The Untamable Tongue

Well, as I mentioned before, we are going to talk about a particular body part today with the title, The Untameable Tongue. The untameable tongue. If you have your Bibles, let's open them up together and turn to James chapter 3. We're going to begin here in James chapter 3 verses 1 through 12, as we do come to this topic of the untameable tongue here in James 3, and this topic of the use of our words, and more specifically, the destructive use of our words. And what we're going to notice in this passage is what is absolutely some of the most rich and creative and vibrant illustrations in all the Bible, describing of all things the tongue.

We're about to read of horses and bits, ships and rudders. We'll read of forest fires, animals and birds, reptiles. I think there's a mention of sea creatures in here. Even a fig tree, an olive tree, grapevines, springs. All of that James now will collect to provide and employ imagery to describe the untameable tongue. Let's read this. James chapter 3, beginning in verse 1 here. My brethren, James begins, so this is speaking to God's people, my beloved, my brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships. Although they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles, and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is set among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird of reptile and creature of the sea is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, but no man can tame the tongue.

It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless God and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in the simultaneous of God, the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives? Or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt, water, and fresh.

Let's stop there. I told you it was quite colorful there. James speaks my language. I love the drama of these words, you know. And we may do well to remind ourselves that the book of James primarily is written not so much to bring a man or woman to faith in Jesus Christ, but the overarching primary purpose of the book of James is to teach those who have already come to faith how to behave, you see.

Not on becoming Christians, necessarily the focus, but rather the overarching purpose of behaving like Christians. And because of that, there are many Christians that have great difficulty with this whole book of James. James puts forth some 60 obligations required of a Christian, 60 obligations in 108 verses. And I've got to tell you, most surround this topic of the tongue and our use of it, and putting forth the understanding of how untameable the tongue is. Now, on occasion, you may have been confronted by a physician or a doctor where you're sitting there and you're already uncomfortable, but they ask you to stick your tongue out at them for observation.

Have anybody been asked that? It might have been something that had done more in the past, but they have that piece of wood, that little that they stick down on your tongue. Perhaps that's looking at your throat, but it's the instruction of sticking your tongue out at someone. It may be the only setting where that's proper. And it's really amazing to talk about in Marvel that a physician is able to detect evidence on the tongue as an indicator of a bigger problem elsewhere on the body, unseen.

Isn't that amazing to marvel at? Able to detect what is seen on the tongue, able to detect what is seen on the tongue, a problem that is otherwise unseen elsewhere. The tongue does that for the physician. And to the extent that that's true in physical terms, James now confronts us with the unmistakable reality that it's also true in spiritual terms, where our tongue, our words speak loudly to our spiritual condition.

Let's turn back a few chapters here. Stay in in James, but look at James chapter 1 in verse 26. James states this fact very clearly here. James 1, and just look at one verse here of the chapter. James 1 verse 26. Look how he begins this book. He says, If anyone among you thinks that he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Wow! If you don't bridle your tongue, James says, you may think you're religious, but in fact your religion is useless. Quite a statement. And you're deceiving yourself. You're deceiving yourself if the tongue is not bridled. So we're beginning to very quickly build the fact that this is a very serious matter, very serious matter, because our tongue, our words, can in fact call into question whether we are a true Christian or not. Our words can call that into question. And in turning back to James chapter 3, we began here in James 3, because this is the part of the letter that gives most attention to it. And here in chapter 3, in verse 1, we see very quickly that there's a warning to would-be teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. Absolutely a warning to those who have the opportunity to have a amplification to their voice. But in general, you know, we're all teachers. We all have God's spirit. We all are called to be a witness of God, bear testimony of Jesus Christ. So there's great danger in all of us. We all should be engaging in the teaching of God's Word.

And the danger is directly tied to the use of our words in teaching. And there in verse 2, just think of how powerful our word is. You know, we may stumble in many things, he says, verse 2, but if anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man as he's able to bridle the whole body there. So these words, the whole body there, and we understand this impact. If a man is able to not stumble in word, he's going to be perfect, and he's going to be able to bridle the whole body. So as you have success in not stumbling in word, it's going to have a whole body effect. It's going to affect your whole spiritual condition, you see? So as we come into the spring holy days, and as we look to the days of unleavened bread, and look to areas to put out and to put in aspects of our life, well, this is perhaps the greatest area that we could focus on. Bridling, growing in, learning how to better bridle our tongue, because it's going to affect our whole body here. And like the analysis of the physician, James is teaching that our words are going to provide, be an indicator of the condition of our whole spiritual body. Our words do that, and it really lines up. Jesus Christ spoke the same thing. James is not speaking anything new here. You know, Jesus said, for out of the abundance of a man's heart, the mouth speaks.

