Sunday Spice #6: What About the Tongue?

The book of James reveals the straight-shooting, no-nonsense, half-brother of Jesus. The two brothers had the same mother, Mary, but not the same father. Jesus’ Father was God Himself and James’ father was Joseph. There is evidence in history and in the book of Acts that James eventually served as the equivalent of a senior pastor in the early leadership of the newly developed church that Jesus founded and that the Holy Spirit brought to life.

An especially straightforward section of the book of James focuses distinctly on the idea that the tongue is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison. In this episode of Sunday Spice, I will take some moments to focus on these very important verses. 

So grab your Bible … we’re going to look at James chapters 3 and 1,  Matthew 12, and Psalm 141.

Starting with James 3:2-12 it says … 

“For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”

Basically … In short, James is saying the tongue … no man nor woman can tame.  Fact!  Most of the trouble you and I have found ourselves in through the years (I speak from experience) usually involved the words that came out of our mouth. The tongue is a small part of the human anatomy just like a match in the kitchen is small and almost insignificant, unless you get it near the gas stove when it is turned on.  Then the match can begin a fire which can set an entire forest ablaze (or your house) when it gets near the stove Yes!! Imagine that our tongue has the same destructive potential.

I try to stay aware of what comes out of my mouth and, with God’s help, discipline it as best I can. But I assure you I have dropped the ball a lot through the years. One of the ways that best helps us stay in touch with issues that have to do with our tongue, and that James points out, is to consider that at times we can easily bless or praise God one moment but then find ourselves cursing people in the next moment. James thinks this makes no sense as people are made in the likeness of God by God Himself.  Remember, He knit us together in our mother’s wombs … He knows our beginning from our end. He created us in His image.

Now, cursing is a strong word here and when we think of that concept, we have visions of something vile and revolting, even obscene. But let me submit to you a different idea. You don’t have to possess filthy or explicit language to curse someone (though such language is obviously unacceptable). And I really like scriptures along these lines you can find in Ephesians 5, where Paul talks about filthy language. All we have to do is talk down to people or call them names. We don’t talk down to God or call Him names so why is it acceptable to do it to His people that He has created? It’s not!

It is certainly true that we are not perfect at taming our tongue and we often blow it, but shouldn’t we still sensitize ourselves to God’s expectations for righteous living in this regard? Even though James announces that the tongue cannot be tamed he does not at all insinuate that we should not at least try. For instance, earlier in chapter one, James said, ^“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” This verse helps us know that bridling the tongue is a godly expectation and to not do so (or at least not try to do so) is to deceive our own heart. This makes anything religious about us in our hopes to please God and live devoted to Him absolutely worthless.

I told you James was a straight shooter.

The wisdom of James is further established on this issue in another verse from the first chapter. Verse 19 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” I am also familiar with that saying that we have two ears and one mouth and we should use them accordingly. So we should listen twice as much as we speak. If we work to become a good listener and also become slow to verbally respond or react then we have embraced a wise strategy toward bridling the tongue.

And then there’s the seriousness and sobriety that James’ half-brother, Jesus, brought to the subject when He announced in Matthew 12 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” If my bringing up this subject is producing any discomfort in any of us, consider the level of discomfort when the subject is brought up on the day of judgment. Jesus, too, is a straight shooter.

Our human weaknesses may not allow us to tame the tongue perfectly but that is just an opportunity to search for and find help from God. David of the Old Testament went on such a search and found a prayer that we should use daily. From Psalm 141 David prayed, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

Let’s admit it. We will always need help from God to do what is right.

I’m Tammy Reneé, and this is Sunday Spice. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed are the people who take refuge in Him!