Loose Lips Sink Hearts

"Loose lips sink ships" is an American idiom warning against unguarded talk. The phrase originated on posters during World War II. That simple but profound messaging was part of a campaign advising military personnel and citizens alike to avoid careless talk that might undermine the war effort. The purpose of such wartime posters was not merely to thwart potential spying but to clamp down on rumors that might lead to discouragement, frustration, labor strikes or anything that would stifle national cohesiveness towards victory.

You might wonder what a wartime slogan has to do with heeding Jesus Christ's invitation of "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19, emphasis added throughout). Allow me to be frank: We also are in a daily battle with our own human nature that can blow up everything around us by what proceeds from our lips. A blast of selfishness can do more than sink ships at sea. It can sink hearts and drown relationships between family members, neighbors, coworkers, fellow congregants and even people we have never personally met.

Consider Jesus' instructions in a somewhat familiar but too often neglected scriptural passage-the "go to your brother"verses in Matthew 18:15-17. Here Jesus states: "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother" (Matthew 18:15). Jesus is sharing the spiritual reality that, in geometric terms, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Now let's be honest-how often do we practice what our Master teaches here? Or do we carelessly go around sharing negative information with everyone but the individual in question? Realize that our Heavenly Father and His Son are also a part of our audience as to whether we "walk the walk" or merely "talk the talk."

All of us must strive to be more careful in drawing conclusions about others and in what we say about them.

Exemplifying righteous judgment and love for one another

Let's take a deeper look at Matthew 18:16: "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established"-the next step being to take the matter before recognized spiritual adjudicators.

Jesus was here reiterating a principle given earlier. Deuteronomy 19:15 clearly states that a single witness was not sufficient to convict: "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." This God-given formula towards true justice is also found in Numbers 35:30 and Deuteronomy 17:6, driving home the point.

What is the significance to us as disciples of Jesus Christ in focusing on this background in the Old Testament to bring it forward to our time? God's wisdom defines love and justice in a balanced and equal manner for all. And here we see His urging of precaution to ensure the well-being of all-the victim as well as the accused. King David proclaims in Psalm 145:17-18: "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth."

God gave these instructions about righteous and fair judgment and safeguarding of reputation as the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River into the Land of Promise. This was not only for themselves but for them to serve as a collective witness to pagan people around them of the great and righteous God who had delivered them. Their daily example was to show that His ways work and work best to rescue humanity from "the law of the jungle," which is to strike first and fast for personal survival.

God had Moses share His purpose to ancient Israel in stating regarding God's commands and principles: "Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statues, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?" (Deuteronomy 4:6-7). Down through the ages, Israel was called to be a light to the gentiles, other nations (Isaiah 49:6).

Moses foretold in Deuteronomy 18:15 of God sending a Prophet like him from among Israel's descendants-One they were to heed. This was a prophecy of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:20-23). Yet He would not be merely a man. Rather, the Lord who was praised and spoken of as being Deliverer and divine Lawgiver-the "I Am" (Exodus 3:14)-would later become flesh as Jesus of Nazareth, now returned to divine glory as the exalted risen Christ (John 1:1-3, John 1:14; John 8:58; John 17:5). He was referred to by the Israelites as "the Rock" (Deuteronomy 32:4, Deuteronomy 32:15, Deuteronomy 32:18, Deuteronomy 32:30-31). And as the apostle Paul explained of the One who led them to the Promised Land, "that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Here we have clearly defined throughout the Scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth came as the ultimate Lawgiver and spiritual Deliverer enabling people to cross more than mere seas and rivers, but to cross through death into life. Today He guides His disciples to be "light" to all who are in our sphere of influence. Again, this greater and second divine Moses figure echoes what we read above in Deuteronomy 4:6-8 in directing His disciples today to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). And that includes the practice of righteous judgment and love for one another (John 7:24; John 13:34-35).

"Have you heard?"

You might say, "Well I haven't been in court in recent times, so how could this matter of witnesses affect my response to God, neighbor or even a stranger?" There is a phrase that often lands in our ears by a so-called "well-meaning person" that goes like this: "Have you heard?" It's at that moment of stimulus that your heart makes a decision as to what to do with that solo "hearsay." Do we run with it, or put on the brakes to a screeching halt in our hearts? So often on impulse we can become judge, prosecution, jury and, dare I say, executioner in the courtroom of our mind.

A simple proverbial phrase that should be our starting blocks of encounter is Proverbs 18:17: "The first one [one witness!] to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him." God instructs us to wait and verify a matter with more than one individual and remember that "in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14)-lest we thwart the spiritual reward of allowing patience to have its perfect work (James 1:4).

Allow me to share a proverbial story about a man with the habit of gossiping and spreading false information. He desired to mend his ways and sought guidance from his pastor. He openly confessed and felt horrible, but what could he possibly do to make amends? His pastor told him, "Go and place a feather on the front porch of every house where you've shared your words and then return, and I will share the next step."

The petitioner gladly took off and did accordingly, thinking the worst was over. He returned and asked, "What now?"

The pastor told him, "Now go and pick up each feather that you placed and bring them to me." The man's countenance went pale. He looked down sheepishly and said, "That's impossible, for by now those feathers have scattered to the four winds." The minister said: "And so have your words! Now go and take this lesson with you."

Until next time, let's take heed of the righteous wisdom of the One who bids us, "Follow Me"-in how we perceive matters and come to balanced and loving conclusions and in sharing what we know or think we know about others. We will thereby become part of the solution rather than the problem. Remember that Jesus has called us to reflect and spread His light and not to experience the futility of collecting feathers!

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Follow Me: "Loose Lips Sink Hearts"

We can do great damage in coming to hasty conclusions about people and passing those on to others. Jesus teaches us to proceed in wise judgment and love.

Exemplifying righteous judgment and love for one another

"Have you heard?"