The church is to be a community of people who love one another, rejoice in one another’s joys, and bear one another’s burdens. It is to be a community of people where people delight in your gifts and successes instead of envying them and hurt when your weaknesses are exposed and you fail instead of delighting that they might now look better than you. It is to be a community of people who not only love one another but love one another even as we love ourselves. Believers for centuries have noted this. In the First London Confession, written in 1644, the authors of this confession speak of the church as a “watered garden,” no doubt reflecting the warm regard they had for the community of believers.
Yet even there, if we were to ask, what then is the greatest manifestation of immoral living that threatens this glorious picture of the church, it might get a broad range of answers. Perhaps we would suggest lust, or pride, or envy, or bitterness, or stealing, or a number of things. And, no doubt, these are great evils that can and do tear apart the body of Christ. But I wonder how many of us would be quick to suggest that the one of the greatest threats to the church being that beautiful picture provided for us in the pages of Scripture is the way we use our tongues. That is, our speaking.
A number of years ago, two men wrote a book called Every Man’s Battle, and it was no doubt appropriately titled because it dealt with lust, something that is rampant in our culture and a constant and consistent temptation in the world around us. It seems, however, that if you wrote a book titled, Every Person’s Battle, it could focus on sins we commit in what we say. And when James wants to target his audience concerning a sin that all can relate to, he addresses those sins we commit with our tongues, those sins we commit with our words.
It should not be surprising to find that James addresses the sins of the tongue in 3:1-12 because he had already hinted at this in 1:26. In that verse, James had written, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
Then, he focused on the sin of showing partiality in 2:1-13 and noted that faith that does not have works is useless, empty, and dead in 2:14-26. But James, as we’ve seen throughout this book, is not content to leave us to wonder what good works look like. He wants us to see that one of the key ways we walk in obedience to God is by bridling our tongues, by keeping our tongues from sin.
Therefore, this morning, as we focus on James 3:1-12, we will find ourselves focusing on an issue that we all need to be addressed. Sometimes we may find ourselves thinking, “That point really speaks to so and so’s struggle, but not mine.” None of us will be able to think that this morning because James addresses us concerning a struggle that really is every person’s battle, and deals with something that poses one of the greatest threats to the church community we hope exists here at Cornerstone. Therefore, let’s turn our attention to these verses and see what it is that James tells us about the tongue.
First, James begins in verses 1-2 by telling us that we should not be quick to want to be teachers.
Now, before we say, “Hold on a second, aren’t these verses about the tongue?” we should understand that this exhortation not to aspire to become teachers too hastily is an exhortation that leads into his discussion on the tongue. James writes in verses 1-2a, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways . . .”
We don’t know the exact situation which James might be addressing in the church. Perhaps teaching, as it can be in our own day, was a position of prestige. This same thing is true in our own day, isn’t it? We can have conferences where thousands of men come to hear a great teacher or thousands of copies of books are sold because they were penned by a gifted teacher.
And there can be a temptation within that to those of us on the outside to look at that man’s position and think, “I want to be in his role.” Perhaps it appeals to our pride and desire for the praise of men, and we imagine that if only we had the praise of thousands – whether in hearing us teach or reading our writings, we long to be teachers.
So it seems, those in James day knew the same temptation. Therefore, James warns them that not many should become teachers. And he gives them two reasons. The first is that we will be judged with a greater strictness. We know that to whom much is given, much is required, so this should not be too surprising to us. One who is a teacher we would think should be judged strictly because he is given the responsibility of teaching and guiding others.
Second, James reminds us that “we all stumble in many ways.” How does that relate? Well, the teacher who notes that the Bible condemns covetousness cannot claim ignorance about this command, but it does not mean that he is unable to covet. Indeed, he will. I know this far too well. Often on Mondays I have rebuked my own thoughts and actions with the very words that I proclaimed on Sunday. That’s why I delight in preaching the gospel each week. It’s not just that I know you need it; it’s because I know I need it. And, when you say, “I really needed to hear that gracious word this morning,” I know exactly how you feel. My sin feels extra weighty not simply because I’ve heard the same Word proclaimed that you have but because I’ve been the very one who has proclaimed it.
So, James tells us in verses 1-2a that we shouldn’t hastily aspire to become teachers because teachers are held to a strict judgment, and they (like others) sin in many ways. This should make us slow to be found responsible for others and responsible to teach others.
But James focuses us even more. It’s not just that we all sin. It’s that we all sin in what we say. James writes in 2b, “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”
Now, it’s unclear whether James means that a man would be morally perfect if he could not sin in his words or if he simply means that man would exhibit great spiritual maturity, for the word could be translated “perfect” or “mature.” But minimally James is telling us that it is a reflection of great spiritual maturity when we can keep from sinning with our tongues.
This is one key reason why we shouldn’t hastily aspire to become teachers. If there is a temptation to be in front of others teaching because you think there is a kind of prestige in it, let that be countered with a reminder that we will be held responsible for what we say, and we will sin in our speech. I cannot count the number of times I’ve found myself throughout the week regretting something stupid I’ve said teaching. So, James gives us a warning about quickly aspiring to become teachers and provides us with good reasons to take our time and grow in maturity before taking up such a task, even if that is something to which the Lord is calling you.
But perhaps we hear James say that if anyone can keep from sinning in what he says then he’ll be able to control his whole body, and you think, surely that’s overstating it. I mean, the tongue is so small in comparison to a whole person. How can it wield that great power. So, James shows us in verses 3-5a that the tongue wields great influence over our bodies.
