Over the generations a lot has been said about the tongue. An anonymous source stated the: “the tongue has no bones but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.” Author Frank Sonnenberg wrote: “It is better to bite your tongue than to eat your words.” Anonymous apparently had a lot of things to say about the tongue adding this quote: “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.” Anonymous also throws this one in: “Who cares for your beauty if your tongue is ugly.” An old proverb says, “The wise person has long ears and a short tongue.” Along those same lines Greek philosopher Diogenes, who died in 323 BC, says, “We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.”
The Bible also has a few words to add to the discussion of tongues: Over in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 26, verse 20 it is written, “Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop.” Also in Proverbs, chapter 19, verse 19: “A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city, and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.” Or maybe this one, Proverbs 13:3: “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
But the Old Testament is not the only place that the Bible speaks about the tongue. Jesus had a lot to say about the tongue. Over in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus had a few things to say. In chapter 15, verse 18 he tells those listening: “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” Over in chapter 12, verses 36 and 37, he states this: “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Even in the early church there was scripture that dealt with the tongue. In Ephesians 4:29 it says: “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.” In 1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” And, Colossians 3:8: “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
Then you have everything that was said in our reading from the Book of James this morning. The writer of the Book of James is pretty blunt with his words, especially when it comes to the tongue. After hearing all of these quotes, secular and sacred, one has to wonder about the tongue: is it friend or foe?
What do you think?
The writer of the Book of James does not share any new theology but instead focuses on practical insights about following in the footsteps of Jesus. The writer takes note of those areas where the faithful stumble, where they have struggles in life, and how they treat and speak of others. The writer in our reading this morning is concerned with how people, especially God’s people, use words. Speech is the primary way in which we interact with others, and it shapes our relationships day by day throughout our lives. The writer understands that then as now, the faithful lie, break promises, spread gossip, violate confidences, and use words to promote themselves and put down others. Because of this it should come as no wonder that the writer has a few things to say.
Words are powerful. I believe this and know this. I learned that a few choice words were more effective in disciplining me than any spanking I could ever receive. Psychological and spiritual pain is worse than physical pain. Healing, if ever, takes a long time. Words can hurt. Words can ruin relationships. Words can start wars. Words can ruin marriages, divide families, and kill friendships. Whoever said, that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”, obviously did not understand the power of words. Words are powerful.
Witness the power of words today. Words we are hearing and saying have gone a long way in creating the divisiveness of the world we are living in today. Words have created the division we feel. Words are no longer used to understand . . . to understand others, society, or the world we live in. Words are no longer used to create connections and relationships. There is no conversation. There is only one way or the highway and abusive name calling when there is disagreement. It is no wonder there is so much divisiveness in the world today. The writer of James states: “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
Hearing this one would definitely think that the tongue is a foe. And, yet, the tongue can be a friend. It has the ability to do both. The writer tells us: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.”
I guess the question becomes what we are going to use our tongues for . . . friend or foe?
The writer of the Book of James has an opinion . . . for good. “My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
I think that is quite obvious that how the tongue is used is up to the owner of the tongue. It can be used to praise and build up, or it can be used to ridicule, tear down, and destroy. There is always a choice. The writer wants those listening or reading to choose, and if the writer had to choose the writer would choose good.
The writer of James does not teach anything new. His words echo the words of previous generations, and at the same time they speak to us today where we are. The writer’s vision was to move the faithful beyond legalism to learning to apply Jesus’ teaching that everything comes down to loving your neighbor and loving God. The writer believed that action spoke louder than words and that sometimes words got in the way of God’s will. Remember that it is by our actions, not our words, that we are remembered. We are remembered by how we love.
It is our choice as to whether or not our tongues are a friend or a foe. Odds are that we are all probably a combination of the two. And, if that is the case, then we still have work to do in our journey as the followers of Jesus. The heart reveals the true self. Jesus said, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” An anonymous writer wrote: “A person’s tongue can give you a taste of his heart.” We should take heed of the words we speak. We should consider whether or not they are building up or tearing down. And, we should always seek to do love as Jesus loved us. We can all do better.
The psalmist, in Psalm 19:14, says it best: “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” May it be our prayer. Amen.
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