​"What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart." Richard Collins

In normal conversations, do spiritually mature folk speak less? What we say and do can have a lasting influence on others. Could I, just occasionally, be wrong? 

Lord God your love has called us here

​"What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart."

Mark Ch. 7, vs. 1 - 9, 14 & 15, 21 - 23
James Ch. 1, vs. 19 - 27​

All for Jesus

​Message
​"What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart." - Jesus said

I enjoy listening to people trying to say simple tongue twisters, don't you? So let's try one - I want you to say "Red leather, yellow leather" 6 times as fast as you can. Ready, GO!

Not bad, but what's this all about? Well, you can only say things easily which you know. And you know by learning and practice.

In the Musical, "Fiddler on the Roof", first the main character, then the whole village sing about TRADITION ! It means a lot to them, and their lives are based on it. The trouble is it doesn't provide the help they need when confronted with new realities. The same was true for the Pharisees of Jesus day. their lives were run by the rules and laws built up over centuries and which were God's word given to them at the time of their exodus from Egypt, followed by its interpretation for everyday life written down by the first Scribes and Elders. The trouble was, Jesus said, that interpretation had become more important than God's original law.

And so he tried to redirect their thought and actions. And ours.

So, am I Religious, or am I a Christian? This is the principle behind the letter of James (our second Lesson). He wrote this letter around 50AD which makes it one of the earliest pieces of Christian writing. Possibly only preceded by Paul's letter to the Galations. The theme of James's writing is Faith That Works. So its not as some have suggested, a means of Salvation by Works; in fact its the reverse - Works which should follow from already being a Christian. In other words, good deeds that characterise genuine faith. But even some very clever people have mis-understood its aims. Martin Luther criticized the letter, calling it an "epistle of straw - for it has no evangelism in it". That's because its intention is to re-direct lifestyles not to convert or bring anyone closer to Jesus. You see, it assumes you're already there, and aims to help learn how to live the Christian life. Not laying down rules but providing guide lines instead.

Oh, as a matter of interest, Martin Luther didn't nail anything to the church doors at Wittenburg. He just preached his belief outside the church and sent his thoughts to his superiors. But the effect of what he did was so impressive to those who read or heard his words that through them Protestantism was born. What came out of his mouth came from his heart. We can only speak and practise what we know. And to do that we must take time to learn.

Jesus told parables about vines and good trees producing good fruit. Four years ago we bought my son a plum tree for his birthday. He was delighted ! He prepared the ground before planting it, fed and watered it, nurtured it. Well it grew, flowered and produced fruit, which was quite sweet and juicy. The same was true the following year. Now, I fancied some of that, so my wife bought me a plum tree for my birthday. A year later, nothing. What did I do wrong? Perhaps less careful attention. Careful preparation leads to better outcomes.

A little later in James's letter he writes - "You will be judged as you speak" (and although he doesn't say it, "and act"). "Be quick to listen and slow to speak. If you don't keep a tight reign on your tongue, your religion is worthless." Oh dear! As faith grows in us we show and tell God's love.


A preacher On Trial whom I used to know was once stopped in the middle of his sermon by the church steward, because he'd strayed way off his theme and onto his strongly held political opinions. (Has that
ever happened here? - Well, not before this morning!) I once argued about a topic with another Christian, until we realised we viewed the subject starting from completely opposite ends. We agreed to differ.

In normal conversations, do spiritually mature folk speak less? What we say and do can have a lasting influence on others. Could I, just occasionally, be wrong? 

An American comedian (whose name I forget) said, "Watch your tongue, it's in a wet place where it can easily slip." In his letter James suggests wise people keep their tongue under control, like a horse with a Bit in its mouth. By pulling on the reigns attached to the Bit, we can lead the horse wherever we want to go. I've done very little sailing, but I quickly learned that despite huge sails filled with wind to blow a yacht along, with the aid of a tiny rudder, I can change the boats direction to where I want it to go.

When we meet someone, we form impressions by what they look like. But if we want to know them better, we engage them in conversation. That way we draw a more informed conclusion. By careful learning and preparation outcomes can be quite different from not having done so. I've had the privilege of being on some appointment panels, and one thing I can tell you is it's obvious who has done their preparation and who hasn't. Some candidates may be nervous, but with a little prompting often produce the knowledge we want to hear. Others may be very self assured and full of bluster but if they haven't done the study, they can't persuade the panel, and might show up their shortcomings.

Years ago I remember watching a play - a Whitehall Farce, in which Brian Rix (Remember him?) argued it was easy to tell the truth. He agreed for a bet to only tell the truth for 24 hours. Shortly after, he's


publicly asked if he likes an easily offended lady's ridiculous hat. You can imagine what follows as he wriggles and squirms. Do we, however accidentally, drop ourselves into situations we wish we'd been a bit more careful over? Remember the old saying - "It's better to be thought an idiot, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

So, where does all this leave us? There's a difference between being Religious and being a Christian. -

! - Religiousness is an end in itself.

2 - Being a Christian means believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and building an ever deeper relationship with him and our Heavenly Father through the gift of the Holy Spirit within us.

Then in our own way in word and deed, by the Spirit's guidance, we will understand and fulfill his purpose for our lives.

As Jesus said - "What comes out of our mouths will come from the heart."

Amen.

​364 - O For a thousand tongues to sing

​The Grace
T​he Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the love of God be with us now and for ever more.
Amen