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James, Part 9

The Awesome Power of the Tongue

When we preachers and Bible teachers discuss the tongue we are nearly always condemning gossip, lying, cursing, tale-bearing and other things that folks do with their tongues which they should not. James addresses this aspect of bad tongues when he talks about blessing and cursing. However, he also makes a strong warning against using the tongue to teach false things about God and Truth. He even goes so far as to say, "Be not many of you teachers". 

Two things occur to me as I think about his warning. First, we are so prone to claim the right to express our opinion. Such statements as, "Everyone has a right to his opinion", or, "One opinion is just as good as another", are commonly heard. James does not believe that everyone has a right to express his opinion. When you put words to your opinion, you are in fact, proposing to instruct, or give facts to others. You become, for the moment, a teacher. James says, "Be careful, for those who teach will receive more exacting judgment". No opinion should ever be given expression until the one who holds it has carefully thought about the subject, and studied to make sure the opinion has solid validity. Classes where everyone is free to express any opinion that happens to come to mind, are classes where much error can be taught. They may please the egos of those who participate, but those who do, come under the opprobrium of James as teachers who should not be. 

In any Bible class, you are talking about the most important subject in the world, and those who discuss it should only do so after prayerful study and serious consideration of Him who is the Author of all Truth. We should act more like humble students, seeking to learn, and less like those who know all the truth, and are ready to set everyone else straight. 

As Americans, we might prize our "free speech", and claim the right to use it any way we please. However, as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we must give greater concern to what we say. Religious people are especially guilty of adamantly expressing their opinions as matters of fact, without ever examining, in careful study, the validity of that opinion. Much violence has been done to the Word of God in the hands of those who speak loudly, but never carefully study, nor listen closely to, the message revealed in the Bible. Few things are as difficult to combat as pious error expounded as the opinion of those who have a smattering of knowledge, and consider that they understand the whole Will of God. The most difficult thing to do is to get such people to even admit that their stated opinion might be wrong. This is what James is talking about when he says, "Be swift to hear and slow to speak". It is also embedded in his warning, "Be not many of you teachers".

The second solemn message in this warning is aimed at those who make the pulpit their profession. Christianity has been greatly harmed by those preachers and teachers who take themselves more seriously than they do the awesome task of filling their mouths with the Word of God. We have too may social lecturers, coaches, motivational speakers, cheer leaders and fund raisers masquerading as preachers of the Gospel.

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When James talks about the untamed tongue, he is not simply talking about loose talk, bitter words, curses and gossip. He has in mind those who claim to preach and teach the truth, but who haven't listened to the Master closely enough to really hear what He has to say. In our recent study in this class, we undertook to focus on the "Concerns of Jesus". More preachers would do well to imitate that goal in what flows from their pulpits. The divisions which have wracked the religious world, have nearly all been led by individuals who used the pulpit as their private platform, from which to express their personal hobbies, points of view, or opinions, with no thought to the consequences in the life of the individuals who heard, nor the unity and edification of the body, for which they were responsible.

No harsher words are to be found in the Bible than those James uses in this dissertation on the tongue. Not only should those who use the tongue to curse others, and do harm to their fellowman, take heed, but from the highest and most powerful pulpit to the lowliest student in some obscure Bible class, we should all pause and consider what a powerful tool for destruction, as well as for good, we have the responsibility for controlling. The untamable tongue. When we preachers and Bible teachers discuss the tongue we are nearly always condemning gossip, lying, cursing, tale-bearing and other things that folks do with their tongues which they should not. James addresses this aspect of bad tongues when he talks about blessing and cursing. However, he also makes a strong warning against using the tongue to teach false things about God and Truth. He even goes so far as to say, "Be not many of you teachers".

Two things occur to me as I think about his warning. First, we are so prone to claim the right to express our opinion. Such statements as, "Everyone has a right to his opinion", or, "One opinion is just as good as another", are commonly heard. James does not believe that everyone has a right to express his opinion. When you put words to your opinion, you are in fact, proposing to instruct, or give facts to others. You become, for the moment, a teacher. James says, "Be careful, for those who teach will receive more exacting judgment". No opinion should ever be given expression until the one who holds it has carefully thought about the subject, and studied to make sure the opinion has solid validity. Classes where everyone is free to express any opinion that happens to come to mind, are classes where much error can be taught. They may please the egos of those who participate, but those who do, come under the opprobrium of James as teachers who should not be. 

Back to top

In any Bible class, you are talking about the most important subject in the world, and those who discuss it should only do so after prayerful study and serious consideration of Him who is the Author of all Truth. We should act more like humble students, seeking to learn, and less like those who know all the truth, and are ready to set everyone else straight. 

As Americans, we might prize our "free speech", and claim the right to use it any way we please. However, as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we must give greater concern to what we say. Religious people are especially guilty of adamantly expressing their opinions as matters of fact, without ever examining, in careful study, the validity of that opinion. Much violence has been done to the Word of God in the hands of those who speak loudly, but never carefully study, nor listen closely to, the message revealed in the Bible. Few things are as difficult to combat as pious error expounded as the opinion of those who have a smattering of knowledge, and consider that they understand the whole Will of God. The most difficult thing to do is to get such people to even admit that their stated opinion might be wrong. This is what James is talking about when he says, "Be swift to hear and slow to speak". It is also embedded in his warning, "Be not many of you teachers".

The second solemn message in this warning is aimed at those who make the pulpit their profession. Christianity has been greatly harmed by those preachers and teachers who take themselves more seriously than they do the awesome task of filling their mouths with the Word of God. We have too may social lecturers, coaches, motivational speakers, cheer leaders and fund raisers masquerading as preachers of the Gospel.

When James talks about the untamed tongue, he is not simply talking about loose talk, bitter words, curses and gossip. He has in mind those who claim to preach and teach the truth, but who haven't listened to the Master closely enough to really hear what He has to say. In our recent study in this class, we undertook to focus on the "Concerns of Jesus". More preachers would do well to imitate that goal in what flows from their pulpits. The divisions which have wracked the religious world, have nearly all been led by individuals who used the pulpit as their private platform, from which to express their personal hobbies, points of view, or opinions, with no thought to the consequences in the life of the individuals who heard, nor the unity and edification of the body, for which they were responsible.

No harsher words are to be found in the Bible than those James uses in this dissertation on the tongue. Not only should those who use the tongue to curse others, and do harm to their fellowman, take heed, but from the highest and most powerful pulpit to the lowliest student in some obscure Bible class, we should all pause and consider what a powerful tool for destruction, as well as for good, we have the responsibility for controlling. The untamable tongue. 

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