By Robert Wilkerson
“If anyone considers himself religious, and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26).
Today, our country is divided. Democrats versus Republicans, conservatives versus liberals, religious versus non-religious, and on and on it goes.
These divisions have grown so severe that our government is deadlocked and dysfunctional. Some of the media have been major factors in creating these divisions. Certain television news channels have become little more than propaganda stations, adding to the divisions, and leading one group to hate another.
Any time someone has to be on the air 24/7, they have to talk too much. That leads to exaggeration, distortion of facts, and sometimes, just plain lies.
The media is not the only guilty party in creating divisions. Individuals often get caught up in hate talk. They help end divisions about like pouring gasoline on a fire would end a fire.
We need to watch our tongues because words spoken can never be completely erased or taken back. They leave scars that never completely disappear.
If we must talk, let us “Speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), as God’s word encourages us to do.
Dr. Robert Wilkerson is a minister, writer and founder of People for the Christian Way, an organization whose mission is to encourage all people to practice Christian principles in business, politics and every area of life.
