SPITFIRE (September 16, 2012)
Text: James 3:1- 12
Jas 3:1-12 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (2) For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. (3) If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. (4) Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. (5) So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! (6) And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. (7) For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, (8) but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (9) With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. (10) From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. (11) Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? (12) Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh (NRSV).
How many times did you ever hear the saying, “Stick and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me?” There is intended wisdom and encouragement in those words. It has been said, “The lines carry with themselves their own contradiction, for if words did not have power to do harm, the lines would not be necessary”. (Walter Brueggemann, Charles B. Cousar, Beverly R. Gaventa, and James D. Newsome. Texts For Preaching:A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV – Year B. Lousiville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993, p. 509). I remember hearing those words in my youth when I faced bullies. I certainly did not think that those words--- “words can never hurt me” were true. Physical wounds caused by sticks and stones will heal a lot faster than wounds that are caused by words. There sure are a lot of political stone throwing and stick throwing ads in every election! We have to remember that all of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
If the tongue is referred to as a fire, then we would have to say that the tongue is capable of spitting fire. James 3:5 says “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 course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (TNIV). James 1:19 tells us that we “...should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (TNIV). How many times have we spit fire and have said more than we meant to say? How many times have we lost our cool? James is talking about teaching and self-control as it relates to speech.
TEACHING
Is James singling out teachers? After taking a really deep look at things, we would have to say yes and also no. Someone (Daniel Owens) says “Whether we are in the classroom, at work, at home, or just dealing with people on a daily basis, we are all teaching.” (Daniel Owens. Faith That Is Real. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Victor (an Imprint of Cook Communication Ministries), 2006, p. 103). We are called to be humble believers who think of others before we think of ourselves (Philippians 2:2). Like John the Baptist we are called to live our lives in such a way that Christ becomes greater and we become less (John 3:30). So yes, James does seem to be singling out teachers. It also appears that James is implying that we all teach something about who we are and who our Lord is by our behavior.
Can teachers really be perfect? If we are all sinners because we fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) then how can we be anywhere near perfect---flawless? Someone (Pheme Perkins) points out that James illustrates how our speech as Christians can fall short. If we speak words that honor the rich and dishonor the poor (James 2:3); if we greet a brother or sister without providing assistance (James 2:16); or if we claim to have faith without words to show it (James 2:18), then we have fallen short of God's glory. (Pheme Perkins. Interpretation: First and Second Peter, James, and Jude. Louisville, Kentucky: 1995, p. 115). If we cannot be perfect then how do we work on perfection? Listen to these verses from Jesus once said “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40 NIV). We learn by not judging our brothers and sisters but by working on our own flaws (Luke 6:41). We also learn by “... working out our salvation by fear and trembling allowing God to work in us to will and act in order to fulfill God's purposes (Philippians 2:12 – 13 TNIV).
SELF CONTROL
Can we successfully practice self-control apart from God? Apart from God, we cannot succeed because we would be operating by the influence of the flesh---the sinful nature. According to Paul, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what the sinful nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 7:5 – 6 NIV). Without the Spirit who gives us the gift of self- control (Galatians 5:23) we would offer parts of our body to sin and instruments of wickedness (Romans 6:13 NIV paraphrased). All of these things point out that how words can be used like weapons.
Can our tongues control our whole bodies? Bridles and bits control horses. Rudders control ships and though our tongues are small they can control us (James 3:4 – 5). James likens the human tongue and its ability to spit fire with a small fire that could ignite a whole forest (James 3:5 – 6). It can [defile (KJV)] or contaminate our whole lives (James 3:6 CEB). James says that we can tame every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish but we cannot tame the tongue. We can use our tongues to bless or curse others (James 3:7 – 10).
Bless and curse not (Romans 12:14 KJV). Someone once coined some terms that are helpful in evaluating ourselves. Those terms are the "Balcony people" and their opposites the "Basement people". (Terms coined by Joyce Landorf in her book Balcony People). "Balcony people … are those who affirm others and lift them. Basement people on the other hand, drag people down, belittle them. There are many ways of dividing people in the world---good and bad, sheep and goats, givers and grabbers, have and have-nots. Balcony people and basement people is a new designation, and a helpful one.
"Balcony people are the ones who encourage us when we have a new idea or plan. They are the ones who shout "Yeah!" "Right on!" "You can do it!" "Go for it!" At the same time the basement people are shouting, "What a dumb idea!" "We've tried that before!" "Are you kidding!" " (Robert A. Wallace. 56 Devotions On Short Notice. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992, p. 74). I am sure that all of us can think of both the basement and the balcony people in our lives.
Jackie Robinson’s story has both the basement and the balcony people: “One day the jeering and heckling got to him. He was ready to quit until a friend Pee Wee Reese told Jackie that he believed in him telling him that he was greatest baseball player he had ever seen. He even told him that he felt sure that he would be a “hall-of-famer”. In 1962 Jackie became a “hall-of-famer”. He recalled what pee Wee said to him that day as he said, “Pee Wee saved my life and my career that day. I had lost my confidence and he picked me up with words of encouragement. He gave me hope when all hope was gone.” . (Daniel Owens. Faith That Is Real. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Victor (an Imprint of Cook Communication Ministries), 2006, p. 103). We have to ask ourselves, which one are we? Are we Basement people or Balcony people? Do our words bless or curse?
What do our words say about the contents of our hearts? What do our words communicate about us (Matthew 7:16 -20 “ our fruit”)? We speak based on the contents of our hearts (Matthew 12:34- 37 compare with Proverbs 18:21). Again, we have to ask ourselves, which one are we? Are we Basement people or Balcony people? Do our words bless or curse?
“One of the greatest political minds in America belonged to that of [South Carolina’s own] Lee Atwater [Harvey Leroy Atwater]. He was known for his keen political insight and for his questionable political techniques that would help his candidate win the election. Atwater considered politics to war. Obviously, this kind of life was meant only to please his candidate. His gospel was to win at any cost, and enemies made along the way were considered to be trophies collected during the political war.
One day, his world would come to a screeching halt. Atwater discovered that he had a malignant brain tumor. All of a sudden he saw life in a different light. In the remaining month of his life, he gave his heart to Christ. Lee Atwater began to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with whomever would listen (and a lot did). He also made it a point to repent for his political sins and went to each of his self-made enemies to ask for their forgiveness. It was not long after Atwater became a Christian where he left this world where the only politician is the Lord Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Practical Illustrations. Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001, p. 9). Why should it shock us that the Gospel is a wrecking ball to this kind of behavior?
When we allow the gospel to changes us, like Atwater and like the New Testament letter James tells us, we can no longer comfortably be arsonists with our words!!! If James is telling us anything, then the one thing that he is sure about is that our words and our actions do really matter. What do our words and actions say to others about who we are as Christians? That is a question that we have to answer daily!
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
