“Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them." (Jesus --Mark 7:15)

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4)

“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… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29, 32)

This is July Fourth weekend, the one time of year when all the pyromaniacs come out of the closet. This morning I want us to talk about another kind of pyromaniac, verbal pyromaniacs----people with tongues that spark negativity about others.

We live in a stressfu…