Call to Commitment

 

The Power of the tongue

   1.      My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 

         2.      For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3.      Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 

4.      Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 

5.      Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 

6.      And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so 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. 

7.      For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 

8.      But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

9.      With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 

10.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 

11.  Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 

12.  Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 

Personally, the bulk of the early part of my ministry was missionary evangelism. Of course, besides evangelism, it involved Bible teaching and discipling new converts. But I did not concentrate, particularly, on a teaching ministry. I often say that the first five years on the Costa Chica of Oaxaca, Mexico, was my Bible school training. I gained practical experience in Christianity on hostile foreign soil, saw evidence of the Providence of God, and read consistently time and again the sacred pages of God’s word. Doctrines formed, as I watched the word play out in the circumstances of people, who were not different than the people, along with their stories, as those in the Bible.

 Many years later, the teaching learned from those years and experiences transformed into something that I could share with the body of Christ. Doors opened in teaching conferences from Argentina to India and many places in between. My “heroes” in the faith have always been those, who have battled on the front lines in mighty conflicts against spiritual forces. I have often wondered how young students can put so much faith and trust in teachers, who have gained most of their theology, sitting in warm offices, studying from commentaries and volumes of hermeneutical works, written by superior intellects.

 I have done my share of reading and studying also, and it also has been necessary, but without practical and even life-threatening situations, I would consider that work to be sterile. Intellectual learning stops short of its goal, when it does not penetrate the heart. Nothing of the spiritual realm is truly learned until the Holy Spirit becomes the teacher. Jesus said, “But the Helper (the parakletos), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (Jn.14:26).

 The apostle John builds on that foundation: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things…  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 Jn.2:20, 27). He does not mean that we do not listen to Christian men, who have a teaching ministry, but he does mean that we do not learn anything from them, except through the Holy Spirit, working in them and in us.

 I read a very intelligent and popular teacher comment on 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, insinuating that no matter how smart a person is, he cannot learn by himself the things of God. He was right, but that’s not what Paul is teaching in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2. The apostle’s point is that, “no flesh should glory in His presence”, God chose, with few exceptions, the foolish, weak, base, and despised of this world. Paul, himself, though knowledgeable in the Old Testament Scriptures, was ignorant of the New Testament, until he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Ananias addressed him, as a new convert: "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ac.9:17).

 Jesus chose Galilean fishermen, a tax collector and a nationalist rebel to be His most intimate disciples, the best of whom were perceived to be “uneducated and untrained men” (Ac.4:13). Ah, but the Holy Spirit taught them the priceless wisdom and knowledge from heaven and they, in turn, taught what they had learned, which became the inspired canon of unerring Scripture. The kind of men that we find in the Bible have existed throughout church history. They warm my soul and instruct my heart, whether they exist today or are from past centuries.

 When the situation merited it, the apostles sent the men that they trusted to teach the new Gentile churches: “It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In those days, the church worked in direct conjunction with the Holy Spirit: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things” (Ac.15:25-26,28).

 I could wish that more teachers in the 21^st Century would heed the advice of James and follow the example of Christ: “And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove… Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness” (Mk.1:10, 12). How many today have received a supernatural baptism in the Holy Spirit and then were tried by desert experiences? Judgment is coming at the Tribunal of Christ, which will consider a work that is conducted through the Spirit and not take into account earthly success.

 Because of the influence that a teacher has, judgment from heaven’s standpoint upon his ministry will be strict (1). James knew, even at an apostolic level, there could be error, not in his writing of inspired Scripture, but in the use of the tongue in the natural course of life and ministry. Perfect in verse 2 means maturity and the proof of maturity is in the submission of the tongue. If a person has conquered and trained this complex member of the body, no doubt, he has been able to bring into subjection the rest of his members. To prove the controlling factor of the tongue, James chooses the word bridle.

