From the Elder's Pen "Words - What Do They Mean?" 4/13/03 Past/Future Articles

Preachers have an unusual opportunity to listen to people.  In the course of their many conversations, many promises are given, statements made, offered.  Perhaps it is easy to see that some people do not “say what they mean.”

? “They say” - usually means “I heard it from at least one source, but everybody believes it!”
? “It needs to be done” - means “I’m not going to do anything about it, but the church ought to!”
? “I’ve heard some criticism” - usually means “I’m against it but I don’t have the nerve to state my beliefs!”
? “The whole church is upset” - usually means “Two or three loud mouths have turned their venom loose!”
? It might bring criticism” - means “I know it should be done but it just takes too much effort for me to do it!”
? If memory serves me correctly” - really means “I’m going to say something I’m not sure of, whether true or false, but if somebody discovers I’m wrong, I can always blame my memory.”
? “Preacher, I’ll be there if I am not providentially hindered” - nearly always means “If I’m not there you can blame God for it!”
? “I’ll come every time I can” - usually means “If  I don’t have something better to do I’ll be there!”
? “I’m still studying the question” - usually means “I want to stay in a position to agree with both sides.”

You can take it from there!  Christians should be far more careful to mean what they say and say what they mean than people of the world.  Jesus says a plain “yes” or “no” is suitable for a Christian’s word (Matt. 5:36-37).

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
(Matthew 12:36-37).