... give knowledge of salvation to His people and to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death...

Dear friends of our Lord Jesus Christ + Mind your step, don’t bump your toe – keep on track! That could be another admonition as we contemplate this week’s devotional theme “Sanctification of the body”. It’s all about the Christian practice of the main, central and fundamental article of the justification of sinners by faith through grace. The apostle Paul put’s this essential theology into a nutshell: “Present your members/limbs/body parts as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification” (Rom 6:19 ESV).

Yesterday we heard what that means with regards to our hardened, calloused hearts, hard-hearing, blocked ears and stubborn, block-headed minds. Today God’s word addresses another body part – that little, insignificant member, which boasts of great things: the tongue. In short St. James points out: “Mind your tongue, don’t say the wrong stuff – rather keep it holy, sanctified, blessing!” He writes that specifically to pastors, teachers and missionaries, who bear an extra responsibility to speak clearly, truthfully and faithful to their divine calling. He compares the power of the tongue with sparks igniting forest fires; with rudders guiding great ships and bits and bridles controlling monstrous horses without much ado. Our tongues are as effective in doing great things – sometimes good, often times evil. St. James puts it bluntly and rather drastically: The tongue is a fire inflaming a world of unrighteousness, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, set on fire by hell. Even if humans have been successful in taming all kinds of beasts, birds, reptiles and even sea creatures, yet nobody can tame the tongue. “It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” No small wonder we read in another passage: “Tear it out!”

We Christians believe that mankind has received God’s richest blessings and most precious gifts of grace and mercy. He has forgiven us our sins and granted us the grace of being his children, heirs of heaven and eternal life in his presence. Nothing can harm us, nothing can separate us from his love – all and everything is for us and for our salvation – because the triune God sees to that! If he can feed thousands with just a few pieces of bread, can heal the sick, cast out demons, bring back dead to life, make the deaf hear, the dumb talk and the blind see, call that which isn’t there to be [creation ex nihilo] just by authoritative speaking – saying just the right word – then what on earth should be impossible for him to do? Now – because that is so, we ought to be thankful all days of our life. Because of this we have all reason to sing God’s praises and to speak good words, blessings, gospel, Blessing the father and his people – and even our enemies too! That’s the true reason behind Christian missions too: Being witnesses of God’s goodness, light and life to those, who are still living in darkness and shadow of death: Teach them everything I have commanded you +

That’s why we invigilate that our children learn his divine ten commandments as the way of life just as the Israelites did from those days at Mt.Sinai – because Words matter and God’s word matters most. Therefore our children and the people we care for – everybody God cares for – should get it right without abbreviations, limitations or false attachments – unmodified, unadulterated, loud and clear, off by heart and off the cuff. That’s why we learn to read and write and speak correctly – because that enables the communication of the godly message in our lives and into the lives of others.

We pray with the exact words he taught his very first disciples [Our Father!], because we know that’s pleasing to him if we come in Jesus name and at his invitation and with his authority. Therefore we can say “Amen” with confidence, because he will surely do it! Obviously we learn even more God-pleasing words in the Psalms [Church Hymnal] and other divinely inspired songs like the “Magnificat”, “Benedictus”, “Nunc dimittis”, “Gloria” etc., which school poets throughout the ages to sing his praises in pleasing fashion.

When we come to his godly table we hear the precise words by which he himself instituted his most holy supper on the night he was betrayed and therefore we are assured that we receive exactly what his promise distributes: His true body and very own and most precious blood!  – and we receive what he , what he has promised. It’s this teaching of the truth – giving all the very best construction – speaking benevolently, peaceful and lovingly with the words our Lord himself taught us, which makes us eloquent communicators.

