True Spirituality

I find it humorous that Christians often label parts of God’s word as spiritual and other parts as practical. I ask, “How is that possible if all the writers in the Bible were moved upon by the same Holy Spirit?” I will readily admit that some portions of scripture are definitely more about orthodoxy (doctrine) while others are more about orthopraxy (application); this, however, does not make one more spiritual than the other. This is obviously a man-made, false dichotomy. It is not a matter of either/or but both/and. We are to both hear the Word and do the Word. To try to do the former without the latter will result in a head full of biblical knowledge without the humbling experience of application, while the latter without the former will produce legalism.

To further make this point consider what James tells us:

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. –James 3:2

Of course, the word “perfect” here means complete, not without sin. “Perfection” here is not bestowed upon the one who has all of his theological ducks neatly lined up, but on the person who has enough self-control to control his tongue, especially when engaging with his fellow man. Consider also:

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. — James 1:27

Notice that true and perfect Christianity is manifest in how we engage with people, especially with our tongue. I have heard of more than one individual who gave an eloquent prayer on Sunday, only to cuss a co-worker out on Monday. We parents can give an over-the-top tongue lashing to one of our children and the next day wonder why they seem distant.

I realize some people have more trouble with their tongue than others. Depending upon your work or title, you may have to engage many people each day. You homeschooling moms hear “Mom” about a thousand times a day! The more you engage with people, the more you need to engage with God in prayer and Bible reading. Some want an easy out by saying, “I love my job; it’s the people I can’t stand.” While such cynicism and sarcasm might be celebrated in the world, it is condemned in Christian living. With dozens of “one anothers” in the scripture, it is imperative that we know how to get along with others, including those who are different than us. The bottom line is, we need grace to fulfill all the one anothers, and that is what our monthly prayer list is all about.

Please join us throughout the month and especially on the second Tuesday of the month as we fast and pray for the following the requests. Once again, I encourage parents to pray this list with their children throughout the month, talking about what each request looks like in life. We need to wed the theory with the application.

1. Pray that our children will learn the importance of restraining their tongue, not just in content but in quantity.

• “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. –Job 6:24
• In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. –Proverbs 10:19

2. Pray that our children will see the importance of being mature with their speech and not fall prey to the lowest common denominator that we see in the culture.

• Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. –1 Cor. 14:20
• The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. –Proverbs 15:2
• Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. –Proverbs 17:7

3. Pray that in emotionally charged situations, when people all about are losing their heads and their tongues, our children will remain self-controlled.

• A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. –Proverbs 15:1
• The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. –Proverbs 15:28
• Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. –Col. 4:6

4. Pray that our children will be authentic with their speech, not using exaggeration, half-truths, or manipulation to get their own agenda accomplished.

• My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit. –Job 27:4
• Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. –Proverbs 4:24

5. Pray that our children, especially our sons, will be able to discern flattering lips that are being used to get them to do something they should not do.

• They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak. –Psalms 12:2
• To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. –Proverbs 6:24

6. Pray that God will deliver our children from crude humor and unseemly behavior and speech, especially in this sexually charged culture.

• Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. –Eph. 5:4
• Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. –Psalms 141:3
• That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. –Proverbs 5:2

7. Pray that God will give our children the lips of the learned so that God can use them for His kingdom purposes.

• in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, ⁸ sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. —Titus 2:7,8
• “The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. –Is. 50:4

8. Pray that our children will learn to trust God to give them the right words at the right time in whatever situation they find themselves.

• And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, — 1 Cor. 2:4
• But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. –John 14:26

9. Pray that God would grace our children with wisdom and speech beyond their years.

• So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. –1 Samuel 3:19
• And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. –Acts 6:10

10. Pray that all of our speech would bring glory to God in public and in private, in the home and in the world.

• And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. –Col. 3:17