 Seeing the value of the bridle and the rudder, we can evaluate the importance of a tongue. It needs to be brought under control, not only to guide the Christian in his personal walk, but also in bringing help, comfort and edification to others. We see that it can withstand outside opposition, and maintain a straight course.

 However, the tongue is capable of evil, also. Proverbs 18:21 states: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Because of frequent misuse and ill-chosen words, James must teach us of its destructive force. The tongue is a great boaster and exposes the arrogance of the heart. It would be hard to overemphasize the pride that a person carries internally. Proverbs declares it to be among God’s most hated characteristics in man and the entire Bible shows that pride and its many synonyms are the cause of immense and numerous acts of destruction in the world. The tongue uncovers pride for all the world to see. 

 James now shows us that, though it is small, the tongue is like a little fire, but it has tremendous destructive force. These illustrations are common knowledge and do not have to be explained. We all know how forests can be wiped out by fires and the life-threatening danger to anyone in the path of a forest fire. However, the beginning of a mighty inferno might be a little match, a cigarette, or a small campfire (5).

 The apostle does not exaggerate, when he tells us that the tongue is a small controlling force in the body, it is a flame that devours the entire nature of man and is a world of evil potential. Then, he takes us to its source: “It is set on fire by hell.” The Amplified Bible explains that the Greek term, which is translated nature, in the phrase, the course of nature, means literally, the wheel of birth. The Greek word is used in chapter 1:23, where the natural face literally means the face of birth. The tongue not only inflames our physical bodies, as we have learned so far in our study, but it sets on fire who we are by birth, that is, who we are by our fallen nature, and that nature is allied with the spiritual kingdom of darkness (6).

 In verses 10-12, James continues his anointed imagery, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God, with infinite wisdom, gives him language, through which he can powerfully penetrate the human soul. He uncovers contradictory hypocrisy by illustrating that blessing and cursing proceed from the same mouth. He follows by comparing the consistency of nature with the inconsistency of human beings. For instance, a spring either produces sweet water or bitter water, but never mixes the two. Then he adds the ridiculous supposition that a fig tree should bear olives or that a grape vine could render figs. Finally. he returns to write of a spring, from which salt  and fresh water flow.

 Jesus saw a similar characteristic in the Pharisees and counseled them: "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt.12:33-34). This religious sect had bad roots, but attempted to teach the good things of God. He called them a brood of vipers and John the Baptist used the same expression in Matthew 3:7 in addressing the Pharisees and also the Sadducees. 

 It was this kind of hypocritical, demonic strategy that is particularly dangerous and God hates it for that reason. It deceives by teaching good things, but they proceed from an evil heart. They will strike and wound, or perhaps kill, those who come near, unaware of the extreme danger. The damage done to the inner man far outweighs the physical venom of a snake. 

 The Spirit of God always counters a dual religious system. Elijah was His vessel on Mount Carmel, when he challenged the people, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 K.18:21). The church of Laodicea manifested the same characteristic and Jesus was faithful to reveal it to them: “You are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Rv.3:15-16).

 James has been telling us of an untamed tongue and now speaks of a mouth that blesses God and curses men. The two great commandments originating in the Old Testament and confirmed in the New, are to love God with a love that overflows to our fellow man. It cannot love one and hate the other. The heart from which this characteristic proceeds is evil and the good that it pretends to portray is false. James is teaching us of religious perversion.

 

Wisdom from above and below

       13.  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works                               are done in the meekness of wisdom. 

14.  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 

15.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 

16.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 

17.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

18.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

 You do not have to be around Christians very long, before you discover those, who thrive on expressing their opinions in debate. Over many years, I have observed their love for controversy, not only in the church, but in every sect that exists. It disturbs me that many evangelicals have the same spirit. They seem to love their opinions more than truth; in fact, they equate their opinions with pure truth. They seem to be convinced that the one who debates best, is right. Actually, the ability to debate has nothing to do with truth and the one who is the poorest in the art, may just be right.

