Politicians should not destroy our communities and country with their hate, divisive, and destructive speeches

Sanity in political speeches promote peace

The Mirror Opinion Sep - 16 - 2016 , 08:38

Wisdom shows itself in speech. Unwise use of the tongue can divide people and set them against one another. Once your words go out, you cannot stop or control the results.

Healthy political speeches and presentation of political campaign messages will promote peace before, during and after December 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The alternate is not desirable. Intemperate speech and uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. The Bible compares the damage it can bring about to a terrible destructive blazing fire! (James 3:1-12).

We should be wary that the tongue has astonishing capacity for causing havoc. Thankfully, when we submit to God’s wisdom, it will affect our speech. Our words will communicate true humility and lead to peace.

In the Epistle of James, the Bible teaches on the importance of controlling one’s speech.

We are responsible for what we say, where we say it and the positive or negative results it produces (James 3:1-12). In the wisdom literature in Proverbs, the Bible emphasises the appropriate use of the tongue.

The Life Application Study Bible notes four common speech patterns described in Proverbs:

• The controlled tongue – Those with this speech pattern think before speaking, know when silence is best and give wise advice (Proverbs 10:14 & 19; 17:14,27&28).

• The caring tongue – Those with this speech pattern speak truthfully while seeking to encourage (Proverbs 10:32; 12:18&25; 27:9)

• The conniving tongue – Those with this speech pattern are filled with wrong motives, gossip, slander, and twist truth (Proverbs 6:12-14,19; 26:20-28)

• The careless tongue – Those with this speech pattern are filled with lies, curses, quick-tempered words which can lead to rebellion and destruction (Proverbs 10:18&32; 11:9; 12:18; 25:23)

One Bible commentator observes that our different and at times contradictory speech forms puzzle us. At times our speech pattern pleases God. On some other occasion it is filled with unkind words.

The use of the tongue in general gives us a picture of our human nature: we are good, made in the image of God; but we are also bad, fallen and sinful.

God works to change us from inside; and give us His Holy Spirit to enable us exercise self-control even in the use of our tongue. Remember a Christian is a sinner saved by grace!

Therefore, the Epistle of James challenges true Christians on the use of the tongue. Out of the same mouth should not proceed promises and blessings (for example in political campaign messages) as well as insults and intemperate and provocative language.

A fountain from the same well should not produce both sweet and bitter water at the same time (James 3:1-12). We are told, “Some Springs especially the Upper Jordan River, did produce fresh water and bitter; but such brackish springs could not support a town. Similarly, if a person’s speech mixes foul with sweet, it will not build up the community”.

Politicians should not destroy our communities and country with their hate, divisive and destructive speeches. Bitter envy, strife and selfish ambition express themselves in the kind of stuff that comes out of our mouths. This is true of politicians as well.

For some political activists and on political campaign platforms, their political envy, bitterness, resentment and selfish ambition show up.

Voters should demand sanity in political speeches in the media and political rally platforms. Ghana, our motherland, is the only country we have. We must keep and promote its peace.

And so, let us get to prayer for all 2016 Election stakeholders on this essential matter of the prudent use of the tongue.