Pentecost 15- Bridling the Tongue

Reformation, Media

Larry V. Smoose

There are few passages of scripture that reveal better than this one the unchanging issues human nature over the centuries.  These words in James could have just as easily been written last week as two thousand years ago.  The truth of his words is given poetic expression from Shakespeare, “Slander, whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue out venoms all the worms of Nile, whose breath rides on the posting winds and doth belie all corners of the world.”  (Shakespeare, Cymbeline)

And, centuries later by Washington Irving: “A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener with constant use.”

There is no one here or on earth who would not at one time or another be condemned by the truth of what he has said. Indeed, James’ prelude to his discourse on the tongue reminds us -- “for all of us make many mistakes.” 

The first week of this series, Pastor Schade talked about conversations while driving, to which I suspect many of us can relate.  I’ve actually gotten better in my driving, not that I don’t have a long way to go, but it is partly because of an experience I had many years ago, while in Newtown, that I have never shared.  I was driving out Swamp Road, a back way to Doylestown, in a hurry because I was late – as usual.  The driver in front of me was going agonizingly slow, about 25 mph.  It seemed as if the more I tailgated, the more I waved, the slower he would go – almost as if baiting me, and I was taking the bait, yelling and gesturing.  After a few miles, when he finally turned off into the community college, I sped by yelling at him and he at me – and then with great embarrassment, I realized it was a member of the church.  And he recognized me.  And he never came back to church.  “for  you know, that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness,” James reminds us. 

It’s bad enough to be human and make mistakes, but when you wear a collar, and announce to the world that you work in God’s service, the judgment is more harsh – from people if not from God.  That’s why when I play golf with strangers sometimes my partner will casually mention to the others in the foursome that I’m a minister – “So watch your language.”  I appreciate it because it can save others from some embarrassment. 

But here is the real question – why would I be separated out and not you?  Doesn’t anyone who calls themselves followers of Christ become representatives of our faith?  James was reminding his congregation what we all know – our tongue is a powerful tool, more powerful that a ship’s rudder or the bit that controls a horse.  What we say and how we say it become measures of our character and a reflection on our values. 

I’ve often thought that all of us should wear collars – Christ’s representatives – and believe me, I know that when you have a visible sign of your faith, it makes a difference in how people relate to you and how you act.  When Martin Luther talked about the “priesthood of all believers,” he was saying that no job, occupation or position is superior to another, and all stations in life provided an opportunity for us to proclaim and witness to our faith by what we say and what we do. 

That means that we are all teachers!  One of the most fearful days for parents is the day their children first go to kindergarten, not because of separation from home, but the fear of what they will hear and learn on the school bus and from older children.  The language of students and youth is often appalling!  But then so is the language of many parents and adults.  Whether it is swearing, or putting people down, or making fun of people or using abusive language at home or at work or at school, too often our language is not appropriate and it is a reflection of our character and our society. 

We can look at James and shrug our shoulders and say, “it’s always been that way.”  But I think it has gotten worse.  I never heard my parents swear.  I can’t say I have never sworn, but it is rare and I’m never proud of it because it is usually something said in anger or to try to show I can be like everyone else – as if that is a worthy goal.  Movies have made us think that vulgar language is common place and have helped to make it so.  Television now casually uses vulgar language with a minimal “bleep” as if language doesn’t matter. 

But it does.  And while James says that “no one can tame the tongue,” I disagree.  We can change our language and how we talk to each other and how we talk about others.  Without being judgmental on others, we can simply set a different standard for ourselves and become an example to others.  It begins at home – how parents talk and how they talk to each other.  It continues at work, at play, with how we as adults talk to each other and express ourselves.  And it is important that you who are youth think about your language and how you talk about other and to each other.  Each of us with our attitudes and our actions can make a difference.

For the reverse is also true.  “Fair words never hurt the tongue,” said Heywood, and James acknowledges that the same tongue with which we curse those made in the image of God, we are able to bless our Lord and Father.  With the same tongue that can put someone down, we can lift up a person in despair. 

In seventh or eighth grade I failed to pass lifesaving merit badge three times.  On the fourth try I made it – I was obviously not the best swimmer, but Horace Ball, who saw something in my persistence that I did not see, came up to me after I had finally passed and said, “Smoose, how would you like to help us teach other kids to swim?”  Those words of affirmation helped change my life, and in my first year of college I was on the swim team and water polo team.

Words can comfort.  Words can heal.  Words can give a discouraged person a boost and can praise good achievement well deserved.  We bear the scars of words that cut and hurt, but we also remember forever words that made a difference in our lives and helped to build us up.  I know that you can think of a time in your life when kind words or encouraging words or words of praise made a difference.  Even words of criticism can be spoken with kind intent to help us grow and learn and improve.  We all know the difference.    There is no one among us who would not prefer the good, the kind, the gracious and helpful word to a curse or a put down or a belittling word. 

Jesus knew both kinds of words.  On the way to his crucifixion, He had to listen to people curse him, ridicule him, belittle him, spit on him.  While hanging on the cross he heard people make fun of him, laugh at him and put him down.  But his words of response were words of forgiveness, words of concern for a mother and his disciples, words anguish and words of trust.  The words he spoke in life, were the words he spoke at death.  He knew the power of the tongue.

He knew that from the same mouth can come blessing or curse – and we are the ones who decide how to use this amazingly powerful tool called the tongue. 

What a joy to use it as God intended.   Few sounds are more joyful than a bunch of voices lifted up in song to praise our God and our Lord – “O for a thousand tongues to sing our dear redeemer’s praise, the glory of our God and King, the honor of his name.”

What a joy to provide the welcome sound of kind, caring, gracious words of encouragement, love and concern for someone close to us, or simply someone in need of such a word.  Your language makes a difference – at home, at work, at school, wherever you are.  So let’s put on our collars.  Let’s remember the cross enscribed on our foreheads.  Let’s discover the joy and blessing of the bridled tongue!  Amen.