We Love Dirty Laundry

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

Can I be honest with you? I’m tired of everyone being an expert on everything all the time. Seriously. You looked it up on the internet, so you now know it all. Everyone in the comments section is an expert in everything all the time. And don’t get me started on Politics. Well, I’ll start a little: we use it to justify our hatred of someone, a party, a movement, and more, and we excuse our side, and give no one who opposes us grace. It’s disgusting. It reminds me of the song “Dirty Laundry” by Eagles member Don Henley:

“Dirty little secrets, dirty little liesWe got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pieWe love to cut you down to sizeWe love dirty laundry”

And let’s not forget the refrain:“Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're downKick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around”

The Bible makes it clear slander and unwholesome talk shouldn’t be in our mouths, and yet…we justify it because we don’t like this or that party, we don’t like what they are wearing, and you, of course, don’t know what they did! Gossip, slander, enmity, strife…let’s see what the Bible has to say on this:

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. (Proverbs 10:18)

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. (Psalms 101:5)

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (James 4:11)

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (1 Timothy 3:1-5)

With it [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. (James 3:9)

Are you getting the point yet? Let God handle things! You work on Kingdom building, and let it begin with the control of your mouth (and fingertips!) Work on glorifying God and building up those made in His image. Speak the truth in love, for God is not in affirmations, and that is sometimes more poisonous than slander, and make sure your words, your actions, and your life point people to Jesus Christ and the hope we have beyond this life.

Romans 12:9-20

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.