James 1:26
If any man among you
seem to be religious,
and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart,
this man's religion is vain.
In our flesh, we want to justify our actions, our words, or our deeds. We find someone to air our gripes to and try to gain support by convincing that person as to why you feel the way you do and why they should feel the same way.
However, it doesn't matter if you're justified in the eyes of man. It matters if you're justified in the eyes of God.
James 3:8
But the tongue can no man tame;
it is an unruly evil,
full of deadly poison.
Wrong words (words of gossip, backbiting, hateful words, etc) are a deadly poison. It poisons the heart of the one you're backbiting/gossiping to about the one you're backbiting/gossiping about.
Proverbs 6:16-19 mentions there are 7 things that are an ABOMINATION unto God...
....he that soweth discord among brethren is the last one.
Backbiting and gossip, talking bad about someone to another and trying to convince that person as to why they shouldn't like the person being talked about is sowing discord amongst the brethren. It's an abomination.
Pretty strong and pretty serious to think about.
James 1:26 admonishes if you or I can't control what comes out of your or my mouth, your and my religion is in vain.
Jesus help us to speak right words....to filter every conversation through the Holy Ghost.
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, (what i say)
and the meditation of my heart, (what i think about)
be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
I want my words to be pleasing to Jesus. Don't you?
