Doers of the Word: Taming the Tongue

James 3:1–12 (NRSV) Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet 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 exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Did you know that tongue is the only muscle in human body that works without any support from the skeleton? Yes! It is known as muscular hydrostat.

Did you know that we are born with more than 10,000 tastebuds and most are on the tongue?

Without the tongue, we would not be able to speak and pronounce words.

The tongue is NOT THE STRONGEST muscle in entire body. It is only a myth. However, it is one of THE MOST sensitive muscles we have in our body.

James has something to say about that. In fact, James will make us think more about what we say.

James starts his letter encouraging his readers to be ‘quick to listen, slow to speak’. In 1:26, James pointed out that those who think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues deceive themselves, their religion is worthless. One of the main attributes of pure religion before God…and all things, places, and times are before God…is bridling the tongue.

In Chapter 2, James has encouraged the listener to be doers of God’s word, not merely hearers. He taught that faith without works is dead. In chapter 3, he moves from faithful physical actions to the impact of words. Words are works, too. Works matter. Words matter.

James addresses the office of teachers.

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Those who teach are held to a stricter standard because we are entrusted with the critical task of sharing Christian doctrine. In James’ time, teachers had great authority and prestige because few people could read and few people had opportunities to become teachers.

People were flocking to the teaching ministry for the wrong reasons. So James extends the warning. “We who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

James identifies with those he addresses. As a leader of the church, he is not separate but entrenched with all leaders, and speaks regarding his own condition.

For those with self-serving agenda, know that to mislead is a misdeed for which you will be held accountable. Respect the importance and divine scrutiny of the role; do not seek the privilege without understanding the responsibility of nurturing people in the faith. Your life must reflect your teaching.

James concedes, “All of us make mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.”

James identifies with the reader in our imperfection.

The only perfect one was Christ, who was the embodiment of God’s word, who spoke it perfectly keeping his whole human body in check. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane when he knew his crucifixion was coming and prayed for another way but ultimately said, “Father, thy will be done.” Even in the face of imminent suffering and death, his whole body in check with the bridle of faith.

As James continues, he ceases to specifically address teachers and appeals to everyone. The problem of the tongue is a problem for everyone in the church.

James uses two illustrations - a bit and a rudder.

A bit inserted in horses’ mouths enable us to guide/lead their whole body.

A very large ship, though driven by strong winds, is guided by a very small rudder.

The bit and the helm are contrasting illustrations.

the bit demands obedience and control upfront; like the Law.

the rudder nudges from behind for compliance; like the Spirit.

In both cases, a small instrument has great influence on the direction of the much larger vessel.

Likewise, the tongue can influence the destiny of the individual or broader community.

The tongue, though a small member boasts of great exploits.

Boasting is sinful as it demonstrates hubris, which draws attention to itself. That which draws attention to itself is not of God.

As Micah 6:8 reminds us: “What does the Lord require? That you do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”

Hubris only comes ahead of humility in the dictionary.

In warning about the danger of an unbridled tongue, James points us to the potential impact this small but might member of the body can make by how we choose to use it.

The tongue is petite but powerful! ~ JR Blue

Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 827). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

James warns of the tongue’s destructive potential. But we can also look at its constructive power.

After all, the tongue can render blessings and curses. So we have a tremendous choice in how e choose to use our words.

Taming the tongue is not about silence.

James admonishes people against reckless speech; not against speech.

If we look to Genesis 1, recall that in the beginning, God spoke creation bringing light and life into being.

God’s words set in motion waves of creation we have yet to experience and ongoing change that we are witnessing and get to impact.

We get to speak light and life into the world. This is doing the word of God.

Proverbs 16:24 (NRSV)~ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Appropriately spoken words (cf. Prov. 15:23) that encourage, soothe, or commend can be most pleasant and even uplifting to the point of helping a person to physically feel better.

This applies to the speaker and the receiver of the words.

2. Taming the Tongue for creation

Let’s think about taming the tongue for creation of the kin-dom God intends, bringing the good news to the poor, liberating the captives in body, mind, and soul; enlightening the blind, and setting the oppressed free! (Luke 4:18)

Taming the tongue is about speaking up for transformation.

In his new book, Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers, Rev. Tyler Sit’s offers practices to transform you for transforming the world.

One of these practices is intentional conflict time. He notes that we long for a place that is neither constantly afraid or constantly enraged. Therefore, we need Controlled burns. Intentional Conflict Time is a controlled burn. I prefer to frame this as intentional conversation time.

One of the tactics of forest management is to use the controlled burn. This removes the under brush that accumulates over time. That dry underbrush will fuel a wild or uncontrolled fire into a blazing ferocity.

If we think about ‘How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire’, it would be a best practice to tame the tongue for a controlled burn to prevent a blazing fire.

Intentional conversations that deal with underlying issues, can help remove the underbrush of stereotypes/thoughts/opinions that fuel fires of fear and misunderstanding.

Kindling intentional conversations to deal with controversial topics can be an onramp to conflict transformation.

Dialogue can open the door for faithful voices too long silenced by unbridled tongues of bigotry, hatred, and misbelief whether brashly wielded or softly shielded in flowery language that makes the sin attractive.

Dr. King’s quotes

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.”

Let us not betray the voiceless, the poor, the captive, the blind or oppressed. To do so is a betrayal of Christ and the word of God.

As Christians, the well-placed words of our bridled tongues have power unexercised within and beyond the church.

The conditions of our day reveal the need for faithful voices to be the rudders of change in a world driven by strong winds of conflict and controversy.

To be the rudder of change, we must do our own work of seeking God’s counsel, listening for God’s guidance, and taking action by word and deed according to God’s word and will.

As James counsels, let us be ‘quick to listen, slow to speak’. (1.19)

When we speak, like Christ, may our tongues be bridled by our faith and bolstered by the word of God.

Our tongues are petite but powerful. May we use them as rudders to steer this world toward transformation into God’s intended kin-dom. Our words matter. May we live like it. Amen