LOOSE LIPS MIGHT SINK SHIPS

By Mary Ann Wray

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3: 6

“Loose lips sink ships” is an American English idiom meaning "beware of unguarded talk". The phrase originated on propaganda posters during World War II. The phrase was created by the War Advertising Council and used on posters by the United States Office of War Information. The most famous poster (pictured here) helped popularize the phrase “Loose Lips Might Sink Ships”. This type of poster was part of a general campaign during World War II advising servicemen and American citizens alike, to avoid careless talk concerning secure information that might be of use to the enemy.

The British equivalent used variations i.e., “Keep mum," “Mum’s the word,” while in neutral Sweden the State Information Board promoted the wordplay "en svensk tiger" (the Swedish word "tiger" means both "tiger" and "keeping silent"). Germany used "Schäm Dich, Schwätzer!" (English: "Shame on you, blabbermouth!"). The gist of this slogan was that one should avoid speaking of ship movements, as this talk (if directed at or overheard by covert enemy agents) might allow the enemy to intercept and destroy ships. There were many similar slogans, but "Loose lips sink ships" remained an the American idiom for the remainder of the 20th century and into the next; usually as an admonition to avoid careless talk in general....

As members of the Body of Christ we know that we are not only a Family but an Army too-The Army of God (1 Chron 12: 22, 2 Tim 2: 4). As such we are called to forbear and love one another patiently (Ephesians 4: 1-5). But we also need to understand that as we battle with the forces of darkness that press against us individually and corporately it takes unity to overcome! Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 tells us that two are better than one. They have a great reward for their labor and if one falls the other can pick him up! When we walk in a spirit of Agreement (Amos 3: 3) there’s no stopping our advances against enemy territory! At the same time, the enemy of our souls wants to thwart every attempt at Unity of the Spirit knowing it will impede our advancement in snatching souls out of the Kingdom of Darkness and making disciples (Matthew 28: 19).

The enemy’s first and main Method of Operation Militarily (MO) is to scramble communication at every level. This hampers strategy and there are some within the ranks that even turn on their comrades causing havoc and death like what happened in Fort Hood, TX on November 5, 2009. Tragically, a once highly respected and trusted U.S. Army Major and psychiatrist, was the gunman who killed 13 people while wounding 32 others. 

How does the evil one maneuver in the Body of Christ to do the same? Through offense, misunderstandings, gossip and eventually slander he can cause God’s people to ‘turn on one another’ resorting to blaming and accusations thus causing confusion and discontent spreading through the ranks like a cancer. Some sever themselves completely from the Body of Christ and walk away offended never joining a local church again. The enemy writhes around on his belly, low to the ground attempting to cause ‘The Great Confusion’ in the Body which will hamper our attempts at fulfilling the ‘Great Commission’ of Christ. 

Division is the work of the Anti-Christ, brothers and sisters! If he can get one or more people in the Body of Christ ‘talking’ about problems and people rather than praying and seeking, Jesus Christ, the Commander in Chief of His Church, for grace and/or a resolution, he can ultimately get the whole troop into a ‘check-mate’ slowing down and even stopping the advancement of the purposes of God in that local Body!  If we would practice Matthew 5: 23 a lot of the nonsense would stop right there. 

Having said this, we are not denying that there are and have been egregious misuses of power and authority. But if we believe the entire military is corrupt along with every local church being in error because of the wrongs done, we are in gross deception! God emplaces and uses all authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life (Romans 13). There must be rank and order in any military unit to advance against enemy territory. It’s the same in the Body of Christ…

“And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues”  1 Cor 12: 28

The enemy knows how powerful the tongue is. The Father made it that way. He framed the world through His spoken Word. Proverbs tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21)!  James says that the tongue steers us in a certain direction just as a rudder steers a great ship. So if he can get us to use our tongues for anything other than wholesome communication, albeit to confront someone in love or edify another at some level, his strategy can be successful. Unbridled words bring strife in any situation. We would be wise to heed the words used in WW II’s campaign concerning using caution in what we say because loose lips just may sink our ship! 

In the tradition of many Native American tribes, "speaking with a forked tongue" meant lying, and a person was no longer considered trustworthy, once he had been shown to "speak with a forked tongue". This phrase was also adopted by Americans around the time of the Revolution going forward. American officers sought to convince tribal leaders with whom they negotiated that they "spoke with a straight and not with a forked tongue"! According to one 1859 account, the native proverb that the "white man spoke with a forked tongue" originated as a result of the French tactic of the 1690s, in their war with the Iroquois. In this account they invited the Iroquois to a “Peace Conference”, only to be slaughtered or captured. This mistrust between Native Americans and the U.S. Government continues to this day for many valid reasons.

Look what James 3: 9-10 has to say about a ‘forked tongue’… “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

What we speak is either a blessing or curse: it can be encouragement, edification, open communication with the purpose of conflict resolution in a spirit of meekness, relaying knowledge based on truth or gossip, slander, false accusations and murmuring. Everything we say or do begins with a thought. Thoughts planted by the enemy or those proceeding out of the heart (desires, emotions, will and mind. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Luke 6: 45) Thoughts become words that become actions that become habits that become strongholds: all in a good or evil sense. The challenge for us is to be able to discern thoughts that proceed out of our heart, God’s heart or the enemy’s lies. Our soul is so intertwined with our spirit it is sometimes hard to distinguish the difference. 

Remember, the enemy works through deception. He takes the seed of a lie and wraps it in the skin of a truth.  No matter how attractive a lie may appear on the surface, it's root is still a lie! He is the master of the "forked tongue"; after all he entered the body of a fork tongued snake, cursed to crawl on its belly for all time. He works in the dark and ‘down low’ out of eye-level range or natural sight!  Only through the Holy Spirit, our knowledge of the Word of God and walking in agape love on purpose (1 Cor 13) can we begin to identify and cast down vain imaginations and the enemy’s stratagem before we speak out in ‘agreement’ with the Father of Lies!

Keeping a tight rein on the tongue over-rides our soulish emotions and thoughts. It crushes the enemy’s head who constantly strives to get us into internal and external strife. It keeps our ship on course with the 'navigation system’ of the Holy Spirit. It’s not always easy, but something we can become more proficient in as we mature spiritually, walk in love, and learn what pleases the Father. If we pursue peace, and seek to edify the Body of Christ of whom we are a part or, with the purpose of breeding life instead of death we’ll remain on the ‘winning side’! 

We’ll come to love what the Father loves and hate what He hates! …“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness  who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6: 16-19

My mother used to wisely say, “There are three sides to a story…yours, mine, and the truth. If we commit to siding with the truth (John 4: 6) rather than showing partiality to anyone or anything else we’ll win the battle for the tongue as we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4: 12-13

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you...Ephesians 4:29