James compares the tongue to other things in nature that appear to wield far more influence than we would think possible. He writes in verses 3-4, “If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” Then, he writes in 5a, “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.”
Just as you can make a horse go where you want it to by a small bit in its mouth or a ship go where you want it to with a small rudder, so the tongue exerts great influence over our bodies. Therefore, we should conclude that perhaps our greatest focus on controlling our bodies in regard to living holy lives should focus on us controlling our tongues.
And Jesus confirms this, doesn’t he? He tells us that it is out of the heart that a man speaks and that it is not what we put in our mouths that defiles us but what comes out of them. Simply, if you want to know the heart of a man, listen to his words. We may think that our covetousness is well-hidden, but we unveil our hearts through our words. Through our words we show that we are envious, bitter, hurt, joyful, critical, encouraging, loving, or prideful. Even those things we say in jest are often vivid pictures of our hearts, aren’t they? If we constantly gossip about others or are overly critical, it reveals our own envy, struggle with condemnation, and covetousness. Simply ask yourself why you say things that damage others, even if those things are unknown by that person. Isn’t it because there’s sin in our own hearts and we find ourselves unable to consider others above ourselves?
Therefore, if we can control our tongues, it will reflect a greater work that’s going on in our hearts. If we speak only those things which build up others and do not tear them down, then it will reflect a heart that is loving God and neighbor more. So, as we focus on holiness, one of the greatest requests we can make in prayer is, “God, help me control my tongue.” For it seems that if we can do that, holiness in the others members of our bodies will follow. Perhaps this is why when Isaiah sees his utter sinfulness before the Lord, he needed only to say, “I am a man of unclean lips amidst a people of unclean lips.” Our lips reveal more of the state of our heart than we can imagine and, therefore, desperately needs to be controlled.
Just as the tongue wields great influence over our whole bodies, James shows us that the tongue wields a great potential for destruction. James writes in 5b-8, “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
Just like a small fire can burn down a whole forest, so our tongues have potential for great destruction. James tells us that they are like a fire set on fire by hell itself. You want to feel the power of sin, simply watch what people can do with their words. They can destroy someone’s life.
And don’t we find this to be true when we’ve been the subject and object of such great destruction. I can’t even count the number of times that I’ve said something that has been hurtful to others and wish I’d kept my mouth shut. Sometimes I’ve had more concern for saying something cute or clever than I have concern for caring for someone’s feelings. I’ve hurt my wife, and kids, and no doubt each of you through my words. They are destructive. And I know how destructive they can be and painful they are because I’ve been on the other end as well.
I remember occasions in high school where I was playing pickup basketball and a guy basically tackled me to keep me from scoring. By that afternoon, I was past that. But I’ve remembered painful statements made that Satan brings to my heart again and again in hopes of producing bitterness and strife.
James mentions that we’ve tamed every species of animal. We can teach whales to jump through hoops, bears to dance, eagles to fly and return to us, and tigers to assist us in magic tricks, but we find ourselves unable to perfectly control our tongues, don’t we? One of the hardest battles we will face is when we walk out of this room, I hope determined to control our tongues.
We can make a covenant with our eyes like Job did not to lust after a woman and find that much easier than controlling our tongues, and if we don’t think that’s true, it’s only because we haven’t given ourselves over to great effort in bridling our tongues.
But I want us this morning to feel the weight of our words. I want us to see the abomination it is when we intentionally tear down others with our words. Is the pain and bitterness that I might produce in a relationship worth the few seconds pleasure I hope to find in gossiping about another? Of course it’s not. What takes only a few seconds to say can cause days, weeks, months, and years of pain for another. The tongues has potential for great destruction.
Finally, James tells us that it is not right to praise God and curse our brothers with our tongues.
James writes in 9-12, “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”
Of course we read James’ questions here and say, “No.” An apple tree doesn’t grow apples and oranges. We don’t find a spring producing salt water and fresh water. Neither, James tells us, should our tongues bless God and curse our brothers. He writes, “These things ought not to be so.”
And I know we’ve got a category for this, don’t we? Think of someone we love – perhaps our parents, or siblings, or spouse, or children, or a friend. Have you ever heard someone speak ill of them and been not just angry but hurt? No doubt you have.
I remember standing somewhere one time when someone spoke ill of one of my family members without realizing that I was standing right in front of them. I was young and they were older, and I didn’t know exactly how to respond. I didn’t know what was my role. But I’ll tell you one decision that was not left up to my decision-making. My eyes started filling with tears.
That should be our response when we think of the hurt that comes to our brothers and sisters and Christ because of someone’s words. You see, the reason we feel comfortable gossiping is because we don’t really love that person about whom we are gossiping as we love ourselves. And our Lord tells us that we cannot claim to love one whom we cannot see (i.e., God) if we do not love our brothers and sisters whom we can see. Therefore, here is a vision I long for at Cornerstone Community Church.
May we be a community where no one is concerned about our fellow members gossiping about us.
May we be a community where each of us knows that if we have something that needs addressing, one will come to us instead of speaking about us to others.
May we be a community where we are anxious to take opportunities to speak well of and build up our brothers and sisters.
May we be a community where we stop someone from gossiping by lovingly exhorting them to love as they want to be loved.
May we be a community made up of people who are quick to repent when we’ve hurt another with our words and even quicker to grant forgiveness.
May we be a community that considers others above ourselves in all we say and do.
May we be a community that shows one another great grace when we speak wrongly and lovingly correct us.
May we be a community whose speaking reveals that we truly love our neighbors as ourselves.
May God grant us the grace to be this kind of community. Amen.