"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." —James 3:8
To all appearances it was a typical Sunday morning service. The church was of familiar design, with a row of pews on either side of a central aisle. The "sanctuary," (as we call it!) was well filled, and all sang the same hymns of worship and praise, and participated in the ritual and routine of the service. The fact was, however, that it was a house divided. Those who sat on the left would not speak to those on the right, and those who chose to sit on the right did so because they would have no fellowship with those on the left. The same lips that sang praises to God were prepared to devour their fellow worshippers. (See Jas. 3:9) That was long ago and far away, but the tragedy enacted that morning is re-staged in one way or another, in many a church to this day. Such scenarios are ignited and inflamed by the master instrument of strife and division, the tongue.
No passage in scripture is more devastating in its indictment of the careless tongue than this third chapter of James. And nothing should move us to a more careful and sober consideration of how we use this most remarkable instrument among our members, unless it be the words of the Savior on the same subject: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Matt.. 12:34-37]. These words are a stunning reminder that God will hold us accountable for how we use our tongues. While the teaching of James deals with the instrument and its fruit, the words of the Savior trace the problems of the tongue to their root—the heart. Ultimately, our tongues betray the true condition of our hearts.
There is, however, a significant difference between the two passages. The Lord Jesus was speaking to the natural man, in his unconverted state. James was addressing professing Christians who, in the use of their tongues were behaving like the unsaved. When the "strife of tongues" wounds and divides the family, or the family of God, it is clear, as James uncompromisingly declares, that the devil is at work where the Spirit of God should be in control. James had earlier said, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain [1:26]."
The apostle Paul indicts the widows who "learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not [I Tim. 5:13]." The apostle Peter exhorts, "He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile [I Pet. 3:10]." Proverbs condemn the backbiting tongue (25:23), the lying tongue (26:28) and the flattering tongue (28:23), among others, and in contrast declares, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles [Prov. 21:23]."
What does your tongue contribute to harmony in your home, or in your congregation? This is not an idle question. It is of paramount importance; first, because of its bearing on the welfare of others, then because of its impact on the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, and finally because of its import on your own life as one accountable to the Lord. Think of it: "But I say unto you, every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Mt. 12:36-37]." Were we to take those words as seriously as we ought, we would purpose, like the Psalmist, "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle… [Ps. 39:1]."
Indeed, "the tongue can no man tame," but the things that are impossible with men are possible with God. HE can tame your tongue— if you'll let Him!
For our learning,
"Pastor" Frasier
To all appearances it was a typical Sunday morning service. The church was of familiar design, with a row of pews on either side of a central aisle. The "sanctuary," (as we call it!) was well filled, and all sang the same hymns of worship and praise, and participated in the ritual and routine of the service. The fact was, however, that it was a house divided. Those who sat on the left would not speak to those on the right, and those who chose to sit on the right did so because they would have no fellowship with those on the left. The same lips that sang praises to God were prepared to devour their fellow worshippers. (See Jas. 3:9) That was long ago and far away, but the tragedy enacted that morning is re-staged in one way or another, in many a church to this day. Such scenarios are ignited and inflamed by the master instrument of strife and division, the tongue.
No passage in scripture is more devastating in its indictment of the careless tongue than this third chapter of James. And nothing should move us to a more careful and sober consideration of how we use this most remarkable instrument among our members, unless it be the words of the Savior on the same subject: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Matt.. 12:34-37]. These words are a stunning reminder that God will hold us accountable for how we use our tongues. While the teaching of James deals with the instrument and its fruit, the words of the Savior trace the problems of the tongue to their root—the heart. Ultimately, our tongues betray the true condition of our hearts.
There is, however, a significant difference between the two passages. The Lord Jesus was speaking to the natural man, in his unconverted state. James was addressing professing Christians who, in the use of their tongues were behaving like the unsaved. When the "strife of tongues" wounds and divides the family, or the family of God, it is clear, as James uncompromisingly declares, that the devil is at work where the Spirit of God should be in control. James had earlier said, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain [1:26]."
The apostle Paul indicts the widows who "learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not [I Tim. 5:13]." The apostle Peter exhorts, "He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile [I Pet. 3:10]." Proverbs condemn the backbiting tongue (25:23), the lying tongue (26:28) and the flattering tongue (28:23), among others, and in contrast declares, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles [Prov. 21:23]."
What does your tongue contribute to harmony in your home, or in your congregation? This is not an idle question. It is of paramount importance; first, because of its bearing on the welfare of others, then because of its impact on the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, and finally because of its import on your own life as one accountable to the Lord. Think of it: "But I say unto you, every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Mt. 12:36-37]." Were we to take those words as seriously as we ought, we would purpose, like the Psalmist, "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle… [Ps. 39:1]."
Indeed, "the tongue can no man tame," but the things that are impossible with men are possible with God. HE can tame your tongue— if you'll let Him!
For our learning,
"Pastor" Frasier
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