For your notes, that's Matthew 1234. Matthew 1234. So, you know, just begin to participate in this study. You know, begin to think, you know, I immediately thought of, well, if I'm critical on someone, about someone else, that means I have a critical heart. That's dangerous, you see.

Our words give an indication of what's happening in our heart here. So, this is the foundation of the whole subject matter, and, you know, James really wants them to get it. So, he's just constantly now, at this point, reaching for any kind of imagery. I can almost see him as he's speaking, looking out, and perhaps some of this imagery was before his eyes as he looks to employ it. Beginning in verse 3, of course, where you have the bits of horse's mouth, such a small bit, yet we're able to... they will obey us as we're able to turn their whole body. Ships, same analogy, so large, but driven... they're driven by fierce winds, but turned by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires that ship to go. And then verse 5, you know, here's the connection. The tongue is a little member. It's going to boast great things here. You know, a great forest, a little fire kindles, you know, there. So, very easy to follow, you know. Visually, we're very familiar with these illustrations here, all pointing us to the fact of the tongue's power. Tongue's power. It boasts great things, he says here. I don't know how many have experienced with horses. I don't, but I can imagine. That little bit... you know, horses are just such large animals, and sometimes they have their own mind and their own will. Well, that will can be very quickly directed with just a small little bit, right? He can be steered and ships, you know. Tiny, tiny rudder. Incredible fierce winds are no match for the small rudder here. Amazing.

Despite the size, big results, and it can have power over the whole creature or the vessel there. And then after making these illustrations, he again makes the connection. Verse 5 again, the tongue is a small member, but boasts great things here. A little fire can take down a whole forest. We've watched the news there in California not so long ago, and many of the the investigations produce that it was just a small spark that created such destruction. Such destruction. Take down a whole a whole forest.

Now, of course, we know the tongue, our words, can be used for great influence, for the better, to build, to encourage, be helpful. But this is not James's focus here at this moment. He has moved to put forth the destructive impact, the negative impact, slander, tearing down, rather than building up. Speaking behind the individual's back. The individual not being able to be present, to defend themselves. Gossip, malicious talk, false reports, lies.

These words have the ability to ruin relationships, spoil a reputation, never able to to regain itself. That's the potential. So while the tongue does have great positive potential, it's also potentially a real problem. Real problem. And then beginning in verse 6, he brings into verse 5 and into verse 6, he brings these words. The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, defiles the whole body there. Oh man, it's almost overwhelming there at the end of verse 6. He says, I wonder if he paused here and said, it is set on fire by hell. Hell itself. Whew!

Every kind of beast and bird, reptile creature of the sea, man can tame all those things. He can't tame his tongue. It is, at the end of verse 8, an unruly evil full of deadly poison. Well, tell us how you really think, James.

Oh, this is what we're dealing with here.

Gossip, slander, untruth, as they exit our mouths generated by our tongues, they are ablaze. And in fact, they're set on fire by hell itself, James says.

Words are a powerful thing. So, you know, I got to this point and I thought, okay, let's step back here a little bit. Do we agree with James here? It's worth asking, you know. James, are you going a little overboard here? It's fair to ask, I think. And so, let's consider this. Let's consider, as he describes, a poisonous tongue here. What is happening? What is happening that would justify such strong language from James? Well, I think, you know, what happens is, whenever we participate in words that tear down or degrade a person, whether we believe it true or not, what happens is that it drags down the character of that individual. And no matter if the person on the receiving end of this poison, no matter if they reject it, no matter if they reject and don't support the thing, the unkind thing that was said, nevertheless, the person that's on the receiving end of those poisonous words will find incredible difficulty ever thinking about that individual to which the unkind word was said the same. Incredible difficulty. You know this to be true. It's almost a lasting damage, even if you truly believe that the words that were said did not accurately reflect truth. Nevertheless, it's going to stay with that individual, kind of like a poison in the system.

Even if you reject it and say, no, I don't want to know that, I do not believe about that person, nor I do not want to hear anything further, even if we reject it in that way, we will have great difficulty ever removing that again. Why? Well, as James says, this is a fire that comes forth from hell itself. And it's true. I don't know if James is going overboard here. We got the classic phrase, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Absolutely, maybe the most untrue statement ever given in the history of statements. Ask the 15-year-old who engaged in a physical fight, you know, scuffle, bruises, maybe some scuffs, and then ask them, tell me about a horrible rumor that was spread about you at school.

