You Had Better Watch Your Mouth

You Had Better Watch Your Mouth

Each year in Graves County , Kentucky there is a picnic at “Fancy Farms.” Fancy Farms was established by Roman Catholics in 1829. Over the years this picnic has served as a place for politicians to come and address the people. Often these speeches tend to be on the harsh side as the candidates try to rile up the voters. This year one of the men running to replace a retiring Senator used profanity in his address. It seems like the folks down there in Graves County are not ready for that type of language, especially when this picnic is connected to the Catholic Church in that area. The candidate issued an apology to the people there and those that may have been offended. To make matters worse, he said he was quoting the former Governor and Senator Wendell Ford. As it turned out, Wendell Ford did not use the profanity that was attributed to him.

This goes to illustrate what James says about the tongue.

“2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:2-8)

Unfortunately, profanity, lying, gossip, and other sins of the tongue are common place today. As a people, we have grown accustomed to hearing political leaders curse and use God’s name in vain. Lies are now over looked when promises are made to the people and then broken.

Yes, the man running for office ought to watch his mouth and so should everyone else. – Dennis Tucker

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