The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue.* With our mouth we could encourage or discourage someone...
We could build up a life, or destroy it. A cruel word, for example, could send a person into the throes of a deep depression from which they may not recover.
This was impressed upon me yesterday when I received a letter from friends in Canada. They’re a married couple who are devout Christians. They support various ministries, especially those that help the persecuted churches in Third World countries, and they love Jesus. Yet they have also been afflicted by various medical problems. Most recently the husband, Larry, has been diagnosed with cancer.
And when the wife, Gina, called a prayer line to ask for help and advice, the "counselor" at the other end told her that God was "chastening" them with "many diseases." Gina then asked me what I thought of this.
I was livid. After I read Gina’s letter I had to stand up and pace back and forth for several minutes to ease my mind. I don’t believe I have ever heard of anything so stupid and insensitive, and coming from a Christian counselor no less!
I wonder what this counselor would have told the apostle Paul if he had called to ask for prayer for his "thorn in the flesh?" What would she have said to Job had he dialed the prayer line to seek comfort over the sudden deaths of all his children, and to ask for prayer because of the boils which covered his body from head to foot?
Likewise it would be interesting to know what words this counselor would have given to Epaphroditus, who was a faithful minister and one of Paul’s trusted companions. The Bible says that he had become extremely sick and was very close to death "because of the work of Christ (Philippians 2:25-30)."
It was the Lord Jesus Himself who said that while we are in this world we shall experience trouble (John 16:33). And the apostle Paul said, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18)."
I cannot find it anywhere in the Bible where it says that Christians will never experience loss, pain, sickness or hardship. In fact we go through what everyone else does. But the difference is that we have a divine source to call upon and trust for help, comfort and strength. Our God is all-powerful. He can fix a problem or change a situation merely by speaking a word.
Now I’m sure this counselor meant well. Yet the advice she gave was so foolish that, had my friends not known the Scriptures for themselves, their faith could have been damaged.
Unfortunately, however, many individuals do get hurt. Poison counsel is given and they become discouraged. They fall under condemnation and false guilt. Then many of these victims stop going to church altogether. They depart from the faith and are ruined.
Obviously, therefore, not everyone should be giving spiritual counsel.
I shared my thoughts with Gina and Larry because they asked me to. I also advised them to report the matter to whoever is in charge of this prayer line. The leadership of this ministry needs to be more selective and discerning with whom they allow to answer the phone.
At the same time, however, what happened to my friends has caused me to search and examine my own heart. I also counsel others. So I want my words to be good, wholesome, and only what the Lord would want me to say.
I must always be careful not to be proud, rash or reckless with what I say. This is a big responsibility because, after all, the Bible says that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that live it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21)."
My prayer is that I have a wise tongue. I also ask God’s forgiveness if I have ever given incorrect and hurtful advice.
D.B.
P.S. Larry and Gina are not their real names.
*Proverbs 18:21
This was impressed upon me yesterday when I received a letter from friends in Canada. They’re a married couple who are devout Christians. They support various ministries, especially those that help the persecuted churches in Third World countries, and they love Jesus. Yet they have also been afflicted by various medical problems. Most recently the husband, Larry, has been diagnosed with cancer.
And when the wife, Gina, called a prayer line to ask for help and advice, the "counselor" at the other end told her that God was "chastening" them with "many diseases." Gina then asked me what I thought of this.
I was livid. After I read Gina’s letter I had to stand up and pace back and forth for several minutes to ease my mind. I don’t believe I have ever heard of anything so stupid and insensitive, and coming from a Christian counselor no less!
I wonder what this counselor would have told the apostle Paul if he had called to ask for prayer for his "thorn in the flesh?" What would she have said to Job had he dialed the prayer line to seek comfort over the sudden deaths of all his children, and to ask for prayer because of the boils which covered his body from head to foot?
Likewise it would be interesting to know what words this counselor would have given to Epaphroditus, who was a faithful minister and one of Paul’s trusted companions. The Bible says that he had become extremely sick and was very close to death "because of the work of Christ (Philippians 2:25-30)."
It was the Lord Jesus Himself who said that while we are in this world we shall experience trouble (John 16:33). And the apostle Paul said, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18)."
I cannot find it anywhere in the Bible where it says that Christians will never experience loss, pain, sickness or hardship. In fact we go through what everyone else does. But the difference is that we have a divine source to call upon and trust for help, comfort and strength. Our God is all-powerful. He can fix a problem or change a situation merely by speaking a word.
Now I’m sure this counselor meant well. Yet the advice she gave was so foolish that, had my friends not known the Scriptures for themselves, their faith could have been damaged.
Unfortunately, however, many individuals do get hurt. Poison counsel is given and they become discouraged. They fall under condemnation and false guilt. Then many of these victims stop going to church altogether. They depart from the faith and are ruined.
Obviously, therefore, not everyone should be giving spiritual counsel.
I shared my thoughts with Gina and Larry because they asked me to. I also advised them to report the matter to whoever is in charge of this prayer line. The leadership of this ministry needs to be more selective and discerning with whom they allow to answer the phone.
At the same time, however, what happened to my friends has caused me to search and examine my own heart. I also counsel others. So I want my words to be good, wholesome, and only what the Lord would want me to say.
I must always be careful not to be proud, rash or reckless with what I say. This is a big responsibility because, after all, the Bible says that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that live it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21)."
My prayer is that I have a wise tongue. I also ask God’s forgiveness if I have ever given incorrect and hurtful advice.
D.B.
P.S. Larry and Gina are not their real names.
*Proverbs 18:21
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