We are called to guard our mouths, for our words could destroy us, our families, our churches, and our society. Those who claim, "I just speak what's on my mind," don't display a virtuous characteristic but demonstrate a lack of self-control. Those who wear their emotions on their sleeves aren't "just being honest," but show they do not guard their mouth. How do we guard our mouths and tame our tongues?

Every so often, news headlines erupt with a hot topic that divides Christians. In the news last week, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled on a case that involved frozen embryos through the IVF process. A simple internet search will explain the process if you're unfamiliar with IVF. The Court's ruling acknowledged that each fertilized egg produced from IVF is a child. However, this sent shockwaves through the church.

Living at an intersection of various cultures has taught me many things. Some of these include similarities between all people. For instance, people enjoy laughing. God has created humor; people tell stories and jokes to make others laugh. Another example involves eating. Each group prides themselves on some dish or food from their nationality, and people enjoy eating. However, one of the most common similarities all cultures have is the use of words.

One of the most overused words in the English language is ‘good.’ Our days are good. Our kids are doing good. That Roman Carbonara was good. Her dress looks good. Good, good, good. We even use the word to remove the harshness of a description. For example, “That restaurant was good, but…” Good is not great, and it’s certainly not the best. It’s just, well, good. It’s no wonder that most people classify themselves as good. They know they aren’t perfect. They know they make mistakes. But they aren’t bad. So, they are good. However, the Bible removes this cultural lie and reveals that good is an excellent word.

We live in a time where tension among ethnicities is high. Over the past couple of decades, an increase in pressure has occurred. The Leftist globalism and "woke" ideology have fueled much of this tension and promoted the elevation of certain ethnicities. These ideologies are unbiblical, with terrible consequences.

Culture and the world attempt to capture our allegiance. Peter struggled with this in his life. When Christ spoke that he was going to Jerusalem for the crucifixion, Peter replied with a contradictory statement by saying, “No, Lord.” Jesus can’t be Lord of your life if you tell him no. Jesus rebuked him for this. When Christ spoke about his death and resurrection, Peter replied with a boastful statement that he would never fall away.

We aren't called to be mindless, naïve, emotionally charged, obtuse people. We must be mindful, wise, joyful, and astute. This means proclaiming the Gospel that quenches all fires and brings reconciliation with the red-hot Eternal God. This means being salt and light, even when people want blandness and darkness. This starts with being a mindful Christian.

The Christian life is one of endurance. As we’ve been covering James, trials produce endurance, ultimately leading to maturity in Christ. These are for our good and given to us by God. On the other hand, indulging in temptations undercut our growth in Christ.