Taming the Tongue

I wish everyone could have a "Jay Wolf" in their lives.

In this week's study, Poppy asked, "What negative or positive words have had a lasting impact on your life?" Being a glass-half-full person, I immediately thought of Jay Wolf and the positive words he spoke into the life of an almost-21-year-old during the summer of 1980.

I was a summer intern at Memorial Baptist Church in Metairie, Louisiana, and he was my "boss." As youth minister, Jay hired me to work alongside Kenny Culotta for 10 weeks in a summer that included a lot of pool parties and Bible studies as well as the obligatory mission trip and summer camp. Such good stuff! While I had been working with youth through the Youth Life ministry in Baton Rouge for the previous three years, this summer experience escalated my love for pouring into young people with the promises from God's word.

After each gathering (whether big or small), Jay always had a word of encouragement for me. Perhaps he saw the self-doubt that raged in my insecurity during those days. Or perhaps he is an amazingly encouraging person and always chose the route of "build up" and "benefit" that Ephesians 4:29 talks of. Either way, if you look up the word "encourager" in the dictionary, Jay's picture will be right there! He allowed his words to be used for good.

That's what James was wanting to highlight in his words on "the tongue" ... lots of potential for good and not-so-good!

What do we know about James? "It has been believed, since at least the third century, that the author of this book is James, the brother of Jesus. James probably wrote his letter to Jewish believers between A.D. 45-50. These early Christians has fled Jerusalem after persecution erupted following the killing of Stephen, which left them without direct contact with the apostles. Reports of their difficulties and struggles reached James in Jerusalem, and he responded as their pastor, urging them to make needed changes in both their personal lives and corporate relationships" (Speaking Wisely, 57).

In the first chapter, James introduces some thoughts on "the tongue" in verses 19-22 and 26, setting the stage for what he wants to say later. But for now, he points out that what it's better to listen than to jump to conclusions by talking and getting angry. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Interesting that he throws in the phrase "humbly accept the word planted in you;" in other words, your opinion isn't the most important thing ... God's is.

In 1:26, James boldly points out, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." Ouch! Strong words!

James jumps back on the subject in chapter 3 with a little more direction. Consider these points borrowed from Brent Alderman of the Capitol Commission:

• ACCOUNTABLE POSITION

In verse 1, we see a simple but strong warning to teachers. Be careful what you wish for: with privilege comes responsibility. We are accountable for what we say, for what we teach. Just the sheer quantity of our words can trip us up at times. In Mt. 12:36-37, Jesus said, "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Paul said it a little differently to Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:15, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

But not just teachers are accountable.

• COMMON PROBLEM

See it verse 2? We ALL stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

So what does "perfect" mean in this context? James says we ALL stumble, so it can't be perfect like we typically think of perfect. Consider the goal of every believer ... spiritual maturity. Paul talks about it in Ephesians 4 as what we're striving for ... in Philippians 1, he points out that this "perfection" won't be achieved until the day of Christ Jesus.

Winston Churchill said, "We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out." 

• UNEXPECTED POWER

In verses 6-8, James describes the power of the tongue ... with potential for great devastation if not tamed. One commentator said the tongue has "inordinate influence for being such a small part of the body." James effectively used the metaphors of a bit in a horse's mouth, a rudder on a ship, and a spark to start a fire to show the huge impact of a small thing.

Anyone who has been horseback riding, especially as an amateur like me, appreciates the role of the bit in the horse's mouth. We may fancy ourselves cowboys, yelling things like "giddy-up" and "whoa," but it's really the tug on the reins that directs the bit that makes the horse submit to the rider.

Not being much of a sailor myself, I conjure up images of nautical calamities that could possibly have been avoided or minimized if someone were at the helm of the ship, looking ahead for danger and guiding the boat's direction. The Titanic is the most notable (more because of the movie) but I also think of the freighter that rammed into the Riverwalk in New Orleans a bunch of years ago because the captain was asleep and, by the time he realized he was off-course, it was too late to correct.

Forest fires in California, Colorado, and even Tennessee are huge examples of the devastating consequences of neglected sparks left accidentally (and sometimes intentionally). One writer described those who don't tame the tongue as "spiritual arsonists, lighting careless fires that cause widespread destruction."

• HYPOCRITICAL PATTERN

Mary Kassian in Conversation Peace explained that "in the ancient world, swords were the most common weapons of war. The Bible tells us that during war, the Hebrews would make swords from their plowshares (Joel 3:10). A plowshare is the cutting edge of  plow -- the agricultural tool that cuts furrows in the soil and prepares the ground for planting. The word plow literally means 'to open up the soil.' ...The edge of the plow cuts through the ground like a rudder cuts through the water. It was this cutting edge that the Hebrews used to make swords. When peace returned, the Hebrews hammered the swords back into plows (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3). The edge that killed the enemy in times of war was the same edge that, in times of peace, provided the Hebrew community with food. The sharp edge had two functions" (14).

In James 3:9-12, the writer points out that our tongue can also have two functions but not as purposeful as the plowshare: praising and cursing. His brother Jesus basically called out the Pharisees for this in Mt. 12:34, "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

It is this hypocritical pattern that gets us in trouble over and over. Alderman noted, "If we have a desire for God and his ways, we will avoid speaking in a way that betrays our faith. Hearts changed by the gospel will have observable fruit (including words) that is not hypocritical.... The heart is the key."

How important it is to know -- no, not just know but to process -- the potential we have for both using our tongue for good or for evil. What filters will we put in place to keep this from being our downfall time and time again? Poppy's questions should get us thinking:

• Why are praising God and cursing man incompatible for Christians?
• In what everyday circumstances might you be provoked to curse someone?
• When you are tempted to react this way, what changes in your thought patterns, attitudes, or behavior would help you resist?

Back to Conversation Peace (28-29):

"The mark of a good captain is to identify when the vessel is off course and make adjustments. In identifying the areas in which your speech needs adjustments, you are taking the first step toward getting back on course.

"If you look at a Canadian dime, you will find an image of Canada's most famous sailing vessel, the Bluenose. The Bluenose was strongly constructed to weather the rigorous challenges of North Atlantic fishing, but it was also built for speed. In 1921, she captured the International Fishermen's Trophy in a fierce competition between the best schooners in the word. She remained undefeated throughout her eighteen-year career.

"The captain of the Bluenose faced the same challenges of every seaman: wind, waves, squalls, storms. sandbars, reefs, and treacherous rocky shorelines. But he knew how to harness the Power of Navigation to guide his ship to victory. If you follow God's plan for your speech, you, too, will weather the rigorous challenges of life's sea, harness the Power of Navigation, and cross the finish line in victory."