We hear it all the time; people saying one thing to someone, and yet other things to other people. There’s an absence of truth. Talk is cheap. It is integrity stuck in reverse; duplicity to be exact. It’s the antithesis of trustworthiness and faithfulness; disrespect. It’s destructive and perilous for the people concerned -- both the perpetrator and the victim, obviously, as well as consorting bystanders. In short, nobody wins and most people lose when verbal garbage hits the streets.
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In plain terms, language is roundly abused, and plays a key role in human double-mindedness; duplicitous people in faithless relationships; floating attitudes with no firm-ground-based values. When language is flimsily regulated and flattery and slander get open billing, we know we’re in for lots of conflict.
In plain terms, language is roundly abused, and plays a key role in human double-mindedness; duplicitous people in faithless relationships; floating attitudes with no firm-ground-based values. When language is flimsily regulated and flattery and slander get open billing, we know we’re in for lots of conflict.
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Yet, it is implicit in creation that speech be used as a function of honouring God. “Language is a world creating capacity.”[1] The power of speech either way -- positive or negative -- is awesome. It creates miracles and destroys.
Yet, it is implicit in creation that speech be used as a function of honouring God. “Language is a world creating capacity.”[1] The power of speech either way -- positive or negative -- is awesome. It creates miracles and destroys.
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“The real peril of the tongue is not found in the passing angry word or the incidental oath or the petty bit of slander. It is found in the creation of distorted worlds of meaning within which the word of truth is suppressed.”[2] We only need to take a look at the advertising industry -- false images photoshopped and air-brushed, and messages designed to falsify things and present an unreal world that looks real -- these are designed to attract people through deception to what looks better, supposedly.
“The real peril of the tongue is not found in the passing angry word or the incidental oath or the petty bit of slander. It is found in the creation of distorted worlds of meaning within which the word of truth is suppressed.”[2] We only need to take a look at the advertising industry -- false images photoshopped and air-brushed, and messages designed to falsify things and present an unreal world that looks real -- these are designed to attract people through deception to what looks better, supposedly.
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People are duped into spending “their fortunes and their energies” based on promises derived from lies.[3] It’s all driven from desire, greed, and envy as hearts are seduced by the harlots of materialism and vanity. Unfortunately, the Enlightenment has seen to it that the world is ‘more obvious’ than God -- James gets us back to the truth, however.[4] A ‘divided consciousness’ is the real trap.
People are duped into spending “their fortunes and their energies” based on promises derived from lies.[3] It’s all driven from desire, greed, and envy as hearts are seduced by the harlots of materialism and vanity. Unfortunately, the Enlightenment has seen to it that the world is ‘more obvious’ than God -- James gets us back to the truth, however.[4] A ‘divided consciousness’ is the real trap.
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“If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).” (James 1:26b Amplified Version) Spiritual power is subdued when we don’t control our tongues. Anyone who claims to be spiritual and does not seriously seek to control their tongue is a liar.
“If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).” (James 1:26b Amplified Version) Spiritual power is subdued when we don’t control our tongues. Anyone who claims to be spiritual and does not seriously seek to control their tongue is a liar.
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The key “warning against being ‘double-minded’ ... identifies the specific audience for James’s exhortations, namely those who ‘know’ the construal of reality given by faith but want also to live by the measure of the world.”[5] We cannot be a friend of God’s and a friend of the world -- life doesn’t work that way. We cannot love God and money simultaneously.[6] We live best in life when we make a choice to live one way, and one way only. Trying to please everyone and follow several directions at the same time is a quick way to madness.
The key “warning against being ‘double-minded’ ... identifies the specific audience for James’s exhortations, namely those who ‘know’ the construal of reality given by faith but want also to live by the measure of the world.”[5] We cannot be a friend of God’s and a friend of the world -- life doesn’t work that way. We cannot love God and money simultaneously.[6] We live best in life when we make a choice to live one way, and one way only. Trying to please everyone and follow several directions at the same time is a quick way to madness.
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Yet, most people prefer the ability to compromise. James is hard for those who are like this. To grow in faith when compromise is ever present is ludicrous. “Faith only matures by what it endures.”[7] This means that compromise and double-living seriously bring undone any progress of maturity in the faith realm. Growth does not come without pain.
Yet, most people prefer the ability to compromise. James is hard for those who are like this. To grow in faith when compromise is ever present is ludicrous. “Faith only matures by what it endures.”[7] This means that compromise and double-living seriously bring undone any progress of maturity in the faith realm. Growth does not come without pain.
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There is the same impact for speech. Its purpose is good. “Nothing so vividly reveals double-mindedness than to have [cursing] proceed from the same mouth that blesses God.”[8] The mouth that blesses God is not to curse people; yet we have these people in life -- and each one of us is tempted -- who pretend to be pious and yet deceive themselves by hating or dishonouring their fellows, peers, or family. This is not godly and never can be.
There is the same impact for speech. Its purpose is good. “Nothing so vividly reveals double-mindedness than to have [cursing] proceed from the same mouth that blesses God.”[8] The mouth that blesses God is not to curse people; yet we have these people in life -- and each one of us is tempted -- who pretend to be pious and yet deceive themselves by hating or dishonouring their fellows, peers, or family. This is not godly and never can be.
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James’ covenantal perspective conjoins religion with ethics; what we believe we must also say, and we also must do![9] It is a single-mindedness that he’s advocating. It’s the simple and courageous life that sets and maintains a concise standard of values toward God and all people based on what is right, just, and fair.[10]
James’ covenantal perspective conjoins religion with ethics; what we believe we must also say, and we also must do![9] It is a single-mindedness that he’s advocating. It’s the simple and courageous life that sets and maintains a concise standard of values toward God and all people based on what is right, just, and fair.[10]
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We must all remember that “the human tongue can be tamed by no [person]. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8 Amplified Version)
We must all remember that “the human tongue can be tamed by no [person]. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8 Amplified Version)
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Let’s get used to imperfection regarding our speech and deal with it, says James. It’s inherently evil is the tongue, not to be trusted for more than a moment. Enter the fear of the LORD. It is only with an appropriate fear of God we can keep watch over this blatantly deleterious muscle.
Let’s get used to imperfection regarding our speech and deal with it, says James. It’s inherently evil is the tongue, not to be trusted for more than a moment. Enter the fear of the LORD. It is only with an appropriate fear of God we can keep watch over this blatantly deleterious muscle.
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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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ENDNOTES:
[1] L.T. Johnson, The Letter of James – The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. XII, (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1998), p. 205.
[2] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 205.
[3] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 206.
[4] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 190.
[5] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 189.
[6] See Luke 16:13.
[7] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 190.
[8] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 203.
[9] L.T. Johnson, Taciturnity and True Religion: James 1:26-27 in Brother of Jesus, Friend of God – Studies in the Letter of James, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: W.B. Eerdmans, 2004), p. 166.
[10] See Proverbs 1:3 and 2:5.
[1] L.T. Johnson, The Letter of James – The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. XII, (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1998), p. 205.
[2] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 205.
[3] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 206.
[4] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 190.
[5] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 189.
[6] See Luke 16:13.
[7] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 190.
[8] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 203.
[9] L.T. Johnson, Taciturnity and True Religion: James 1:26-27 in Brother of Jesus, Friend of God – Studies in the Letter of James, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: W.B. Eerdmans, 2004), p. 166.
[10] See Proverbs 1:3 and 2:5.
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