Questions
- According to Psalm 19:14, what we focus on (meditations of my heart) and what we say (words of my mouth) are elated. How are they connected?
- Well, Jesus himself said that out of the overflow of the mouth, the hearts speaks. What you are dwelling on and investing in will prove itself in your speech.
- What steps should a Christian take if he or she is prone to saying offensive words or foul language?
- Hold your tongue. Consider whether what you are about to say is edifying to you, the person you're talking to, or to God. If the answer is "no" to any of those, then perhaps you should reconsider.
- Is it wrong to lose your temper?
- Short answer, yes.
- Long answer, let's take a look at what temper is. Nowadays, we just use temper to mean our anger, but temper, in this context, is a loanword from blacksmithing, it's also used in music. In blacksmithing, after the tool or blade has been shaped, ground, and hardened, it is then tempered, which means is undergoes a second head treatment that prevents the metal from being so hard is shatters with forceful impact and so soft it bends or dents. We see the same meaning applied when talking about tempered glass - it's glass that has been made to be able to withstand extremes of temperatures and rapid changes in temperature. In music, a "well-tempered" instrument is an instrument made and tuned in such a way that it sounds in tune when played in any key.
So, then, one's temper, emotionally, is the internal fortitude to withstand extremes of emotion. It's theoretically possible to lose one's temper in extremes of sadness or joy, but the expression nowadays refers to that anger that is so intense it surpasses the threshold of one's temper, such that, like a metal that loses its temper, they snap.
In that context, keep in mind the verse that says, "In your anger, do not sin."
2 Timothy 1:1-7
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