STE:The terrible tongue  by Mark S. Camp

   James 3:1-12

   We have lately been studying about the necessity to make our deeds
and actions conform to the profession which we make as followers of
Jesus Christ. We have seen the obligation to show forth our faith by
our actions. There is always the opportunity for us to be spiritual
hypocrites if we are not prepared to back up our profession by our
deeds. Our good works do not in any way save us, but they are to be
fruits of our salvation.

   James continues this theme in the first 12 verses of chapter 3, but
this time from a different perspective. Not only must our actions show
forth our faith, it is also imperative that our speech show forth our
faith. The tongue, referring to the whole of our speech process, is a
mighty member of our body, even though it is small in size. By our
speech we have the ability to sway men and women, to bless them, and to
curse them. By our tongue we also have the ability to praise God with
one breath, and with another breath to curse those who are made in his
likeness.

   Speech is a powerful process. Several years ago, in the 1930's, a
young german man of no account, began to sway millions towards his
belief of a master race, the Arian race. Adolf Hitler became the
"Fuehrer" of Germany, largely because of his ability to stir the latent
hate and anger of mens' souls through the medium of speaking.

   In the 1800's a young man named Charles Haddon Spurgeon became the
most noted preacher of his day, largely due to his ability to speak
mightily. Abraham Lincoln is largely remembered for his ability to
speak and to work upon the emotions of a battered nation by the use of
his tongue.

   After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the first word to come
out of a human being's mouth was a lie. Wars have been started,
friendships have been broken, marriages have been torn apart,
reputations have been marred, all by the unbridled actions of the human
tongue or speech process.

   It is amazing how such a little body organ can wreak so much havoc
if not controlled. James wants to emphasize to us today that it is
imperative for those who say they love God and Jesus Christ, to show
their faith and hope by means of proper speech.

   Thomas Brooks, the Puritan, has said, "We know metals by their
tinkling, and men by their talking." There is a little saying among
children when they are teasing someone and calling someone names. It
says, "What you say is what you are." This little saying could well be
a summary statement for the passage today. Let us come to this most
penetrating passage today and consider its implications for our lives.

   In verse one, James says that not many should be teachers because
those who teach will be judged more strictly. From the writings of Luke
in the book of Acts, and from the writings of the Apostle Paul, we know
that in the days of the early church there were many who went about as
teachers, trying to influence men and women by the cleverness of words.
The problem was that though these teachers had a lot of talk, they
themselves did not practice what they were teaching others.

   The Pharisees of Jesus' day were always harping on people to obey
the law, yet they themselves would spend hours devising ways to
circumvent the law's obligations upon themselves. They gave the outward
appearance of being holy and righteous, but inwardly they were
cluttered with filth. Jesus called them white-washed tombs; clean on
the outside, but inside full of dead mens' bones.

   James brings in the thought of teachers here to introduce his
section about the tongue. He wishes to bring into consideration the
thought that our lives must be in harmony with our speech, and that our
speech must be in harmony with what we profess to believe as Christians.

   In verse 2, James points out that not only are teachers guilty of
stumbling in this area, but that we are all liable to sin here. The man
who does not sin in the area of speech, is a man who has learned to
control himself; a man who has reached a high level of spiritual
maturity.

   Now, in verses three through twelve, James gets into the meat of his
presentation. He first likens the power of the tongue to a horse's
bridle and a ship's rudder.

   The bit that goes into the horse's mouth is a small object. Yet,
because of its placement, it has the ability to exercise great control
over the huge animal. One slight tug from the rider and the horse will
turn left or right, jump, or stop sharply.

   The rudder of a ship is very small in comparison to the size of the
ship it controls. One small movement can cause a large turn of the
vessel. If the little rudder is not controlled properly, the ship may
veer off of its course by several miles.

