Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say: Lessons from Jephthah’s Rash Vow for Conservative Christians Today
We all remember the simple children’s song: “O be careful, little tongue, what you say… For the Father up above is looking down in love, So be careful, little tongue, what you say.” As kids we sang it with gusto. As conservative Christians committed to biblical truth in 2026, we need to live it with even greater urgency. In a world of instant outrage, viral posts, heated political debates, and church conflicts, our tongues (and keyboards) can either build the Kingdom or leave a trail of devastation. The book of Judges gives us a sobering, real-life example. Turn with me to ** Judges 11:29-40 **. The Story of Jephthah : A Victorious Warrior with a Tragic Tongue Jephthah was an unlikely hero—an outcast, the son of a prostitute, rejected by his family. Yet when the Ammonites threatened Israel, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (v. 29). He prepared for battle with divine empowerment. But then he opened his mouth and made a rash vow :...