Tongue Tied （勒住舌头）

James 1《雅各书》第1章

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
26 若有人自以为虔诚，却不勒住自己的舌头，反自欺欺人，这人的虔诚便是虚妄的。

Tongue Tied
（勒住舌头）

Do you go to church every Sunday?  Do you read and study your bible?  Do you share the gospel to your friends?
你每周日都去教堂吗？你研读圣经吗？你向朋友传福音吗？

All this is very good and very noteworthy and is exactly what you should be doing, but James, as he always does, under the holy spirit’s inspiration, pulls no punches. What are the true evidences of Christianity?
这些行为固然美好，也值得称许，确实是你正当行的。但是，在圣灵启示下，就像他一贯的行事一样，雅各却不留情面地问道：基督信仰的真实凭据究竟是什么？

In chapter 3, we have a detailed discourse on the tongue, here we have a little taster so to speak.
第3章中，我们已经有了关于舌头的详细讲论，因而此处我们来小试品领一下。

In chapter 3, James states that the tongue although the smallest member of the body, is like a runaway train, once it starts rolling downhill, it cant be stopped. I have said something to a family member and it has taken days or even months for the wounds to heal, if they ever do.
在第3章中，雅各指出，舌头虽是身体最小的器官，却像失控的列车——一旦冲下斜坡，便无法停下来。我曾对家人说过某些话，造成的伤痕如果可以愈合的话，也需要数日甚至数月的时间。

Words are like hand grenades; we throw them around carelessly and they end up hurting myriads of people.
言语如同手榴弹，我们随意投掷，结果是伤及无数人。

The true test of a believer’s life is not how much bible you have read and know, but can you control your tongue?
对信徒生命的真正试验不在于你读过和懂得多少圣经，而在于能否管住舌头。

The true test of a church is how much the members are living in peace with each other. Can you imagine, a non believer coming into your church, and seeing and hearing all the gossip and backbiting going on, it would put them right off.
对一个教会来说，判断它的真正依据在于它的会众在多大程度上会彼此和睦相处。试想，若慕道者来到你们教会，耳闻目睹尽是闲言碎语和背后中伤，这会不会让他们望而却步？

You can have all your doctrine correct, all your evangelism programs running like clockwork and yet if you are biting and devouring each other with your words, it is completely and utterly worthless.
你们的教义可以完全正确，你们的布道事工可以如时钟般有序推进，但如果你们有那么一点言语上的相互攻讦，你们所做的这一切都将是完完全全全且纯纯粹粹无意义的。

So, you think you are religious, are you?
现在，你以为你很虔诚，是吗？

If you haven’t been able to bridle or control your tongue, then all your service is worthless.
如果你并没有能将你的舌头安上辔头勒住，你的一切事奉都是无益的。

If people at church, know that you go to church on Sunday, and then hear you using bad language Monday to Friday, are they likely to trust in Christ?
倘若教会众人周日见你在教堂敬拜，周一到周五却听你满口污言秽语，他们还可能信靠基督吗？

Your words must back up your life, as James will say in his amazing discourse on faith and works in  Chapter 2.
你的言语必须与生命一致——正如雅各在第2章中关于信心与行为的精彩讲论所言。

May our words always be seasoned with salt and may they be a testimony to our faith in Christ.
愿我们的言语常为盐调和，愿我们的言语成为我们信仰基督的见证。

Your testimony will be ruined if you can’t bridle your tongue.
若不能勒住你的舌头，你的见证就会毁于一旦。

Is your tongue tied by the power of God’s spirit or it is loosed to destroy and gossip?
你的舌头是被圣灵的大能所管束的吗？还是已经脱缰而在毁谤和闲话？

If it’s the latter, your religion is worthless.
若是后者，你的信仰便是无益的。

God bless you,
愿神赐福与你,