Untamed Tongues

We've been having a series of sermons on the book of James. I've always found James a little hard to understand in that it doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the bible. It seems to be encouraging righteousness through works - what about righteousness by faith and through faith alone which Romans and Paul's letters seemed so vehement about? Well, I'm still trying to understand it through the context of the book... and it really isn't saying that we can be right before God by our works. Rather, I've learnt that James is actually encouraging the readers at that time who are facing trials of various kinds to count it all joy and to remain steadfast in Christ. He is also challenging the readers to check the faith they claim to have. For example in Chapter 3, some of them may aspire to be leaders but are they even displaying the characteristics of a person who's heart has been changed?

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.... no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." James 3:6-10

Harsh words indeed. You who claim to be Christian. You who aspire to be a leader. What have you been doing with your tongue? Have you been using it to praise God every single moment or have you been using it to dishonour Him with words that bring people down, stumble people etc? God doesn't want empty praises, and half of our words. Can we call Him our Lord and Father when we say things that displease Him?

While resting after a jog, I heard a guy using vulgarities with every sentence of his, like salt and pepper to flavour his speech. JX was relating over milo today how the guys in his reservice used alot of vulgarities and the others agreed that army guys use vulgarities with such poetic hilariousness that vulgarity seems to be OK and normal. Chris said that vulgarities in an email hurt him. The looseness of the tongue and the easyness in which we use our words. But are these people the only ones who are guilty of untamed tongues? I for one am guilty of using my words without thought or care to God. The word 's***' sometimes sneaks out of my mouth when I'm feeling really horrid. I 'scold' people stupid this and that at times when I relate frustrations to others. I've said hurtful words to people, even those I love. Even seemingly innocent sentences, conversations and other forms of communication have been used to bring others down and discourage people. What a bad testimony. What a hypocrite. What a sinner...

Indeed, what we say and do are reflections of the state of our hearts. Jesus said "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." Mark 7:20-23. What a bad and sad state our hearts are in! How then, can we be right and justified before the righteous and holy God when we all stumbe in many ways and James even went so far as to say that if anyone who does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man? I can't... and I suppose no one can... except Christ. He is the perfect one. He is the one who took our punishment for us and the one who is able to help us as we live in this world where it is so easy to dishonour Him. Help us Lord, to glorify you in the words we say. Spring forth from our hearts words of praise and thanksgiving for this is our desire - to please and glorify you in every area of our lives.