The power of the tongue is a big issue, and is discussed frequently in the Bible, and for good reason. What you speak (or write on the internet) can affect people in various ways. It is not "harmless discussion," if you are speaking down about someone personally, or gossiping. Over and over, the Bible condemns this.
The old saying sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can't hurt me is simply not true. Words can hurt more than sticks and stones. God will hold us accountable for the words we speak/write, to hurt others:
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." -Matthew 12:36
If something you said/wrote was taken as mean or gossipy, but that is truly not how you meant it, then it is not imputed to you as sin.
Treat others the way you wish to be treated, and love them with Christian love:
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." -Matthew 7:12
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." -Galatians 5:14
Before you speak or write, consider if what you are about to say follows the above two Scriptures.
Gossiping, being a busy body, etc. is condemned in the Bible:
"And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." -1 Timothy 5:13
Our top priority is to love and follow the Lord, and then to take care of family and home. We are not to be idle, wandering from house to house (or website to website), tattling, being busybodies, or speaking things which we should not.
The Christian woman is to follow the Law of Kindness:
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." -Proverbs 31:26
She is to be kind to others, not only in public, but also in her home:
"It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house." -Proverbs 25:24
"It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman." -Proverbs 21:19
"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." -Proverbs 27:15
Think about the above and below Scriptures before you open your mouth, or type something on the World-Wide-Web:
"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" -James 3:5
If someone has said something that angers you, please adhere to the following:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" -James 1:19
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men." -Romans 12:17
Don't be a murderer at heart:
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." -Matthew 15:18-20
"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." -1 John 3:15
If you have not forgiven someone of something, please do so now, or your eternity is at stake:
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." -Matthew 6:14-15
"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." -Mark 11:25-26
Sisters, not only should the Law of Kindness be on our tongues, but we should not be going to places where the tongue speaks (or the written word) poorly of others. This includes physically going places, or going to certain places online.
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" -Matthew 6:22-23
"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil" -Isaiah 1:16
"I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD." -Psalm 101
Sisters, if we have misused our tongues (including what we type online) may we ask the Lord to forgive us. If we have harbored ill will towards another, for having taken offense at something said or typed, may we forgive, and have no further malice in our hearts.
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." -Isaiah 1:18
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." -1 John 1:7-10
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:11
