Q. What is the Law of the Tongue?

A The Bible has a lot to say about speech and there isn’t enough room to explain this in detail but here are some basic guidelines. First, we have to see what the Law of the tongue is not. It is not naming and claiming anything. He is God, we are his people. We have no creative power in ourselves to speak anything into existence. Lamentations 3.37-38 says that nobody speaks and it comes to pass unless the Lord has commanded it from His own mouth, and from it comes good and evil. Amos 3.6-8 is another verse that says the same thing. There are many faith teachers who teach people that whatever they say in faith will come to pass, but that isn’t true and they know it. That is not the Law of the Tongue. The law of the Tongue can be found in many scriptures, but it is explained in James 3.1-12. To simplify it, everything we say is from one of three time periods..past, present and future. Most speak in the past through anger or to expound , explain, clarify, justify, rationalize, teach and so on. When we speak in the present we request or assert a fact. When we speak in the future we take an oath, promise or declare and we create a reality and things will change around you, so we shouldn’t enter into this area lightly. So, there are literal “ABC’s” to follow to control our tongues. First, “accuracy”, make sure that we don’t exaggerate and embellish. Secondly, “benefit” means that a revelation must be the only way to obtain some constructive benefit. Third, “certainty” is where we must be sure the information is reliable. Fourth, “desire” is for the information that is being told is going to be constructive, not destructive. And lastly, “equity” means that the revelation must not cause undeserved damage to the subject. It’s not “equitable” to protect one person at the expense of the other. This is the basic, biblical meaning of the law of the tongue and I hope this explains what it is and gives you a basic guideline.