We also regularly recite the main stations of our Lord and saviors life in unambiguous uniformity when we together with the one, holy church confess the Christian faith at Baptism or in daily remembrance of this baptismal grace – just as we did again in the Responsive prayer in LHF Hall this morning. That’s what parents impress on their children, pastors teach confirmands, teachers instruct students and missionaries those heathens, who want [and need] to be baptized. The Christian creeds enable us to teach theology, words taught by God about God, leading to God and also instructing to communicate with God. Choirs and orchestras do something of the same, when they sing about the great deeds of God like in Händels “Creation”  or “Messiah”, but also if we as congregants join in the divine liturgy – not only the Te Deum, but even the “Agnus Dei” or the very basic and yet so effective and expressive “Kyrie eleison!” If it sounds very convincing if 700+ students and teachers confess the Nicene creed in Craemer Chapel, Ft.Wayne, how much more will we be impressed if we hear the church triumphant, this multitude nobody can count, singing the new song of Moses and the Lamb. That’s going to be the most beautiful symphony, no dissonance or discord, just lovely harmony and divine accord. Already on this earth the militant Church, the true confessional Church is proclaiming this godly theology in true unanimity and great consensus: Ecclesiae magno consensu apud nos docent. That’s not blowing one’s own trumpet, which comes so naturally to us, but rather singing the praises of him, who deserves all honour and glory in heaven and on earth.

It is a real shame, that the little tongue of ours is not used simply for this ultimate good: Praising God with thanksgiving and true faith. Sadly too much cursing is still going on – even in the most holy places. Not only is God’s truth perverted by heresies, false prophecies and despicable lies, but God’s name is blasphemed in the name of so-called religion, Science, renaissance and enlightenment, Christ’s divine nature is denied  – and all his words and works and thus is the Holy Spirit’s witness being denounced – ridiculing the Christian faith. Heretics, sectarians and other godless liars and deceivers share their poison with forked tongues – they are “Worm-tongues”. They have learnt from their propagator, the greatest liar and most vicious deceiver, who practices this shameful treachery and deception from the beginning: “Should God have said this or that…” “Is it really true that…” Doubt, false belief, despair and other great shame and vice are his special offers every day.  Using words for evil and worse.

Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered because of the sin of the world. His friend betrayed him. His friend denied him. His enemies denounced and accused him, they scoffed, mocked, derided and ridiculed him – instead of singing his praises as Son of God, thanking him for his merciful goodness and confessing his name as the highest Lord and only God. Our Lord suffered this without rebellion and aggression although he would have had all right to do that. He suffered patiently and willingly – and he did that for you, who like me tends to be impatient and not long-suffering as I should be. Jesus did not only suffer this gross injustice vicariously [in our stead] and ultimately for our redemption in God’s sight, no, he also blessed those who cursed him, he forgave his malefactors/tormentors graciously and prayed to his heavenly father for those, who where killing him: His love covers a multitude of sin… Thus he the benefactor of all achieved the gracious favor of God, who therefore justified sinners.

Trapists are a catholic order, where nuns and monks don’t speak. Lock your mouths and speak no evil. Just like the Jewish rule not to use God’s name – just in case they might misuse it. However we as Christians know “abusus non tollit usus” [Abuse does not prevent proper use!] Self-control, discipline are called for. We need to talk, communicate, pray, teach and sing – but do it right. Therefore we need to learn from Christ our God and be lead by his Holy Spirit to do it in a God pleasing fashion. The Church is a good place to learn this godly communication. Harmony, singing, divine words and heavenly music! Make just the right noises… beautiful noise in God’s ear. Singing God’s praises, uttering words beneficial to men/women +  That will instruct our conduct outside and amongst all people, that our words will be proper, spiced with salt and pepper, healing and conducive to salvation when and where it pleases God + Amen.

Keep me from saying words That later need recalling;

Guard me lest idle speech May from my lips be falling;

But when within my place I must and ought to speak,

Then to my words give grace Lest I offend the weak.

Lord, let me win my foes With kindly words and actions,

And let me find good friends For counsel and correction.

Help me, as You have taught, To love both great and small

And by Your Spirit’s might To live in peace with all.  

LSB 696,3-4