Beware the Forwardness of the Tongue

There can be no disputing the importance of words in the Christian faith. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us by words, as contained in Scripture. We are also told in regards to salvation that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). In the Christian life we must proclaim the realities of Christ with our words. However, as books like 1 Peter make plain, we cannot live by words alone, we must also live as an example to those around us. In the cultural context of Jonathan Edwards, he lived amongst one of the greatest eras of revival history has ever known. He also knew, however, that if they were to be effective in their witness to outsiders they could not merely talk about their religious experiences, they needed to live lives consistent with their confession. Edwards knew this would do more for the movement in the long-term than virtually anything else, and he sought to press people toward that reality. This is a needful reminder that as we seek to proclaim and defend the cause of Christ, we also seek to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called (Eph. 4:1) so that we may win more to Christ, for the glory of His name.

We should get into the way of appearing lively in religion, more by being lively in the service of God and our generation than by the liveliness and forwardness of our tongues, and making a business of proclaiming on the house tops with our mouths the holy and eminent acts and exercises of our own hearts. Christians that are intimate friends would talk together of their experiences and comforts in a manner better becoming Christian humility and modesty, and more to each other’s profit: their tongues not running before, but rather going behind their hands and feet, after the prudent example of the blessed apostle, 2 Cor. xii. 6. Many occasions of spiritual pride would thus be cut off, and so a great door shut against the devil. A great many of the main stumbling-blocks against experimental and powerful religion would be removed, and religion would be declared and manifested in such a way that, instead of hardening spectators, and exceedingly promoting infidelity and atheism, it would, above all things, tend to convince men that there is a reality in religion, and greatly awaken them, and win them, by convincing their consciences of the importance and excellency of religion. Thus the light of professors would so shine before men, that others, seeing their good works, would glorify their Father which is in heaven.

Jeremy Kimble (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Assistant Professor of Theological Studies at Cedarville University. He is an editor for Credo Magazine as well as the author of That His Spirit May Be Saved: Church Discipline as a Means to Repentance and Perseverance and numerous book reviews. He is married to Rachel and has two children, Hannah and Jonathan.