Lip Service

(Pro 18:7 KJV)  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Can we talk our way into Hell?  How?  Is this an indictment of the casual, loose language that so many indulge in.  I know that I tend to judge spiritual condition by vocabulary.  It only works one way though.  Fluency in spiritual terms and God-talk don’t usually impress me.  I am a hard sell in that way.  I guess it is because I have seen too much hypocrisy in my day.  I have dealt with too many people claiming to be Christian that have shady business practices.  

It is the other way I am struggling with.  I am running into people who claim to be Christians and I have no reason to doubt it except for their choice of words in conversation.  When it comes down to it I can only go on the basis of what I see.  I must allow God to know the hearts.  An occasional four letter word does not mean they do not love the Lord and does not say they are not trusting in Jesus.  Doing shoddy work and cheating in business probably would.

So?  Like so many things in life our first priority is to get our own house in order.  Don’t be a fool.