In today’s society, the tongue has transformed from an instrument of reverence and holy prophecy into a platform for self-promotion. Instead of trembling before the throne, the tongue now performs for the crowd. It seeks to trend rather than unveil divine truth. The sacred is stylized, eternal truths edited to fit personal agendas. What was once aflame with the Spirit’s fire now burns with the fever of self-interest.
This phenomenon is alarming because the tongue, when unchecked, can wreak havoc on one’s inner life and relationships. It can defend false idols with eloquence, mock convictions with charm, flatter the flesh, and silence the Holy Spirit. The tongue becomes fluent in the dialect of want, proclaiming personal opinions as gospel and emotional states as evidence.
In this way, the tongue serves the flesh rather than the Spirit. It no longer asks, “What has the Lord spoken?” but instead, “How do I feel?” It transforms into the evangelist of self. It preaches the liturgy of likes, the theology of trends, and the catechism of charisma. The result is a cacophony of noise, drowning out the still, small voice of the divine.
To counteract this trend, Scripture offers a critical principle: Revelation over Self-Expression (Counter-Law of the Spirit). This law reminds us that speech must serve the unveiling of divine truth, not the amplification of self. It emphasizes the virtue of Humility of Speech, where the tongue becomes a vessel of clarity rather than charisma.
The biblical anchors listed below underscore this principle:
Proverbs 18:21: Death and life hang in the balance of the tongue. Speech carries spiritual weight and must be wielded with reverence.
James 3:9-10: The tongue must not serve dual allegiances, consecrated for blessing not contradiction. It is meant to edify, not embellish.
Ephesians 4:29: Speech should only be words that are good for building up. Such words give grace to those who hear. They should not be corrupting.
1 Peter 4:11: The tongue is a prophetic instrument, not a personal megaphone. Its purpose is to utter the oracles of God.
Isaiah 50:4: The Spirit teaches the tongue to sustain the weary. It does so with words of comfort, not to perform for an audience.
The tongue is often used for self-aggrandizement in our culture. So, it is crucial to recognize the gravity of this issue. We must calibrate our speech according to the standards of Scripture. By embracing Humility of Speech, we can confirm that our words glorify God. They will also edify others. Our words should not give a platform for our own egos. Only then can we truly harness the power of the tongue. Its intended purpose is to proclaim the eternal truths of our Creator.
Respectfully,
The Inner Lens 
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