James BS. Tame the tongue

Introduction and catch up and scripture

James 3:1–12 NIV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Pray.

Intro

Power within you and how you wield it well.

Warning to teachers

Starts with a warning:

to leaders and teachers to warn them.

James 3:1 NIV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Why the warning to teachers all of a sudden?

Will they be held to a higher standard?

In some sense, yes. There are a few interpretations here on what is going on. I usually hear it taught that teachers and leaders will be judged, held accountable for how they lead.

And I do not know if at the perly gates, there will be a line of teachers that have to go and face Paul at the gate, while the rest of you get the fun loving Peter. I am being tongue and cheek here of course.

another way of thinking about it and in the context: Doug Moo

The Letter of James A. Control of the Tongue Manifests the Transformed Heart (3:1–12)

Teachers are more susceptible to judgment than others because they regularly engage in that activity which is hardest to keep from sin—one’s speech.

Teachers are regularly engaging in the one thing that has the most power.

Thesis statement: A sign of perfection is the control of the tongue

James 3:2 NIV

2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

James says, we all have our struggles. Some struggle with addiction and dependency, some struggle with lust, some struggle with self-worship, putting ourselves above others....perfection or a sign of the one who is living the transformed life....the obedient life, is one who has controlled their speech because to control speech is to keep the whole body in check.

Then James gives two illustrations:

James 3:3 NIV

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

As a good city boy, I had to google this…Just kidding, but kind of...

Put this small piece of metal in this ginormous animal and you can control them.

It is the same thing with a ship:

James 3:4 NIV

4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

When we lived in Tyler, we were close to my aunt and uncle’s lakehouse. My son loved to go there because uncle Woody takes Luke on the boat and lets him drive the boat. It is terrifying. But it is amazing to watch him learn that keeping the steering wheel steady, the boat will stay on course perfectly....that boat cuts through waves and wind and anything if that steering wheel is straight. If you turn it just slightly, even a little. It makes this huge boat steer in a different direction.

Likewise the tongue does the same.

We know this right? Like we know that our communication is important. How did you get the job or career that you did. Brains, education, well sure but a lot of really smart people with education cannot get work. Communication in an interview, the ability to communicate. Or perhaps the better example is, you know you could get fired with one sentence?

You could be flying along and one sentence would have people go....nope.

Words are powerful.

So powerful that he then compares it to a fire....a small spark that can set the world on fire.

In December of 2013 Justine Sacco was boarding an 11-hour flight to South Africa. Not long before take-off she tweeted “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding I’m white!” She turned off her phone after boarding, went to sleep, and had no idea she had just piloted her reputation into a flaming ball of wreckage.

Within hours she was a worldwide trending topic online. As the reactions to her tweet grew people recognized that she was unreachable mid-flight and that she would discover the firestorm once she landed. One user remarked: “All I want for Christmas is to see @JustineSacco’s face when her plane lands and she checks her inbox/voicemail.” A hashtag is a way to organize information quickly on social media. #hasjustinelandedyet was trending around the world. This has a life of its own online. Weeks later another user said “Man, remember Justine Sacco? #HasJustineLandedYet. God that was awesome. MILLIONS of people waiting for her to land.”

Justine’s trip was cut short- people threatened to boycott hotels she was staying at. She was concerned for her safety. She lost her job at the PR firm as you may have guessed. Even today, almost 10 years later when you google Justine Sacco the first result is a New York Times story “How One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life.”In his book “So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed” author Jon Ronson interviewed Justine Sacco. He also interviewed Gawker journalist Sam Biddle who initially brought attention to Justine’s tweet. Biddle told Ronson “The fact that she was a PR chief made it delicious” and that while he didn’t mean to ruin anyone’s life, he would do it again. Biddle said that Justine would be “fine eventually, if not already. Everyone’s attention span is so short. They’ll be mad about something new today.”

Some of you have experienced the devastation that words can bring. One word that tears a friendship apart. One moment of criticism.

Let me give you an example or two from my own life:

Sunday town hall: well we could have followed Robert’s rules better, or you really should have stuck to an agenda. There was a million nice things said…you know what I walked out of here with? Ah but I didnt do this right or that.

Preaching class: You know my worst class in seminary? preaching.

Our words matter, they can bring life or death.

Yesterday we were faced with a conflict that is about as tough as what I have dealt with in ministry.

Tongue test: Can you do this for a week?

do not complain or grumble at all

do not boast about anything at all

do not gossip or repeat bad information about someone

do not run someone down even a little bit

do not defend or excuse yourself even a little bit

do always affirm other people

If you want to get why James is so strong on this because he says there is a darkness, a poision within us.

Last section....

Praising and cursing

James 3:9–12 NIV

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James says....to praise God and to curse others is antithetical.

To come to worship and then be rotten to your waiter at lunch....side note.....are contradictory. It does not make sense. Its not a balance sheet....but I promise God does not care much for our offering if we walk into the world and start little fires.

I love that he closes with these illustrations at the end. No closure. Why does he not explain them. And we are left wanting something more.

Well we have to go back to the source.

Matthew 15… disciples not washing their hand… it is not what goes in that defiles, it is what comes out of the mouth. Quotes Isaiah…honor me with your lips but your hearts are far from me.

Today, speak life…try to follow those 6…but brothers if you are prone to cynicism or critical statements or gossip, or anger…you do not need a new year’s resolution…you need deep healing.