Christianity For Dummies: The Untameable Beast
James 3:1-12
I. Introduction
A. How many of you have ever had to call out animal control to your house or neighborhood? If you ever were to see a wild animal prowling your neighborhood, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call Tipton County animal control to round it up and haul it off. Discuss animals on Power Point. We can round up and haul off all these wild and roaming animals.
B. So why not a catcher and a pound for stray words? That's an occupation that could earn a decent living in ANY economy! Think about it - imagine a vicious, razor-toothed expletive cornered by a couple of word catchers: "Careful, Bob, careful now...that's a vicious one!" "Who would let such a thing loose, especially with small children around?" "Aw, some guy got worked up and unleashed it on his poor wife." "I'd hate to see what that gal looks and feels like now." "Like shredded wheat, probably." "Well, let's get this pit bull of a word off the street before it bites somebody else."
C. Now...let's make it personal! Pull out doggie cage and act this out. Walk out amongst congregation - youth, mid-age, older. Let's say you're home, resting and relaxing after an especially hard day at work and these same word catchers suddenly knock on your door. "Excuse me, _______," they ask, "does this word belong to you? We caught it running loose on Hwy 14; done chewed up a lot of folks. Your neigbor said it sounded like it was one of yours." You take a long hard look at their catch and, sure enough...you let that gossip out on Wednesday. Red-faced, you claim your nasty little word and send the word catchers away.
D. Of course, word catching is an imaginary profession. But I imagine if you could find a way to round up and return people's words in time to stop their damage, you would have quite a lucrative business in our culture of unrestrained tongues. I know I've let some words escape my mouth that I would have paid big bucks to take back...I'm sure you have as well.
E. Well, things haven't really changed much in 2000 years. In fact, the tongue was of such great concern to James that he not only mentioned it in every chapter of his letter but also here in Chapter 3 devotes 12 full verses to it. And so, we come to Chapter 6 in our study "Christianity for Dummies." In this chapter, James is going to warn us of the dangers of "The Untameable Beast." That wily critter that God in His infinite wisdom put in a cage, behind our teeth, walled in by our mouth. James gives us four compelling reasons to keep our tongues caged up and under control: Diffuse Problem, Disproportionate Power, Destructive Potential, and Deplorable Propensity.
II. Scripture Reading & Prayer
A. Read James 3:1-12.
B. Pray - Father, we ask your forgiveness for the many ways and countless times we have sinned against you and against others who are created in your image by unleashing the Untameable Beast, our tongues. We need your help in a mighty way to learn how to control our tongues - the Untameable Beasts that they all are! Teach us now to do so, in Jesus' mighty name!
III. The Untameable Beast: A Diffuse Problem (vv. 1-2)
A. Read and explain James 3:1.
- I think if we're honest, at first glance, we have NO clue why James throws verses 1 & 2 here where he does. They seem...out of place...LOST! Yet when we consider the context of the 1st century church, we see how these first two verses become a natural springboard for a discussion on the tongue.
- Not many OF YOU...#1 Discuss 1st century society - few could read, people in lower classes had few opportunities for advancement in status. #2 Discuss prestige and honor bestowed on teachers in the 1st century church. #3. Discuss worship service (dynamic & unstructured, men allowed opportunity to stand up and address the rest of the assembly). Read 1 Cor. 14:26, 40. So we see the tendency of a large section of the church to want to speak during worship & Christians attracted to teaching ministry, albeit for wrong reasons.
- James in response says, "Hey, cool your jets! Don't be in any rush to become a teacher." For you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness (cf. Hebrews 13:17, Luke 12:48). James is not intending to discourage true teachers, but to warn of the role's seriousness and entering it for frivolous or selfish reasons - particularly in light of what he points out next.
B. Read and explain James 3:2.
- The teacher puts himself in greater danger of judgment because the main tool of his ministry is also the part of the body most difficult to control.
- For we ALL stumble - James first acknowledges the diffuse prevalence of sin. Eccl. 7:20 = "Surely, there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." 1Kings 8:46 = "for there is no one who does not sin." 1 John 1:8 = "If we say we have no sin...the truth is not in us."