Now, tell me which had greater impact on you. We know the answer. There's the physical scuffle will heal. And often, as days, you know, just a few days pass, the pain is gone and perhaps forgotten. But man, those poisonous words can last for a lifetime, and those are lifetime bruises, and those are lifetime broken bones, if you will. And you can imagine such a thing running loose. It's loose. It's untameable. That's verse 7 and 8. When he speaks about these, the beasts, verse 7 and bird and reptile and creature, we're able to tame those. But the tongue, at the end of verse 8, it's unruly. It's an evil. It's full of deadly poison, he says. An unruly evil. Too far, James? Aren't we taking things a little too far? Well, let's consider this a little bit deeper here. Would it be fair to say, or is it a stretch? And I want you to participate here. Is it fair or a stretch to say that every sort of evil in the world finds its advancement in an unruly tongue? Is that a fair statement? I'll repeat that. Every sort of evil in the world finds its advancement in an unruly tongue. Every sort of evil finds its promotion. Every sort of evil finds its development in an unruly tongue. Would we agree with that? Every sort of evil disposition, it's set forth. That evil is set forth, reported, reinforced, or spread far and wide by the tongue. So, in fact, when James says it's a world of iniquity, I think he's got it right here. I think he's got it right. An unruly evil. Another translation of that is restless. So, it almost gives you the imagery where you know you heard we read in Job. God asked Job where he's been and I think God asked Satan where he's been and he replies roaming to and fro throughout the earth almost depicting Satan as restless. You know, it's a restless evil there, unable to be tamed. Man can tame just about and dominate just about anything but our tongues, our words. And, you know, again, James is speaking to his beloved, his brethren, the God's people at that time. Think of how many fellowships have been broken or destroyed as a result of a fiery tongue, brothers and sisters in fellowship, set ablaze by slander. And then you have this contrast all the while praising God with that same tongue. That it gives chills up my spine here. That's verse 9 and 10. With it, the tongue, verse 9, we bless. Oh God and Father, we bless you. And then with it, we speak behind our hands, you know, and curse men or whisper in ears. You know, oh, but God, we bless you. You know. And by the way, those to whom you're cursing, they're in the very image of God. That's what he says there at the end of verse 9. And then verse 10, out of the same mouth, perceived blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so there. So the very means by which we honor God, God gave us these the ability, the tongue, to speak. The very means we have to praise God is the very means we employ to curse man and woman. And again, it's in the context of my brethren. These things ought not to be, he says. There.

Sobering. It's really a sobering reminder here. And then to punctuate that, he moves into verse 11 and 12 with this imagery of a spring. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter at the same time? Or does a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine, bear fruits? No, no spring yields both salt water and fresh. So here's this color coming forward again. So there's really something, there's an imagery for anyone, for any and everyone here, to truly try to absorb what he's putting forth. If we are to remain true to our calling, we are going to produce the fruit fitting of who we represent. If this is who we say we are, if we are a son or daughter of God, then the evidence that we're going to put forth, whether it's water or a tree, the evidence is going to be indicative of who we are. It's going to be fitting for who we represent there.

And let me just bring us, if you'll stay with me a little bit longer, a little bit more emphasis on this. Wait, there's more. From Jesus Christ himself, let's just really, we're here, let's just really give ourselves to the impact and heaviness of this. Keep your marker here, but turn with me to Matthew 12 verses 33 through 37, where we find Jesus Christ himself stirring us to this same understanding. So really, James is just passing on with the Master, what he heard from the Master, Jesus Christ himself. Matthew 12 verses 33 through 37, let's just allow the heaviness to be upon us for a little longer, for a little longer here. Matthew 12 verses 33 through 37, Jesus Christ himself says, Here it is.

And by your words, you will be condemned. Let's stop there.

It is upon our words which will give the account on the day of judgment. Jesus Christ himself says, we are either going to speak life or we're going to speak death. And determined from our words will give the account on the judgment day. Heavy. Heavy. So what can we do? What can we do? You know, often the technique of the Bible is in us speakers use the same technique. It puts forth something heavy to get our posture, to get us in a humble posture, and then bring grace and bring mercy and bring encouragement. And that's really what the Bible and the words of Jesus Christ, all inspired by God the Father, want to do here. We want to be justified by our tongue, not condemned by it. So how can we be justified and not condemned? Well, let me just say two things. Two things. So that we can be justified and not condemned by our word. We're going to just have two points. The first point is going to look inward. And then the second point is going to look outward to help our brothers and sisters as well on this journey. All right. Number one, looking inward. Number one, to ensure that we are justified and not condemned. Today, number one, acknowledge that you have an untamable tongue and repent. That's number one. Acknowledge that you have an untamable tongue and repent.

