Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
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Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2007

Grace Church of Burlington April 22, 2007  “Four-letter words that changed the world: love, hope, care, heal, work,  feel, duty, home, good, kind, pity, rest, seek, pray, live.”             By now nearly everything that could be said about Don Imus’ foolish remarks about the Rutgers’ women’s basketball team has probably been said. His remarks were wrong, cruel and racist and they should not be tolerated. It’s also wrong that African-American rappers say such things and worse about women. And they too should be held accountable for their verbal trash.             One significant fact though was overlooked – no one was really surprised. Don Imus is known and has made a fortune by being a shock jock. He has a reputation for being crude and cruel.             The lesson that I believe each of us as believers can take home from this public example of verbal trash is: What kind of reputation do I have for my words” If I’m negative or critical, is that what my friends and family have come to expect of me? If I gossip or share juicy tidbits of information, is that my reputation? If my remarks are cutting, sarcastic, even cruel...is that what I’m known for? Does my tongue testify that I am a believer and sanctified, or does it testify that I am still a sinner and possibly not a believer at all? Am I truly living out and obeying God’s command in Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Are my words truly Christ-honoring and beneficial?              Too often in the Church we’re far too frivolous about sins of the tongue. The words of the tongue can be as deadly to the soul as bullets from Cho Seung-Hui were this past week at Virginia Tech. We also need to hold each other accountable in this area. If we saw a brother or sister in Christ physically abusing a child, we’d step in. Yet, when a brother or sister spews forth verbal poison, we often listen and sometimes even encourage it. We must hold each other accountable and encourage each other in godly conversations.             The other night I was tired and frustrated. I had been at a board meeting in Madison all day and was really feeling behind the eight ball. And I was a bit negative at the dinner table...and I didn’t even realize it. I am so thankful for a loving, godly wife. The next morning Jane asked me if I realized how I was coming across but I had totally missed it. I apologized and fixed it. But if she had not graciously pointed it out, I don’t know if I would have seen it. I was completely oblivious to how I was communicating.             I think most of us are like that. We really want to do the right thing and please the Lord but sometimes we just don’t realize how harsh or even how wrong our words are. We need a brother or sister to lovingly come alongside us, share with us how we are being perceived, and encourage us to be godly in our conversation.             There are some folk that I just love to be around. Their words are nearly always encouraging, edifying and Christ-honoring. By God’s grace I want to be one of them and I know that you do, too. Maybe, though, you’re not sure how your words are coming across. Why not ask a spiritually mature friend what they are really hearing you say? If there is a pattern that needs to change and you need to grow in this area, ask them to pray for you and to hold you accountable.             Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” May that be what our words are consistently like! May we have a reputation for saying the righteous thing!