Spiritual Maturity and the Tongue

Introduction

We will build upon the themes we have learned so far.

Spiritual maturity is a responsibility that is built into salvation itself. God has called us to his own virtue and glory.

God has given us His word to instruct us toward maturity.

He has also given the pastoral role as teacher and example (2 Tim. 3:16-4:4).

Spiritual maturity shows up in the presence of God’s characteristics in our lives.

We become more than people “of faith.”

As we learned when we started, we are people who “are slow to speak,” “slow to wrath.” (James 1:19-20).

James emphasizes Proverbs based instructions about the relationship between speech and God’s wisdom.

The wise will hear and receive correction.

The unwise has no interest in hearing. Such a person only wishes to speak.

A mature/maturing congregation will limit who speaks.

Positives vs. Negatives

Stop Becoming Teachers

James just completed making the association between obedience, i.e. works, and faith.

He now appears to shift directions, slightly, to focus on another congregational problem.

They, apparently, have many who see themselves as teachers.

Have we become immune, in our open times, to the dangers of letting everyone have their say in biblical instruction?

James offers some insight into why not everyone in a congregation should “fancy themselves” in the teaching role.

Notice the personal appeal: “my brothers.”

A Warning about Judgment

James writes as though his audience already has knowledge of the fact he will now restate.

He considers himself a teacher as shown by his use of “we.”

“Since you know that we will receive greater judgment.”

Hebrews 13:17 reinforces the idea of judgment for pastoral leaders, but James raises the stakes as well with the comparative “greater.”

He does not appear to mean that teachers are under greater human scrutiny. The future tense implies that there will be greater judgment by God for those in the teaching role.

It may be possible the recipients of this letter gravitated toward “radical individualism” where everyone considered himself spiritually mature enough to take the role of teacher.

Teaching, in light of the greater judgment, should not be entered into lightly.

The Tongue and Sin/Error

James offers additional explanation for his command.

Everyone is sinning regarding “all things.”

James may be referring to different ways we err or sin.

He states it, however, as a matter of fact to set up the contrast expressed in the conditional sentence to come.

Control of words prevents error.

James may have at least two senses of the word “error” in mind.

Error in doctrinal teaching. We must be careful in what we teach.

Intentionally causing harm to someone through the abuse of the teaching position. We must be careful in how we teach it.

A mature believer does not use speech to hurt another brother.

Prov. 25:11-12

Assuming someone is not sinning “in word,” then he is a mature man and able to control the whole body.

This is someone with genuine religion (James 1:26).

Part 2: Introduction

How we speak to one another is an important part of practicing Christianity.

We are not just people of faith.

We are people of practice where practice equates to our characteristics and our behavior.

We are not just people who are against things: e.g. drunkenness, homosexuality, adultery.

We are not just people who are for others being saved.

The spiritually mature teacher is someone who can control the tongue.

χαλιναγωγέω: (a figurative extension of meaning of χαλιναγωγέω ‘to control with bit or bridle,’ not occurring in the NT) to exercise close control over some function—‘to control, to exercise self-control.’

James 1:26 NA28

Εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ ἀλλʼ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.

James 3:1.

He has made a claim about something small, the tongue. He will now illustrate its power.

“if someone is not erring in word, this mature man is able to control the whole body also.”

Positives vs. Negatives

Illustration #1: A Bit/Bridle

James presents a scenario for illustration.

“if we are throwing (putting) bits into the mouths of horses so as to entrust them to us, we are also guiding (steering) their whole bodies.

James wants to the reader to note the imbalance between large and small.

A big horse can be steered by controlling its mouth with a tiny bit.

Illustration #2: A Rudder

James draws the attention to boats now through the word “behold”.

He emphasizes the size of ships and the fierce winds that drive them.

Yet, such large ships driven with fierce winds are being steered (same word as with horses) wherever the desire of the driver wants by a small rudder.

πηδάλιον, ου n: a large plank at the stern of a ship used to direct its course

Comparison

James makes a direct comparison to the tongue.

It is a small body part, but it is bragging (about) great things.

This might be positive or negative.

James, however, does not let it linger on the positive.

He quickly shifts to another size analogy.

Such a small fire (spark) is igniting a larger forest.

Danger lurks with the tongue. It can be something positive under the control of the spiritually mature, or it can be destructive because it controls the spiritually immature.