Worth

DEVOTION
JAMES
WORTH
James 1:26
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
NIV
Is this all about gossip? Or maybe just spreading false rumors or could it be about false teaching? I think that might well be the case here. Sure I should not gossip, and sure I should not spread false rumors or even speak course language or off color jokes, and those kinds of things. But I am inclined here to consider this as a warning about false teaching because it speaks if I consider myself to be a religious person then I should keep a tight rein on what I teach. I must always be very sure to teach what is only in the inspired word of God and the truth of that content. I cannot interpret the word for my own use, or to manipulate others for my purpose. Sometimes I think the choice of topic some pastors pick during a certain upcoming event such as a fund raiser, or special guest are exactly that. It is an attempt to remind or manipulate the congregation in a certain way of thinking and acting for that special purpose. I cannot allow that to be a part of my ministry. I cannot allow my tongue to speak or to write false theology. Doctrine has no part of my messages, only teaching and writing about God is my concern. I don’t give a hoot about what church believes what, or does not believe. I must be true and true alone to the word of God. It has all the truth, not the church. Sure I cannot teach against the doctrine of the church I am attending for that would not be keeping a tight rein on my tongue either. But I don’t teach that doctrine either, I teach the word, only the word, and the pure word, without regard to doctrine. That is what I believe this warns me about. Doctrine and false teachings only serve to cause dissension and divide people. The word of truth causes love and brings people into fellowship with one another. I trust the Holy Spirit will continue to speak the truth into my being, and my religion, my belief has worth.