- in many ways - Recall what we said about trials and temptations? Skittles...rainbow of fruit flavors...same with sin. Yet there is one way in which we ALL sin - with our tongues. In fact...
- If anyone does not stumble in what he says he is a perfect man. Perfect = "teleios," meaning complete - spiritual maturity not sinless perfection. There has only been one human master of the tongue and His name was and is Jesus Christ! James' warning to would-be teachers has brought to the forefront of his mind the problem of the tongue - a problem for EVERYONE in the church!
- able to bridle his whole body. "So difficult is the mouth to control, so given is it to utter the false, the biting, the slanderous word, so prone to stay open when it were more profitably closed, that the person who has it in control surely has the ability to conquer other, less unruly, members of the body." (Moo)
C. Illustration: Three preachers were on a fishing trip. They weren't catching many fish, so one preacher said he thought it would be nice if they confessed their biggest sins to each other and then prayed for each other. They all agreed. The first preacher said that his biggest sin was that he liked to sit at the beach now and then and watch pretty women stroll by. The second preacher confessed that his biggest sin was going to the racetrack every so often and putting a small bet on a horse. Turning to the third preacher, they asked, "Brother, what is your biggest sin?" With a grin, he simply said, "Gossip."
D. Application: Truth be told the biggest sin in the lives of EVERYONE of us in this church this AM is this - stick out tongue. It is a Diffuse Problem...in our lives, in our church, in our homes, in our workplaces, in our schools, in our communities, in our world. The first step to control the tongue is to recognize that fact and take an honest listen to the words we are unleashing daily.
IV. The Untameable Beast: It's Disproportionate Power (vv. 3-5)
A. With the diffuse problem of the tongue now at the forefront of his mind, James now sets forth a series of illustrations, four in fact, that portray the Disproportionate Power of the tongue. In each illustration, we see a contrast between a small instrument and the large object it can control.
B. Illustration #1: Bits/Horses (v. 3)
- Any of us who have ever ridden a horse implicitly understand how a small thing, a bit, controls a LARGE animal, a horse. Discuss Walter and my response - why I don't mess with animals larger than myself, unless I have a gun!
C. Illustration #2: Rudder/Ships (v. 4)
- The Greco-Roman world had large ships. Paul had been aboard a grain ship that carried 276 passengers plus cargo. Josephus records he was on a ship with 600 passengers and dimensions of 180' by 65' by 44' (60 yds x 20 yds x 15 yds). Discuss cruise ships today - massive size and great # of passengers.
D. Illustration #3: Tongue/body (v. 5a)
- A strict application of this imagery suggests that we as believers similarly use the tongue to control the whole body. As Moo points out, "we should make the application a little differently; just as the bit determines the direction of the horse and the rudder the ship, so the tongue can determine the destiny of the individual."
E. Illustration #4: Spark/fire (v. 5b)
- Here we see James gearing us up for a transition from verses 3-5a, which focus on the Disproportionate Power of the tongue to verses 6-8 which will highlight the tongue's destructive potential.
- Proverbs 16:27 compares the speech of a fool to "a scorching fire" and Sirach says that the tongue "will not be master over the godly, and they will not be burned in its flame" (Ecclus. 28:22). This word forest could refer to the brush which covered so many Palestinian hills, and which, in that dry, Mediterranean climate, could so easily and disastrously burst into flames.
F. Application: Remember what James told us back in Chapter 1? Read 1:19. 2 ears, 1 mouth. Need a timer between our brain and mouth! If we would simply pause and reflect on the immense disproportionate power of our tongues, maybe we would keep it caged more frequently by being quick to hear and slow to speak! Discuss bottle rocket war this past 4th of July - one small ill-placed bottle rocket could have inflamed an entire pasture! We would do well to heed Proverbs 26:20 - "Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops."
