Venom Tongues and the Sins of Speech

James tells us that God bugs our conversations. Yes, He listens in on all of our communication and He has heard every word we have uttered from the moment we began to talk. Therefore, we ought to be concerned about our freedom of speech. James relates in 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” and in 1:26, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” His religion is what?

There is a story in the Jewish Talmud that tells the story of a king who sent two jesters on an errand. He instructs them thus: "Foolish Simon, go out and bring back the best thing in the world. And you, Foolish John, go out and secure for me the worst thing in the world." So off they went.

In a short while both jesters returned with a package. Foolish Simon bowed and said to the king, "here is the best thing in the world, sire!" and unwrapped his package to reveal a tongue. Foolish John began to laugh and quickly opened his package. "The worst thing in the world, O king," and he, too, presented a tongue.

Indeed, the tongue can be the worst or the best thing in the world. It can be the most helpful agent or the most venomous weapon.

As Christians, God teaches us in His Word to govern our tongue so as to prove ourselves perfect and upright and self-controlled. Let us listen to James for a moment:

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (3:1-12)

Controlling what we say from moment to moment is perhaps the most daunting challenge of Christian living. What we say and what we do not say are equally important; it is not only saying the right words at the right time and in the right tone of voice, but it is also controlling the desire to say what should not be said, such as gossiping, belittling, bragging, spreading rumors, cursing, slandering, manipulating. Some of us have venom tongues and we seem to specialize in verbal genocide, we suffer with spiritual bad mouth disease and need God’s gospel cure.

Before we open our mouths, it is often helpful to ask ourselves four questions: 1) Is it true, 2) will it serve a helpful purpose, 3) will it compromise faith claim, and 4) is it kind.

Undisciplined verbalization's can do terrible damage. Angry outbursts, cutting remarks, and unguarded responses only lead to destruction, embarrassment, and regret. A few words spoken in anger can destroy relationships that took years to build. Once words are unleashed, you cannot control or reverse the harm that may result. Even a careless slip of the tongue can have great repercussions.

There is a story told of a man who had been out fishing for quite a while but had not caught any fish. Just as two women were walking by, he finally pulled in a small fish. One of the women took it upon herself to reprimand the man for keeping such a small fish. The man, without looking up, commented, “Maybe you are right lady, but if the fish had kept its mouth shut, he would not have been caught.”

If we are concerned about preserving relationships, and as members of the body of Christ we claim, we must understand the importance of our being able to discern when to just keep our mouths shut, hold our peace, mark time and let God be God. Out of control ranting and raving is immature, self-defeating, destructive and ungodly. The proverbial writer said it well, "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." (17:28.)

God gave us the wonderful gift of the tongue. The ability to think and articulate is what lifts us above the animal kingdom. We can put thoughts into words, express ourselves, understand and be understood. We can communicate on the highest level. The tongue is an emblem we wear identifying who we are. It is the greatest index of our lives.

The tongue also betrays who we are as individuals. For example, if a person tells us they will perform a certain task and fail to do it, that person has provided information about his or her trust ability. You remember what the girl said to Simon Peter? “Your speech betrays you.” Peter had an accent and could not deny that he was from Galilee.

Our tongues tell a lot about whom we are and it gives us away. It tell where we came from, whether we are ignorant or educated, cultured or brazen, clean or unclean, vulgar or refined, believers or blasphemers, Christian or hypocrites and more.

This is why James advised we tame the tongue and he gives examples of what results when we fail to do so. He further states that the tongue is more perilous than a runaway horse or a storm at sea. Small rudders control huge ships. And yet, that small rudder will steer and turn ships as the governor pleases, even in a storm. So it is with the tongue. The tongue is a small rudder of the body. Right management of the tongue governs the whole man and keeps us in right relationship with God, even in the midst of a storm.

At the core of evil tongues of course is Satan. He uses the tongue to divide people and pit us against one another. Derogatory words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly and no one can stop the results once spoken. Little wonder James tells us the tongue is a fire: “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (3:6) Once words are unleashed, we cannot control or reverse the harm.

Of course, the tongue can also be a blessing just as fire can be a blessing when it is under control. When it is out of control, it can be devastating. It can be a cure or a curse. “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. Proverbs 15:14.

It is also interesting that James said, With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.How ridiculously hypocritical and dishonoring to God to use the same tongue to curse, berate, and slander man that we use to praise and adore Him. When we speak negative verbiage to others, we are being mean to God’s creation. Even if others are in our face cursing and degrading, we Christians will bless them. Jesus said bless those that curse you, be good to those that persecute you and pray for those that talk about you. People can profane us all they want, but we will not bow to Satan. Our God is able to deliver us. So let the heathens rage.

Our war is never with individuals. Our war is spiritual. Paul helps us to understand this when he says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12. Our war is fighting the evil that makes individuals act and speak maliciously, not the individual themselves.

I realize none of us is perfect but with God’s strength, we can exert control over the tongue. It is our Christian responsibility to allow God to change us. He is able to fix us where we are broken and infuse us with unconditional love that removes all bitterness from our hearts. Remember, what comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the heart.

The Word of God is an excellent tongue cleaner.

REMEMBER: What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean. Matthew 15:11.