Ask God to show you where there is the evidence on your tongue that is not fitting of who we represent. And then ask God to help you turn from that. Everyone has an untamable tongue. Myself, yourselves, it's all true of all of us. So you acknowledge it and repent. You know, the repentance process is the most beautiful process that God has ever ordained for us. It's the process by which we can move from death back into life.

Bringing it to God and asking for His grace to be poured upon us. Pray. Choose some mornings to pray over your words. Dedicate your words to God. Ask God to pour His love and grace over our tongues, if you will. And again, here James is writing to the fellowship of God's people. And you see this issue is all throughout Scripture. Paul addresses quite a bit. Paul wrote one time to the Corinthian church. He said, "'I fear that when I come to you, I won't find you as I want you to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, backbiting, and whisperings.'" For your notes, that's 2 Corinthians 1220. 2 Corinthians 1220. So that was a fear of Paul's. That when I come to you, I'm worried about what I'll find. Of all things, to God's fellowship, this is what I'm going to find. I'm worried about that.

So it was an absolute issue with God's people then. It's an absolute issue with God's people today. So the command is, and what James is putting forth here, is that we're guilty. So we acknowledge our guilt. We're great sinners.

But the good news is, the good news is, Christ is a great Savior of great sinners. That's the good news. That's the good news of the Gospel, of the coming Kingdom of God.

And the call is to acknowledge it, so that we'll invite the Savior into our lives. The beautiful part about residing in this lowliness of our sin, it really will weld up in your heart the fact that you need a Savior. That's the beautiful part about dwelling in our sin and what these upcoming spring holy days allow us to do, is because we look up and we give ourselves in humility to our Savior. When we think about the magnificence of God and how rebellious our tongue is, it puts us in a position of great opportunity for spiritual growth. So how do you respond? Well, we acknowledge it and we grab ahold of God's grace and power to change. You know, don't cower to an untamable tongue. Conquer it. With God's help, you will conquer it. You know, just pray this prayer. God, change me from inside and allow that change, allow the evidence of that change to come forward in the words I speak. I want to speak life. I want to speak life. And He'll answer that prayer. And you'll stand up from, and you'll straighten your shoulders, and you'll go forth a new man, a new woman, in new clothing, once again, to represent God the Father and Jesus Christ with our tongue. Well, that's number one. Number two, we're going to look outward. So number one was looking inward. Number two, we're going to look outward. So the second and final aspect with asking, what do we do? Number two, begin to dig ditches. Okay? That's number two. Begin to dig ditches. What does a slanderous tongue need? Well, it needs two ears to receive it, right? It needs two ears to love, to accept that information. It takes two. That's why we need to dig a ditch whenever there's a fire, a fiery tongue, in front of us. Did you know that firefighters, while their primary means by which to fight a forest fire is to, of course, bring water to the event? Absolutely. Simultaneously, many times, if it's a big enough fire, they will also begin to dig. They will begin to dig ditches.

Fiercely digging. So that when the fire is coming, it will not be able to proceed any further than that ditch. And the wider the ditch, the less chance that fire can jump to the other side. So when a fiery tongue comes to you, dig a ditch. Be like those ditches.

Where the individual will say, you know, there's no point in going to that individual. They don't engage me. It's no fun, you know, with my fiery words. They don't participate. They don't pass it on. They don't encourage it. So in a sense, we're helping our brothers and sisters in that way. And you're not better than the individual, the brother or sister, that has the fiery tongue. No, but you're, we're all sinners, but you're there to help them. And you might say, you know, I don't know if that's true, but even if it is true, have you spoken to them? Maybe we shouldn't talk about that, you know.

I've even said things like, well, you know, when something's given to me, well, I've been guilty of that, too. You know, whatever is being passed on to me, you know, that's a difficult challenge, you know.

Perhaps they didn't mean it that way, you know. You present, you're digging ditches. To stop the fire in its tracks.

So, let's put our focus on these two things. I'm sure you agree. This is an incredible passage, a credible word from James regarding the untamable tongue. And with that, I would like to conclude with a portion of a poem I found. This poem is written by Patricia Grantham. It's titled, The Fiery Tongue. I'd like to just read you a portion of it. I think it gives us a good summary today, and we will conclude with this poem. The fiery tongue, a part of the body that can either wound or heal, can speak cruel words of hate or love so real, will build up high and can also tear down, speak words that can save or either let drown. The words that are spoken can harm or good, can do harm or good. Its lies and deceit is not always understood, but a tongue can be tamed, whether you believe it or not. So put out its burning fire and give it all. You got.