In all manners of verbal conversation you’ve heard people say things they do not mean, understand, and / or practice.  
You’ve heard people make promises they never planned on keeping.  You’ve heard people speak one thing and then
contradict themselves in the same moment.  Sadly, some people just do not realize how each word we speak is vital to the
salvation of our souls (Matthew 12:36-37 and James 2:12).

       The Scriptures teach us to be a people who consider our speech prior to speaking (Psalms 39:1 and Proverbs 21:23).  
Why is it so that we then hear so many “Christians” who speak without ever considering what they’re saying?  We hear people
say that they believe God did this or God did that.  You then ask them the evidence for what they say, and they have none.  
Yet, with that same tongue those same “Christians” have many times over talked of only speaking as the oracles of God (I
Peter 4:11).  When people speak and they cannot confirm what they say, do you really believe there is thought behind their
words?  If so, those individuals have a very shallow level of thinking.

       Christians are to be people who walk with an understanding of God’s will (Ephesians 5:17).  Therefore, we ought to be
capable of knowing whether or not our Lord is pleased with the things that we say prior to saying them (Psalms 19:14; cf.
Colossians 3:17).  It is shameful to hear the way Christians talk foolishly as though they have never been taught the right ways
of the Lord.

       In our brief lesson of this article we are going to see some examples of things “brethren” have said wherein they show little
thought and a great level of inconsistency.  Sometimes people will stiffen their necks when they have to think about the wrongs
they’ve done (Acts 7:51).  If you are one of those you might as well just stop reading now.  However, sometimes people will
consider their ways and amend them (Haggai 1:5 and Jeremiah 7:3-8).  It is to those who will hear and do the will of the Lord I
humbly submit the following points.


       I had a conversation once with a gentleman who asked why the church did not meet a second time on Sundays.  After
explaining to him that there is authority from the Lord for the local body [church – Ephesians 1:22-23] to assemble anytime
they choose (Acts 2:42-46, Acts 14:27-28, and Hebrews 3:13), I then established that there are two exceptions.  We can only
partake of the Lord’s Supper upon the first day of the week at a time in which the saints are assembled together (Acts 20:7-11
and I Corinthians 11:18; 20; 33).  Secondly, we have authority for saints to lay by in store as God hath prospered them only on
the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2).  The Lord’s Supper is to be done when assembled together while the laying by
in store is not specified.  He then asked about those who could not make it Sunday morning for the Lord’s Supper.  I asked
him if he believed we must show authority for all that we say and do.  I added a question asking if he believed the Scriptures
supplied all we needed to obey the Lord.  He emphatically added a “yes” while explaining it is sinful to add or remove from
God’s word citing Revelation 22:18-19.  I asked him for the Scripture to show what the Lord said about those who missed the
offering of the Lord’s Supper.  He said there is no Scripture.  However, he added, that as long as it was the first day of the
week, in the assembly, it was then okay.

       My discussion with this gentleman lasted some time.  In that discussion I asked him if he believed instrumental music was
sinful.  He said it was an addition and was therefore sinful.  I asked him if it were sinful even if done in the assembly while we
were all singing.  Again, he said it was.  I asked him how it was wrong since we still sung songs to God.  Again, and rather
agitated, he said there was no authority for it.  This man was right!  Thus, I applied his answer to the “second offering” of the
Lord’s Supper.  He said they were different subjects.  Brethren, if we believe we need authority for all that we do, there are no
different subjects (II Samuel 7:1-7 and Luke 6:46).  Furthermore, if we believe the Scriptures are all-sufficient (II Timothy 3:16-
17) we must then conclude if God wanted us to say or do something He would have said so (John 14:21), showed us (I
Corinthians 11:1), or have given us a sure implication of such (Matthew 22:31-32).  This man was dishonest in saying one
thing, applying it to others, but not following it himself (Jeremiah 9:5-6 and Romans 2:1-3).  

       Another discussion involved a woman who was perturbed that I said we are to hate sinners.  She adamantly explained
that God loves all man as she cited John 3:16.  I asked this woman if she hated sin.  Yes, she said the Bible commands us to.  
She is right (Romans 12:9).  She was quick to explain that we are to hate the sin and not the sinner.  I asked, similar to our
above example, if she believed the Scriptures were our guide and authority.  She concurred with the truth.  I asked her if she
would agree that we are to hate the sinner if I could show God does and that godly individuals do.  She agreed.  I showed her
the following passages:  Psalms 5:4-6, Psalms 11:5-7, Proverbs 6:16-19, Hebrews 1:8-9, Psalms 26:5, Psalms 97:10, and
Proverbs 29:27.  She actually said to me that those passages just did not mean that.  She said it meant we are to hate their
actions.  She lied in saying she’d believe it if shown it and she also shows her misunderstanding of Romans 12:9.  You see, if
we are to abhor evil we cannot separate the sin from the sinner any more than we can good from those who do it (Matthew 7:
16; 20 and I John 3:8-10).  We are to remove ourselves from the world [that is, the people of the world] (II Corinthians 6:14-
18 and James 4:4).  This woman spoke one way, and believed another.


       Space in this article has only permitted two examples, but we all know that many more could be given.  Brethren, you can
see the hypocrisy in the above two examples.  We must make sure that we do not do the same thing in that which we say and
practice.  If we are going to be the people who walk in the way of the Lord, let’s do it right.  We cannot speak of the errors of
others if we will not hold ourselves accountable to that same standard we use with them (Matthew 7:1-5).  Let’s not allow
ourselves to speak without having true meaning, understanding, and belief in the things we say.  Let’s not be a people of empty
words (II Peter 2:17-22)!
Volume VIII    ~    Issue XXXIII   ~   May 11th, 2008
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17), repent of their
sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38 and
Romans 6:1-6).  Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47
and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16).  One must then remain faithful (Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10).  There is
more to cover than is here.  Contact me today for a study: brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
They’re Just Words To Them
By: Brian A. Yeager
Some Examples of Those Who Speak the Right Words and Do Them Not
Conclusion