Religion: A Pastor Ponders

Clipping the tongue

By Pastor William Jenkins

August 17, 2006

John Wesley was the founder of the “Methodist” movement that eventually became the Methodist Church. Wesley was a popular preacher and a great reformer. He was also known as a rather faddish dresser.

One day he was preaching while wearing a bowtie with long streamers. A lady walked up to him after the service and said, “Mr. Wesley, may I talk to you please?” “Certainly,” he said. She proceeded, “I find your tie quite offensive. It is way too long and it speaks of worldliness to me.”

Wesley looked around and asked, “Does anyone here have a pair of scissors?”
Someone handed him a pair of scissors. He gave them to the lady and said, “Go ahead, cut it off to suit yourself.”

And she did: she cut it off to suit her taste of propriety. After she finished Mr. Wesley said, “May I have the scissors please? Lady, would you be so kind as to stick out you tongue. I find it offensive because it is way too long and speaks of worldliness to me.”

Ouch! How often are we caught being long-tongued and in need of a good clipping? I have a vivid 45 year old memory of a lady chastising a young girl after church because of the way she was dressed. Along with the pastor, my friends and I had gone to great lengths to get that girl to attend our church. She lived right across the street from the church, but she never came again.

The Bible teaches us that we will be judged in the same manner as we judge others. That warning ought to clip our tongues considerably. God gives us instruction to be gracious, loving, merciful, and kind. Use your tongue to praise, encourage and honor others…and leave the judging to God.

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

HYPERLINK - http://www.lcumc.org