We all\u00a0mess up with our words at times,\u00a0and none of us can\u00a0claim a perfect track record with what we’ve said. The Bible underscores this fact. \u201cFor we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well<\/i>\u201d (James 3:2). The Message Bible says it this way: \u201cWe get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths.<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of this, the Psalmist prayed, \u201cSet a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips<\/i>\u201d (Psalm 141:3).<\/p>\n
Sometimes\u00a0doctrinal differences\u00a0become the topic of conversation between you and another believer. This doesn’t have to spin out of control into strife. We all\u00a0have\u00a0 differences with one another–sometimes on points of\u00a0doctrine. The apostles held rational discussions concerning\u00a0\u00a0serious deviations\u00a0in doctrine that were being preached when the Church was in her infancy\u00a0(see Acts 15). By tackling these issues head-on, they were able to be proactive, and they brought clarity to the confusion hitting the early Church.<\/p>\n
However, discussion and debate without principled desire for truth and the genuine good\u00a0of\u00a0the other person will quickly deteriorate into selfish maneuvering to be right. The Apostle Paul showed great disdain for such wrangling about words. In 1 Timothy 6:3-6,\u00a0he described the individual who\u00a0flat-out\u00a0refused\u00a0to hear sound doctrine. “He is conceited and understands nothing, but has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words.” <\/em>Envy, strife, abusive language, and evil suspicions\u00a0permeate this kind of undisciplined, self-promoting wrestling match (see 1 Timothy 6:4).<\/p>\n But unfortunately, that’s not the only time envy, strife, abusive language, and evil suspicions\u00a0crop up in the Church.\u00a0When you think someone is wrong about anything, big or small, take it to the Lord in prayer and guard against suspicious thoughts gaining control of your mind, heart, or behavior.<\/p>\n Evil suspicions are\u00a0also called\u00a0evil surmisings in the KJV. When you surmise, you infer something without having sufficient evidence to support your suspicion. You come up with a conclusion based on unfounded feelings.<\/p>\n When you develop a “me against you” or\u00a0an “us against them” mentality, there’s a very good chance you’re entertaining evil surmisings.<\/p>\n When you think someone doesn’t like you\u00a0and you “know” what they’re thinking, there’s a good chance you are entertaining evil surmisings.<\/p>\n When you hear yourself saying things like they think they’re too good for me<\/em> or they always ignore me<\/em>, you are probably entertaining evil surmisings.<\/p>\n Entire fellowships have been destroyed because of evil surmisings spoken as fact. These juicy tidbits of suspicion have an uncanny way of undermining the lives of good, solid people. God does not take lightly the\u00a0wreckage of lives devastated by even one whisper of evil surmising.<\/p>\n Stand against anything that would bring\u00a0dishonor to the name of another believer. Don’t give the devil an opportunity with words of insinuation; refuse to be a party to promoting unsubstantiated evil surmisings,\u00a0and flee from stripping a fellow believer of his or her dignity\u00a0before others.<\/p>\n Run\u00a0from the assumption that you know the\u00a0thoughts and hearts of those around you. If you recognize you’ve fallen into this snare set for you by the devil, cry out to God for mercy and repent—the quicker the better!<\/p>\n None of us have lived a flawless life, including you. Therefore,\u00a0instead of evil surmisings, give mercy, freely and from your heart. Make\u00a0mercy your habit; make it your lifelong passion. You will never regret it.<\/p>\n “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment<\/em>.” James 2:13<\/p>\n \u201cThere is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing<\/em>.\u201d Proverbs 12:18 <\/p>\n