Vol. 11 No.9 –May, 2013
Parrots
Steve Klein
This past week, there was a news story circulating about a 104 year old parrot that supposedly belonged to Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. As the story goes, the parrot, a Macaw named Charlie, is alive and well and still cursing Hitler and the Nazis from his home in a garden center. Allegedly, this is a habit the parrot picked up from Churchill himself. Churchill’s surviving daughter, Lady Soames, was quick to deny that her father ever owned Charlie; but the current owner of the bird is sticking by his account. Whether or not the story of Charlie is factual, it is incredible to think that it is at least possible that a parrot could be repeating things it learned over 65 years ago.
People can be a lot like parrots. They will repeat over and over what they have learned, even long after the source they learned it from is gone, has been proven wrong, or repented of what was said. Children are especially like parrots. But so are co-workers, classmates, spouses and even brethren in Christ. For this reason it is so very important for each of us to watch what we say; our words might be in circulation for a long time. The Psalmist prayed, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalms 141:3).
Unfortunately, it is often the worst things that are said that take on a life of their own and spread like wildfire. As James says, the tongue is “a fire” and a “world of iniquity” — a small member that boasts great things (James 3:5-6). It is like a spark that succeeds in destroying an entire forest. Some of the sins of the tongue that are the hardest to stamp out once they are ignited include the following:
- Lies. Oddly, it was Churchill himself who said that, “A lie can make it half way around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” We should be very careful to always speak the truth, because once a lie gets started, the ruin it works will usually be very far reaching. The Scriptures teach us to refrain our lips from speaking deceit if we want to enjoy a pleasant future here on earth. “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10).
- Rumor & Gossip. Reputations and relationships can be harmed irreparably by the simple repetition of a tale. Spreading negative, juicy or unfounded stories about others is the work of the ungodly and the evil. The Proverbs teach that “An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire,” and that “An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue” (Proverbs 16:27; 17:4).
- Cursing. Curse words directed at another in anger will often ring in the ears of those they hurt for years. Children may hear such words and repeat them their entire lives. Those who praise God with their tongues should never curse men with them (James 3:9-10).
- False Doctrine. How many countless millions believe false doctrines like “we are saved by faith only” or “once saved always saved”? These teachings are not found in Scripture. At some point, someone who was evil or ignorant spoke them for the first time. Listeners parroted what they heard, and the situation grew “worse and worse” as men continued “deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). It is vital that members of the body of Christ speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).
The Scriptures compare God’s people to eagles (Isaiah 40:31), and to doves (Matthew 10:16), but never to parrots! Let us be cautious, for truly, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).