V. The Untameable Beast: It's Destructive Potential (vv. 6-8)
A. Having identified the tongue with fire, James now moves to discuss the full destructive potential of the tongue. In doing so, James gives eight analogies about this destructive potential:
#1 The tongue is...a fire Fire is a very appropriate analogy for the tongue. Just like fire, the tongue's sinful words can spread destruction rapidly, or as its accompanying smoke, our words can permeate and ruin everything around it. Illustration: In 1871, during the week of Oct. 8-14, it must have seemed like the whole world was ablaze for residents of the Upper Midwest. Four of the worst fires in U.S. history all broke out in the same week across the region. The Great Chicago Fire, which destroyed about a third of the city's valuation at the time ($192 million), left more than 100,000 residents homeless and 300 dead, stole the headlines. But at the same time, three other fires also scorched the region. Blazes leveled the Michigan cities of Holland and Manistee in what has been referred to as the Great Michigan Fire, while across the state another fire destroyed the city of Port Huron. The worst fire of them all, however, might have been the Great Peshtigo Fire, a firestorm that ravaged the Wisconsin countryside, leaving more than 1,500 dead — the most fatalities by fire in U.S. history. Discuss the source - embers carried by high winds. You know our words are the same - embers of rumors, half-truths, grumblings, sarcastic remarks, hurtful things said in the heat of anger - each with the potential to burn down acres of relationships and destroy others.
#2 The tongue is...a world of unrighteousness Calvin, referencing the tongue, said that "a slender portion of flesh contains the whole world of iniquity." This is what James means here - the tongue contains within it the sins of the fallen world. How is this? What did Jesus say? Read Matthew 15:10, 18-20.
#3 The tongue is...set among our members, staining the whole body In doing so, the tongue accomplishes just the opposite of what James said pure religion should: keeping oneself unstained from the world. Sins committed with the tongue spread spiritual pollution to the whole person.
#4 The tongue is...setting on fire the entire course of life This phrase in the Greek literally means "the wheel of birth" and seems to mean a person's life from birth until death, even beyond to future generations. Thus we see the intensive and destructive potential of human speech. Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." 1 Peter 3:10 says "For 'whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.'"
#5 The tongue is...set on fire by hell This literally means "being inflamed by Gehenna" Discuss Gehenna - valley south of Jerusalem, used as a garbage dump since was the site in OT where fire god Molech was worshiped by child sacrifice, continually on fire, metaphor Jesus used to describe the punishment and place for those who reject God and Christ. This is THE only use of Gehenna in the NT outside of words of Jesus - James uses it as a metaphor for the activity of the devil in our daily lives and speech. Illustration: Discuss Tasmanian devils and Australian scientists in 2006 discovered cause of mysterious disease that had killed thousands. Initially thought a virus, uncovered a rare, fatal cancer - Devil Facial Tumor Disease or DTFD. Began in the mouth of a single devil and spread from biting each other in face and around the mouth - ultimately wiped out over 40% of population! "A similar fate threatens the church if its members persist in the devilish behavior of wounding their neighbors with their mouths." (Sam O'Neal)
#6 The tongue is...an untameable beast This reflects the fourfold order of the creation of animal species in Genesis 1. God gave mankind dominion over creation and the power to subdue every species - a power that since that tine has been continually exercised. Discuss Sea World & killer whales, belugas. The sad part? Humans can domesticate and control every animal except themselves. Interesting note = James in the Greek adds "of men" to "no-one" Augustine said "he does not say that no-one can tame the tongue, but no-one of men; so that when it is tamed we confess that this is brought about by the pity, the help, the grace of God."
#7 The tongue is...a restless evil Restless translates the same Greek word James used in 1:8 to describe the "double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." As a modifier of evil, it likely means the evil is difficult to control - "always liable to break out" (Phillips). That perfectly describes my tongue!
#8 The tongue is...full of deadly poison This final description reflects OT teaching: evil men "make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the poison of vipers" (Psalm 140:3). The poison our tongues produce "destroys the neighbor" (Proverbs 11:9) and brings the one who sins to ruin also (Proverbs 10:8).
