individual claiming Christ, but using filthy language.
     Look what Jesus says about our speech in Matthew's gospel.

     "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
     "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
     "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
     "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
    "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
                             Matthew 12:33-37 NASB

     These are very sobering words that we as Christians need to take very seriously. We tend to think that somehow, because we have made a profession, or said a prayer, that what we do does not matter. In this instance our speech is a very accurate indicator of our spiritual life, or lack thereof.
     Look at what Jesus is saying here. Our speech comes out of what fills our hearts. The ruling preference of our lives determines what flows out of our mouths. If Christ is on the throne of our hearts, we will speak in a manner consistent with this. If we are in control of our lives, if Christ is dethroned, or we have never even been truly saved in the biblical sense of salvation, our mouths will run consistent with that.
     You will say that no man can tame the tongue (James 3:8). I agree! An individual apart from Christ cannot tame his tongue, or any other sin or bad habit in his or her life! We need Christ on the throne, the Holy Spirit dwelling in the temples of our hearts. When we walk by the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16), including our speech!
     What does your speech say about you!