Speaking evil

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” Psalm 34:13.

“All dissension, all differences and faultfinding, should be put away, with all evil speaking and bitterness; kindness, love, and compassion for one another should be cherished, that the prayer of Christ that His disciples might be one as He is one with the Father may be answered.” 5T, p. 279.

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren.” James 4:11.
It is very important that we do not speak evil of one another. Rather we should be “speaking to ourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” By speaking evil of others we do not benefit anyone. Let us rather speak things to the benefit of others.

“Not one word is to be spoken unadvisedly. No evil speaking, no frivolous talk, no fretful repining or impure suggestion, will escape the lips of him who is following Christ. The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.” Eph 4:29. A corrupt communication does not mean only words that are vile. It means any expression contrary to holy principles and pure and undefiled religion. It includes impure hints and covert insinuations of evil. Unless instantly resisted, these lead to great sin.” COL, p. 337.

Evil speaking means that our hearts are not occupied with Christ and his love. In a heart where Christ lives no evil speaking will be found, for His love will settle arguments and differences.

“That which Satan plants in the heart – envy, jealousy, evil surmising, evil speaking, impatience, prejudice, selfishness, covetousness, and vanity – must be uprooted. If these vile things are allowed to remain in the soul, they will bear fruit by which many shall be defiled. Oh, how many cultivate the poisonous plants that kill out the precious fruits of love and defile the soul!” AH, p. 195.

“Earnest workers have no time for dwelling upon the faults of others. We cannot afford to live on the husks of others’ faults or failings. Evil-speaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife, reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. The very act of looking for evil in others develops evil in those who look. By dwelling upon the faults of others, we are changing into the same image. But by beholding Jesus, talking of His love and perfection of character, we become changed into His image. By contemplating the lofty ideal He has placed before us, we shall be uplifted into a pure and holy atmosphere, even the presence of God. When we abide here, there goes forth from us a light that irradiates all who are connected with us.” GW, p. 479.

“Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.” Who calls them so? All the heavenly intelligences. Then do not encourage any tempted soul to tell you the grievances of a brother or a friend. Tell them that you do not want to hear their words of censure and evil speaking, because your Counsellor has told you in His Word that if you cease to stir up strife and become a peacemaker, you will be blessed. Tell them that this is the blessing you are craving.” 2SM, p. 439.

“At the bar of God there will be opened before us astonishing revelations of the results of evil-speaking. At that bar the deceitful tongue, the cruel tongue, that has been so unsparing in its accusing and denunciation, will receive from the Judge of all the earth the same judgment that it has passed up on others. Vain talkers will then be called to meet their work, to answer for the souls that have been turned from the truth by their wicked words.” RH, 10-19- 86, par. 12.

Every evil and frivolous word is written in the books of heaven, to be brought forth in the judgment day in heaven. Every person will be brought forth in that day to answer for every word they ever spoke.

“Let us guard against speaking words that discourage. Let us resolve never to engage in evilspeaking and backbiting. Let us refuse to serve Satan by implanting seeds of doubt. Let us guard against cherishing unbelief, or expressing it to others. Many, many times I have wished that there might be circulated a pledge containing a solemn promise to speak only those words that are pleasing to God.

There is as great need for such a pledge as there is for one against the use of intoxicating liquor. Let us begin to discipline the tongue, remembering always, that we can do this only by disciplining the mind; for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (RH 05-26-04, par. 9)

“Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you.” Eph. 4:31.

“So speak evil of no man, … showing all meekness unto all men.” Tit. 3:2.
AMEN

Benjamin Dammasch,
Australia.