A few weeks ago, we started a year-long journey chronological study of the New Testament today. Hence the reason we are calling this message series Chronos. It's a word that means “time.” We will be journeying through time back to the start of the early church. We will be doing this by walking through the books of James, Thessalonians, Galatians and Corinthians. We will take a few detours along the way for the major Christian holidays. However, we will be opening up our bibles each week to unpack the scriptures as they were present in the early church.
We start with the book of James because it is the earliest writing determined by present day scholarly dating.
It is the first book or letter written to this new ‘church’ or gathering.
It was written by Jesus to his first half brother, James.
It was written to the messianic Jews who had come to believe Jesus was the Messiah and those first followers who weren't Jewish called Gentiles who had become aware of and believed in Jesus.
It was written to the first bad actors and their practices that were stunting the movement’s growth.
Pastor Peter did a good job of challenging us to look within ourselves at our faith and our deeds. It’s never easy to point out spiritual blind spots while being convicted of our own at the same time. This week we will continue the journey by diving back into James.
We live in a day when in many cities Christianity is losing its place of respect and influence. While many church members are quick to say they are people of faith, the world shouts back with a nagging question, “Really? Your words about the world and about each other tell a different story” As a result, Christianity has lost its voice in so many communities, we have soiled the reputation of Jesus by what we say as much as by what we do. Barna research in a 2019 study found:
Non-Christians are predisposed to hold negative ideas about evangelicals, favoring adjectives like “narrow-minded” (34%), “homophobic” (30%), “misogynistic” (21%), “racist” (17%) and “uptight” (20%).
How did the movement created by Jesus be so disparage? The answer can be found in today’s scriptures from James. Let’s dive into James 3 beginning in verse 1.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
Let’s stop there. Words are powerful. Self-esteem and self-confidence are often learned or lost in a parent’s words when we are children. Ask almost anyone about their memories of a words spoken by their parents, they will often share the negative ones before the positive. On the flip side, ask any responsible parent if they’ve apologized to their children for a poor choice of words, they will tell you of one of the hardest moments in life. Emotions can get the best of us.
Our Lord himself considered careless speech to be a very serious matter. As Matthew would record Jesus as saying:
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” - Matthew 12:36-37
Thus, James makes the first of three statements about the tongue.
SLIDE: Controlled speech is directive
Controlled speech is directive. Like a bridle on a horse or a rudder on a ship, it sets us on course and gives us direction in life.
I can remember hearing a while ago the three statements I should ask myself before opening my mouth and unleashing my tongue: is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? And only after I have answered those, then I should ask, Does this really need to be said? Does this really need to be said by me? Does it need to be said now?
Let’s continue from the middle of verse five.
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
SLIDE: Contentious speech is destructive.
Having spoken about the potential of the tongue for good, the tongue also has a potential for evil. Controlled speech is directive, but contentious speech is destructive. James illustrates the point with fire (James 3:5-6) and poison (James 3:8) to support his case. Like a serpent’s poison, the venom of an untamed tongue can kill reputations that have been years in the making.
I have been on both ends of this situation. I had a relationship with a person I was mentoring. He came in to tell me he was ending the relationship out of the blue. He shared some disparaging comments that hurt. I reacted. I shared harsh observations justifying them as constructive. While they were truthful, I wish I would have handled the conversation differently.
I also have had a mentee come in and because they disagreed with my questioning, retaliate with a full blown rant on my personality, ministry and even my faith. Needless to say, It caused pain. However, in this last event, I didn’t react. I responded.
The difference between reacting and responding is emotion. When we get emotional our mind reacts and our tongue follows suit. We lose. When we respond, we look to remove as much emotion from the interaction so our response doesn’t contain any ill will. Listen to James,
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
There are a lot of terms across the United States to describe conflicting, deceptive speech. In Arizona, the word is hassayampa (hassa yep pey) (also hassayamper) and according to the Dictionary of American Folklore, “There was a popular legend that anyone who drank of the Hassayampa River in Arizona would never again tell the truth.” Or in eastern Alabama or Western Georgia, you might hear “ You’re a Jacob” if someone thinking your lying. In Northwest Texas and Arkansas they might say, “You’re filling a load” or in Indiana or Maryland, You’re spinning some yarn.” People lie for a variety of reasons and it’s rarely for good. To lie by omission or commission creates discord.
SLIDE: Conflicting speech is deceptive.,
In these verses, James describes a man who praises the Lord for all he has done for him and in the next breath curses his neighbor. James says that in doing this the man is deceiving himself. Conflicting speech is deceptive, and according to James “this should not be!”
So why can’t we tame our tongue?
In a world with so many technological advancements, how come we haven’t come up with one for speech. No matter how hard a man tries, he has difficulty taming the tongue. Education cannot do it. Turning over a new leaf cannot do it. Our tongue is attached to our heart. The only way to change the heart is to have a supernatural transformation. Only Christ can enable us to control ourselves and cause our words to be constructive, honest, and loving. Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
So the next time you are in a tough situation and don’t know what to say,
SLIDE: PAUSE> PRAY >PROCEED
“Never say in anger what you don’t mean, because you can say you’re sorry, but you can’t take it back.”
Satan can use our tongue to cause division, putting others down, bragging, false teaching, exaggeration, complaining, or just flat out lying. It only takes a few words to hurt someone. Wounds heal but they leave scars that never disappear.
Proverbs 18:21 puts it this way: “The tongue has the power of life and death.” The stakes are high.
Your words can either speak life, or your words can speak death. Our tongues can build others up, or they can tear them down.
Words have life - Words don't die even when people die
Seasons will change, your words will not change - remain
A recent survey of more than 1,000 Brits found that that the average person says ‘sorry’ around eight times per day – and that one in eight people apologize up to 20 times a day.
“The readiness of the English to apologize for something they haven’t done is remarkable, and it is matched by an unwillingness to apologize for what they have done,” wrote Henry Hitchings in his aptly-titled Sorry!: The English and their Manners.
The origins of the word ‘sorry’ can be traced to the Old English ‘sarig’ meaning “distressed, grieved or full of sorrow”, but of course, most British people use the word more casually.
Essentially, apologies need to be non-defensive and include important statements, such as an acceptance of responsibility, an acknowledgment of the harm caused to the victim or a commitment to changing or stopping the offending behavior.
Pause - Do not react. Wait a few moments. The feelings rushing through your body are just that. Feelings are not facts. (don't let your feelings drive your tongue, let your heart drive it)They just are a physical reaction to a situation. Rarely are we in a life and death situation so pause. I know some who say well I have to react because the other person is saying a whole host of things that are not true and I don’t want to forget. PAUSE. Don’t worry about losing what you have to say. If what you have to say is REALLY important it will stay with you.
Pray - Pray for the Holy Spirit’s presence to descend at that moment. “Holy Spirit come” said 3 times or more with sincerity, followed by these questions will help to train your tongue to be connected to your changed heart than your physical body:
Does this need to be said? Of course it does or I wouldn’t think to say it. That is wrong. If the person isn’t ready and open to input, we are speaking for our own gratification.
Does this need to be said now? A lot of good responses can wait. If the other is emotional, now may not be the time. No damage is done by my tongue if it stays in my mouth.
Does this need to be said by me?
PROCEED - If the answer to all three is “yes” then Proceed. If you are sure you are to proceed, do so with love.
The challenge this week is to control your tongue and practice being a follower of Christ who is known for their ability to overcome their emotions and reactions to become more Christ like by responding with love.
After all, being a Christ follower requires having control of body, mind and spirit as we encounter the world as witnesses and co-labors in bringing a little heaven to earth.