 An honest Christian will humbly admit that he does not know everything, but he loves truth and is on an earnest search to discover it. Of course, he does know the essential truths of the gospel, that the Holy Spirit revealed to him, for if he did not, he would not be a Christian at all. However, clever debate receives no prizes in the Kingdom of God but, according to James, good conduct and meekness does.

 We need to be sure that we understand his assertion and then live by it. The most important traits, among the wise and knowledgeable Christians, are found in those, who know how to behave themselves, control their tongues and use them wisely; he is meek and humble, in the face of the superior nature of biblical truth and his incompetence in being able to grasp it by himself (13).

 According to James, the characteristics of the foolish debater are “bitter envy and self-seeking.” The desire to prove his opinion correct is part of the meaning of self-seeking. A synonym for it is egotism. Pilate understood the motivation of the Jews, concerning Jesus, and “knew that they had handed Him over because of envy” (Mt. 27:18). They had no answer for His superior spirituality and so endeavored to destroy Him on a much lower level. They resorted to their carnal position in Israel and their association with the Roman occupation in Jerusalem.

 A heated demonstration of a person’s knowledge of Scripture can be a cover-up for egotistical bitterness and envy. Then, the words flow out of the frothing fountain of a bitter heart. (Mt.12:34). I quote Adam Clarke: “If ye be under the influence of an unkind, fierce, and contemptuous spirit, even while attempting or pretending to defend true religion, do not boast either of your exertions or success in silencing an adversary; ye have no religion, and no true wisdom, and to profess either is to lie against the truth. Let all writers on what is called polemic (fighting, warring) divinity lay this to heart.” The debater argues and lays the evidence before the listeners like a lawyer, but does not realize that he is proving himself to be an advocate of the Accuser of the brethren. 

 The source of an argument is more important that the argument itself. The source that James is exposing is a worldly one… it does not carry the ambiance of heaven, but flows along with the current of earth’s society. It is sensual, rooted in the emotions of the soul. It is eviler and more potent than either the influence of the world or human carnality, but is controlled, perhaps possessed, by demons. The evil trinity is at work in this manifestation… the world, the flesh and the devil (15). The world is depicted by that which is earthly; the flesh by that, which is sensual and, obviously, the devil by that which is demonic.

 As in verse 14, again in verse 16, James refers to the heart cause behind a controversial spirit, envy and self-seeking. Apparently, these characteristics were sometimes present in the Hebrew churches, as they were among the Jewish elite in the days of Christ. I think that they were often seen in carnal people, who joined the Reformation, and can still be seen in many modern Reformists. They produce confusion and division and, in fact, as James states, “every evil thing.” In any case, they are still with us and we should be aware of them. We should avoid catering to such abhorrent maladies in our personal lives. Lord, help me!  

 Let’s examine our hearts, brothers and sisters, if we desire to give testimony to heavenly features, rooted in Christ, through our lives. God forbid that we should team with the evil trinity, just covered two paragraphs above. Here is the atmosphere of heaven in a regenerated spirit. It is: “Pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (17). Is there not within us a deep response to each descriptive word that the apostle gives? Here we could, and should, meditate for long hours. None of them require the help of a dictionary or anything that a teacher needs to give to explain them. They are named, with simplicity, and laid before us for our contemplation.

 A peaceful tongue and soul will sow peace and produce the fruit of righteousness. It is the duty of the church, set on a hill as a light to the world and as salt to the taste, to shine and awaken the dormant appetites of the children of men. John shows the wise use of the tongue, as he gives an invitation to the lost: “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rv.22:17)

 Hymn writer, Mary A. Thompson (1834-1923), joined her plea with the apostle John, stirring the bride to spread the invitation around the world…

O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling

To tell to all the world that God is Light,

That He who made all nations is not willing

One soul should perish, lost in shades of night.

 

Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;

Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

 Proclaim to ev'ry people, tongue, and nation

That God, in whom they live and move, is Love:

Tell how He stoop'd to save His lost creation,

And died on earth that we might live above.