Words have the prepotency to inflict damage or healing. They are useful in articulating or defending one’s beliefs and equally helpful when one goes on the offensive in a heartfelt debate. What we say is often treated with a cavalier attitude as we can blurt out things we don’t mean and even curse others and God in our everyday conversations.
James, in the third chapter of his epistle, expounds on taming the tongue and how such a small part of our anatomy has the ability to create adversity and trouble for our entire body. “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. 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. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” James 3:3-12.
How many times do we nonchalantly utter things that have the power to deeply offend or hurt those we love? How many times have you heard someone lose their temper and take the Lord’s name in vain or exclaim OMG in surprise? These are times when we blaspheme against God without any concern whatsoever about his hallowed and holy name!
In the Old Testament we read of how the Israelites revered the Lord so much they dared not even say his name for fear of misusing it. That is why he is often referred to as G-d, Y—-h or J—–h. Now it may seem extreme to us to go to this extent but in reality we pronounce condemnation upon ourselves when we misuse the name of God and we show absolutely no respect to our Creator when we do.
As Christians we are to bear good fruit and Paul wrote that, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. Paul also wrote, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29. Again he said, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” Ephesians 5:4.
In this day of social media, people often say things they would never say face to face. They are frequently rude and derogatory and pass judgement without any accountability whatsoever. Today many people reject absolute truth and believe personal preferences take precedence over the values of others. They have become experts without authenticity; a law unto themselves.
In his second epistle to Timothy Paul wrote: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Timothy 3:1-8.
I have encountered everybody on that list and even witnessed them all on the same pro sports team! A generation ago it was common for pro sports players to thank Jesus when they won a championship or an award but today it is far more common to witness grown up infants protesting against their freedom or complaining about social issues. They open their mouths and speak as if their opinions have clout in a society that is far removed from their pampered lives of indulgence and from their Creator.
Our mouths can be tools for building up or weapons for tearing down. Jesus said, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45 and, “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Mathew 15:11.
Christians are called to emulate Christ, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. “ Isaiah 53:7. James instructs us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19. Words are powerful and the is no word more powerful that God’s word, so when we do speak, lean heavily on the Word.
When Jesus gave the sermon on the mount, he said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Mathew 5:13. Of the billions of people on this planet, it is we Christians that must hold back the enemy of darkness that threatens to drag the entire world into night. It begins with one individual at a time, one mouth at a time, one tongue at a time.
And finally, as we contemplate the power of the tongue, remember these important words by the Apostle Paul, who wrote, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9. It is these words that we cling to as we live lives of faith in Jesus, the Word that became flesh.
