THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
| We have learned that Shmiras Haloshon means guarding the tongue. The opposite is called Loshon Hora or evil talk. Loshon Hora includes not just the use of what we traditionally term ‘bad words’ or ‘foul language’ but also ANY words that cut, wound, demean, belittle or in any other way offend God or those whom He has created in His image. Prov. 18:21 says ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue…’ Words that hurt others or belittle them can bring a sort of emotional death that is very destructive, especially in children. God considers it Loshon Hora or evil talk. The Torah considers the harm of evil talk to be massive. In one of the commentaries on this subject, a venerable Rabbi wrote: ‘…there are those who acquire wealth but in truth have nothing. Though a Jew be very learned in the Torah and have done kind deeds, if he has not learned to discipline his tongue, he has nothing.’ Does this not bring to mind the admonition of Ya’acov (James) in the New Testament when he wrote: “ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his {own} heart, this man's religion is worthless.” (1:26) It should be no surprise to read such a warning in Ya’acov’s letter since he also was raised as a Torah observant Jew and would have known well the teaching of the Rabbis concerning the seriousness of offending with the tongue. Simply put, Prov. 18:21 teaches us that words seasoned with grace bring life to those around us while words without grace bring a form of death. Let us take this warning seriously and seek the Lord’s grace in guarding our tongues from ‘evil talk’. Shalom, Barbara Richmond
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