VI. The Untameable Beast: It's Deplorable Propensity (vv. 9-12)
A. As a final, climactic indictment of the tongue, James attributes to it a deplorable propensity.
B. Read and explain James 3:9.
- "To bless God is the sublimest function of the human tongue; thrice daily the devout Jew recited the 'Eighteen Benedictions' with their ending 'Blessed art Thou, O God.'" (Adamson)
- We likewise bless God in prayer. This activity of blessing is cited by James as THE highest, purest, most noble form of speech. The lowest, filthiest, most ignoble form of speech, on the other hand, is cursing. Discuss cursing in the ancient world - it was not just to swear at them; it was to desire that they be cut off from God and experience eternal punishment. Jesus prohibited his disciples from cursing others - He called them instead to "bless those who curse you" (Luke 6:28). What makes cursing particularly heinous is that the one whom we pronounce damned has been made in the image of God!
- Discuss Vicky's comments - "Would you kiss your mother with that mouth?" If not then....How great a hypocrisy that we would bless God during a worship service and then, directly after the service in Wal-Mart parking lot or at our favorite restaurant, curse someone made in God's image! We would do well to take to heart and be doers of the word and not just hearers of the word when it comes to Ephesians 4:29 & Colossians 4:6.
C. Read and explain James 3:10.
- Like Jesus, James sees a person's speech for what it truly is...a matter of the heart. This word come out, proceedeth is the same Greek word Jesus used in Matthew 15:11, 18-20 that we read earlier.
- These things ought not to be so We must take Jesus' warning seriously - read Matthew 12:36-37. Testament of Benjamin 6:5 says: "the good set of mind does not talk from both sides of its mouth: praises and curses, abuse and honor, calm and strife, hypocrisy and truth, poverty and wealth, but it has one disposition, uncontaminated and pure, towards all men."
D. James asserts the incompatibility of a pure heart and impure speech with three final illustrations. Each is in the form of a rhetorical question, expecting an obvious "NO!" for an answer. Read and explain James 3:11-12. The easy follow to all this: Is there any justification for the corrupt, inconsistent pattern of our speech? NO!
- "To the person who speaks praise to God in the worship service and then abuses people verbally at home or at work, James commands, 'Purify your speech through the week.' With the person who says, 'Oh, I know I talk too much,' and laughs it off, James is not amused. He insists, 'Be quick to listen, slow to speak.' By the person who boasts, 'I always speak my mind, no matter who gets hurt,' James is not impressed. He commands, 'Discipline your speaking.' Of the person who says, 'I know I gossip too much, but I just can't help it,' James still requires, 'Control your tongue.' Of the person who is in the habit of speaking with insults, ridicule or sarcasm, James demands, 'Change your speech habits.' He expects discipline to be happening in the life of a Christian. Any Christian can ask for the grace needed, for God gives good gifts and gives them generously. There is, then, no justification for corrupt habits of speech in our churches today." (Stulac)
VII. Conclusion
A. What is the #1 killer, #1 cause of death in America? Heart Disease! Many of you never knew me when I myself had heart disease at 29 years old. Discuss my speech - accent alright! "What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart" I didn't know Christ and my speech reflected it! 12 years later my speech still at times sadly does not reflect that I've been with Jesus! What does YOUR tongue this AM reveal about YOUR heart? Need...the Gos-PILL? Fresh filling of the Holy Spirit? Forgiveness?
B. I simply want to leave us with this line of thought as I close the message this AM: we are about to partake of the Lord's Supper in a few moments. Scripture commands us to examine our hearts before doing so. Jesus said what comes out of our mouth is really coming from the heart. Paul in the MSG writes this about the Lord's Supper: "Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of 'remembrance' you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe." We're going to have an invitation and in that moment I want you to get real with God...He already knows your heart. You need salvation? Is your mouth and thus your heart worthy of taking the Lord's Supper this AM? If not come to the altar this AM and ask God's forgiveness as well as Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, your only hope for controlling the Untameable Beast. Maybe the decision God is calling you to make this AM has nothing to do with your tongue at all - church membership, baptism? God is calling...will you respond?
VIII. Lord's Supper
