“Taming the tongue” (James 3:1-12)

James 3:1-12

Listen to Sermon

Pastor Tom Johnson, September 16, 2018

“For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James does not mince words. He sees the destruction—the hurtful things people say, the broken relationships, bullying, slander, and gossip. He gives us a perfect illustration of the reality of the human tongue—no one can tame the tongue. It’s a jungle out there. Tongues are running wild. Tongues are tearing things up and tearing things down. Tongues are spitting poison and spreading poison. Tongues are running around
without boundaries or accountability. And apparently, things have not changed in the course of these last two thousand years. That is a long time to domesticate the tongue, that wild beast. We have trained dolphins to serve the United States Navy. We have trained homing pigeons to deliver our mail. We have trained dogs to guide the blind and sniff out bombs.

But we have utterly failed to train that little, red, squishy, wet muscle that resides in our very own mouths. We bless and curse with the same tongue. And James says, “It is so” but “It ought not to be so”! We cannot help ourselves. We know in our brain that it is wrong to judge, gossip, slander, and tear people down with our words. And even though our brain is within inches of our tongues, we are helpless to put a muzzle on that feral creature.

The book of proverbs is rich with how God wants us to tame our speech: “The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin” (10:8). “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off” (10:31). “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a person of understanding remains silent” (11:12). “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but the one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered” (11:13). “When there are many words, sin is not lacking, but whoever restrains their lips is prudent” (10:19). And my favorite, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent” (17:28). Or, as one person put it, “Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” It is our tongues that betray us. Because at the root of our tongues is the sin in our hearts and the palpable evil in the world. Our tongues are not just difficult to control, reign in, or restrain. James says it is impossible. “No one can tame the tongue,” he says. But of course, what is impossible for humans is possible for God.

A few weeks ago, I took my kids to see the movie Alpha. It is a movie based on archeological evidence that scientists estimate is 24,000 years old in Chavet Cave in modern day France. It is two footprints in clay, side by side, for over 150 feet. One track is of an 8-10 year old child and the other of a full grown wolf. The movie is about the relationship between a wild wolf and a boy. I promise not to spoil the movie for you if you choose to see it. But one beautiful thing about the story is how the boy tames the wolf and the wolf tames the boy. The key to their leaving their wild instincts behind is survival. They are better off working together for their mutual good than they are fighting to stay alive alone. We have been able to tame wild animals when we show them there is a benefit they will also receive in this relationship.

James is saying that our tongues have nothing to gain by learning to obey and be helpful. And the reason is that the tongue is set afire by hell. Or as Jesus says to Peter in our Gospel, his words are not from himself but Satan, the Adversary! James wants us to see that we are better off working together for our mutual good—to bless and build one another up with our words. It is truly a jungle out there. Life is difficult enough. There are plenty of adversaries. Why add our wild tongues to the mix? The reality is that the tongue has tamed us! And that we truly cannot help ourselves. Our own hearts are held captive by sin and that venom comes spewing out of our mouths. It ought not to be so. Every week before I preach I pray, “O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise. Make haste, O God, to deliver me. Make haste to help me, O Lord.” “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.”

You’ll remember that Pentecost was the day God showed that he can tame the tongue. The Holy Spirit came in as fiery tongues. God’s people were able to speak in various tongues, languages, and dialects proclaiming the mighty acts of God. They blessed and did not curse their neighbor. The drew people into the Kingdom not driving them away. If someone visits our community of faith and hears us gossiping and not speaking well of each other, they will run away and never come back because we are like a wild hornets nest. That is why God sends the Holy Spirit enters into our lives through Baptism and the Word of God. He helps us use our tongues for blessing not cursing, to build up not tear down, to glorify God not profane humanity. Even when Jesus was dying on the Cross, he used his tongue for blessing and not for cursing. Even though he could have called an army of angels to destroy his enemies he says, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” When Jesus died, he did not just set us free from the consequences of sin, evil and death. He frees us from their power. In him we are made new body, soul, and tongue.