Articles
“Taming the Tongue”
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. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body
James 3:1-2
James has a lot to say about the Christian’s speech (1 :19, 26). In chapter 3 of his letter he attacks the problem at length by beginning with teachers. Proverbs 10:19 says, “when words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” This puts teachers in a pickle. To teach they must use “many words” and yet still must show prudence and restraint. Teachers are “judged with greater strictness” because of the influence their words have on others. Careless words can easily set people down the wrong path. James’ warning echoes the words of Jesus in other places (Mt. 12:33-37; 15:14; Lk. 12:48; Mk. 12:40).
“We all stumble in many ways.” In contrast to the diversity of ways we stumble, we all fail in our speech. James says that if we learn to tame our tongues we will also be able “to bridle [our] whole body,” i.e. our lives.
James goes on to write about the impact of our words (Jas. 3:3-6). He contrasts the disproportionate impact between the size of two instruments—bit and rudder—and the objects they control—horse and ship. Just as the bit determines the direction of a big horse and a rudder can steer a huge ship, the tongue can determine the destiny of a whole person. If we could control our speech we could direct our lives in their proper, divinely charted course; we would, in fact, be “perfect” (2). But when our tongue is unrestrained, our whole lives are out of control.
The tongue is little but lethal. James likens its destructive potential to a small spark that starts a forest fire (Prov. 16:27). The tongue is like a little world all of its own containing all kinds of evil (6), because through speech much evil finds expression. Our entire “course of life,” from the cradle to the grave, can be scorched by tongues set on fire by the flames of hell itself. Therefore, we need to appreciate the impact words can have. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Prov. 18:21)
Next, James explains the difficulty of control (Jas. 3:7-8). He alludes to creation in the four-fold division of the animal kingdom (beast, bird, reptile, sea creature, Gen. 1:26). All these animals have been “tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.” This statement does not give us license to say what we want because we just can’t help it. Rather, it’s an admission of our weakness and a warning to keep our tongues on a tight leash. We dare not give it free reign. “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Prov. 29:11)
Notice James does not say “the tongue cannot be tamed” but “no human being can tame the tongue.” Therefore, we look beyond ourselves to God for help. With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. We must learn to pray with the psalmist, “Set a guard over my mouth, keep watch over the doors of my lips.” (Psa. 141:3)
Finally, James writes of the nature of speech (Jas. 3:9-12) and how it reveals the heart. James warned earlier against being “double-minded” which leads to an unstable life (1:7-8). Here he warns of being double-tongued. “With [our tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in the likeness of God.” Contradictory speech from a forked tongue reveals a corrupt heart. Echoing Jesus (Mt. 12:33-37), James appeals to nature to show how “these things ought not to be so.” Fig trees don’t bear olives, grapevines don’t produce figs and you can’t get salt water from a fresh water spring. Likewise, if our hearts are cleansed in Christ (Psa. 51:10), how can we spew forth such filth? “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” There must be a consistency in our speech (Mt. 5:33-37). Christians ought to be “blessing-only” people rather than “blessing and cursing” people.
These warnings about speech lead us back to the cross for chastening and cleansing (Jas. 4:7-10). Let us examine our communication in light of what Jesus did for us. The gospel can act as a filter, training us to use our lips to bless and heal instead of curse and wound. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 5:29) “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:6)
Angry words! O let them never
From the tongue unbridled slip.
May the heart’s best impulse ever
Check them ‘ere they soil the lip.
