The POWER of WORDS

Read: James 3:1-12

Introduction

The church has no economic, political & military power; but it can unleash words that are sanctified by God for the profit of all.

Bridle your tongue

The apostle James wrote to Jewish Christians who were facing poverty & oppression away from their home country, learning an experience the hard way. Their situation was loaded with various trials & temptations & the weight of worldliness was pressed upon them. Given the background & the spiritual issue at hand, this letter tells them that it is easier to sin in the tongue in the time of their outward deeds & religious duties. The third chapter, then, is not only for those who might want to teach, but for all Christians as well. We are inexcusable if we speak in an unguarded & hasty speech. We know that all personality-types shall be tainted with this sin. In our mundane, day-to-day dealings in our home, work & leisure, Sunday is not exempted from tongue’s sin; the Lord’s Day is not off the hook from the tongues’ destructive power. Therefore, we fight for true religion & pure service 24/7 of the time.

The impact of words

Let us remember then, that for a thousand tongues there was a force that was words, that words are still mightier than the sword. For consider God, voicing-out His speech in the beginning, Let there be light, and there was light (Gen.1:3). Let us rejoice with John Calvin who for him this creation is the theatre of God’s glory. Let us soberly exalt God’s providence, which is his almighty and everywhere present power… whereby… He upholds & governs heaven, earth, & all creatures; so that herbs & grass, rain & drought, fruitful & barren years, meat & drink, health & sickness, riches & poverty, yea and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand (Heidelberg Catechism, Q27). The reason if whenever we confess the grandeur of God with awe is because He made us for himself and our hearts find no peace until it rest in Him (Augustine). To the youth, are you Young, Restless & Reformed (Collin Hansen)? To the aged & to the widows, the words The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (John Owen) are a sure comfort – most especially in times of remorse & sadness. When guilt-feelings beat you with more strokes, Christ’s Sacrifice is All-Comprehensive (RBM). And in the lowly language that is the Gospel, we are graciously seized by words – for the foolishness of God is wiser than men & the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1Cor.1:25)

James’ vivid portraits

Our Tongue is inflammatory, inconsistent, irreversible, inconsiderate, incredible, untamable, unruly & unkind. (Explanations: the tongue is like a spark in fire & is a fire, v.5-6; with it we bless God & curse men, v.9; we can not just delete the sword-like thrust of our tongue, Prov.12:18; no ministries, no persons & no days shall be exempted from its influence; ‘words have a way of escaping our mouths before they are carefully considered’ (Douglas Moo); every animals is tamable except it, v.7; the tongue will have its own way if without bridles, v.3; it is full of deadly poison, v.8. But, however destructive the power of the tongue is, there is still two, edifying, God-given & Christ-handed gifts to the church – Teaching & Worship.

Teaching & Worship

The author deliberately identifies teaching & worship as the ordinary ministries or activities in the church. The tongue directly affects these two because they’re ministered through words & speech, vs. 1-2, 9-10 – teaching in its teaching ministry & worship in its church gathering (synagogue, 2:2). But let us first be warned (a) avoid the error of Muntzer & the Anabaptists in the 16^th century where they ignorantly & quietly waited for the influence of the H.S. to come upon them (b) avoid the status of being an evangelical church where all members assume, & appoint themselves as teachers in the church.

What does teaching & worship gives? The Reformation excels in promoting a teachable attitude. This is also one of the first signs when a person comes to faith. Teaching constructs the church & builds-up Christians as God’s temple & dwelling place. It encourages us to count it all joy when we meet various tests; to hope before our unchanging Father; to be doers of the Word & not hearers only; to visit the orphans & widows; to show no partiality with the poor; to renounce selfish ambitions, quarrellings & love of money; to pray for those who are sick; to bring back those who wanders from the Lord & cover a multitude of sins. On the other hand, worship is not about us, it’s about God. Knowing God & worshipping Him with all the saints, His perfections & promises shall be enough to satisfy our deepest longings & desires. It’s because Jesus overcame all obstacles that we may worship God with joy & trembling. The Lord gave these ministries to create & define spiritual hunger that we may not wallow in what the world has to offer, but to feast together on the Bread of Life, which came down from Heaven to feed our eager souls. Aspire to have a worship gathering that will approach the Lord humbly & hungry.

Teaching & the Tongue: A call to Prudence

C.J. Mahaney rightly categorize that we are first Christians, then Husband/Wife/Single/Father/Mother, then Employees/Entrepreneurs/Ministers. Considering the varieties of sins attached to speaking, we who regularly listens to the Holy Book have no less lenience from God in terms of doing & practicing the Word. We regularly failed on our tongue just as a teacher who prepares his/her material. Like flattery – telling people what they want to hear, Prov.29:5/A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. And cruel jokes – which falls under lies, Prov.26:18/Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows & death is the man who deceives his neighbor & says, ‘I am only joking!’. Gossip – indirect passing of stories that are not fitting to repeat, Prov.17:9/Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Slander – direct attack on the person, Prov.11:13/Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets. Grouchy – frictional attitude is their habitual aura, Prov.26:21/As charcoal to hot embers & wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. And pride – Prov.27:2/Let another praise you, and not your own mouth. In view of this, let us be prudent quick to hear & slow to speech, Prov.18:13/If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly & shame. Rebuke in love, Prov.27:5/Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Be gentle in speech, Prov.15:1/A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Timing is gold, Prov.25:11/A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. To the wives & newly-weds, Prov. 31:26/She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Worship & the Tongue: A call to Worship

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God, 3:9. The sinful tongue is a representation of the sinful world, James 3:8, it is a restless evil. It corrupts true & unspotted religion, James 1:26. To bless, simply, is to pronounce pleasant & exalting words to a person. We praise God regularly in worship, Ps.34:1/I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth; Ps.103:1/Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name; Ps.145:2/Everyday I will bless you and praise your name forever & ever. In the OT, God righteously cursed men according to their sins. To curse is to pronounce unpleasant words to a person. It is to wish or to present him/her to the most awful state, Prov. 30:11, There are those who curse their fathers & do not bless their mothers. Worship & cursing are connected in an unlikely way. Look into this kind of family worship & bickering, Prov.17:1/Better is dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. And these things ought not to be so. Be reminded & motivated that our fellow-men are made in the likeness of God so that whatever destructive words we say to them is ultimately an affront to God – He takes the most offense in sin, Ps.51:4. How about to those sitting beside you – cold words? Prov.12:25/Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. In all the troubles that we have faced last 2008, like passing through the river of Jordan, let us be more thankful to our Lord than be critical in our various, present situations (1Thess.1:2; 2:13; 5:18).

‘To those who have unclean lips, behold your God!’

Out of the abundance of Jesus’ heart, His mouth spoke sinless words: Jn.18:19-24 = The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said. When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Is that how you answer the high priest? Jesus answered him, If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?; hear what Peter might have to say, 1Pet.2:22-23 = He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; cling to the cross of Jesus all the time, not just as a model, but as Savior, Isa.53:7,9 = He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; Lk. 23:34 = Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.