   So, it is with the tongue. It is a very small part of our body. But
it has the ability to do great things. One kind word from the tongue
can encourage a person who may be on the brink of suicide. One loving
word can raise the spirits of the downhearted. The Scripture says that
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver"
(Eccles. 9:17). One unkind word can cut a person's spirit to the quick.
One harsh word can ruin a friendship or start a war.

   Maclaren has written, "Blasphemous words, or obscene words, shot
into the blood by one swift dart of the fangs, may corrupt its whole
current, and there is no Pasteur to expel the virus."

   James goes on to liken the power of the tongue to a small spark
which can set a whole forest on fire. Thousands of acres of rich timber
land can quickly be destroyed by one careless flick of the match.

   James is trying to describe for us the powerful ability of the
tongue. It can do great things, both good and bad.

   In verses seven and eight, James shows the main problem related to
the tongue. Men have been able to take wild animals and tame them.
Birds can be trained to talk and to perform stunts. Even the snake can
be tamed into being a housepet. Creatures of the sea, such as the
porpoise can be trained to perform great leaps out of the water, over a
rope, and through a ring of fire.

   Yet, despite his ability to have dominion over the wild animals, man
is still unable to tame one very small thing, his own tongue. The
tongue is full of deadly poison. I have seen several boa constrictors
made into pets that will even lie in bed with a person. But, I have
never seen anyone tame a poisonous rattlesnake into a cuddly pet. Why?
Because it is full of venom and poison. It does not lend itself to
being easily controlled by something or someone else. So also, the
tongue is full of death and poison and does not lend itself to being
easily tamed.

   With the tongue, men and women have the ability to praise God or
curse him; to praise men or curse them; to speak words of comfort or
words of sorrow. James tells us in verse 10 that praise and cursing can
come from the same mouth.

   Well, the point has been illustrated very clearly that the tongue is
a powerful member of our bodies. But, what does this imply to us or
serve to convict us of?

   First, James says that fresh water and salt water cannot flow from
the same spring at the same time. A fig tree bears figs, not olives. A
grapevine produces grapes, not figs. In other words, like produces like.

   If a man professes to be a Christian, professes to have sins
forgiven, professes to want to follow God's laws and precepts,
professes to have a love for the brethren, then his speech should
naturally reflect this. Like produces like. If a person has genuinely
been renewed and reborn by the Spirit of God, his or her speech will
show it.

   The implication here is that when you see a person who is rude in
speech, harsh in speech, gossipping in speech, filthy in speech, or
lying in speech, you are hearing a description of what is really on the
inside. Like produces like.

   Second, if the tongue is so hard to tame, and man is unable to do
it, how then can it be brought under control? The horse's bit and the
ship's rudder only act as they are acted upon.

   Someone or something else is necessary to control them.

   A person can only truly tame the tongue and bring it under control
when the Holy Spirit of God is the controlling or acting force. A
person must come to God and admit that they do not have the ability
within themselves to control their speech. There must be a submission
and surrender to the controlling influences of the Holy Spirit.

   Let me simply give some Scripture quotations concerning the power
and propriety of our speech as believers.

   Col. 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace."

   Prov. 16:24 - "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and
healing to the bones."

   Eccles. 12:11 - "Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a
fool is consumed by his own lips."

   Matt. 12:34b - "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth
speaks."

   My friends, I ask you to examine your tongue this day. Is your
speech a description of what is in your heart? Do you believe that all
men are created in the likeness of God, yet your tendancy is to speak
of and to them as though they were dirt and scum? Do you profess to
have a love for the brothers and sisters, yet your speech declares you
tobe harsh, unloving, and unforgiving? Do you profess to have a desire
to build up the body of Christ, yet your speech shows you to be a
busybody and a gossip?

   In the days ahead you will have plenty of opportunities to speak to
others and about others. What will your speech reflect?

   If you are having trouble controlling your tongue, submit it to the
control of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to tame what you cannot tame.

   May God grant us a measure of grace and conviction from his word.
