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Nov 13, 2016

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast

Passage: James 3:1-12

Preacher: John Repsold

Series: James

Keywords: hypocrisy, speech, teachers, tongue, words, writing

Summary:

Words, speech, the tongue, writings--they all have amazing power in our lives. This passage deals with God's heart for the use of speech in our lives and the damage that can happen when we fail to live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our speech.

Detail:

Beauty & the Beast

James 3:1-12

November 13, 2016

 

What a week of words this has been in our country! 

How many of you have been seriously wounded by...

  • A bear? Cougar?  Wolf?  Skunk?  Squirrel?

When go hiking/camping >> all sorts of warning signs, literature, etc.  Must be pretty effective.  Not many of you have been injured by wild animals. 

(I did hear, however, about a fisherman– was doing some casting at the edge of a stream when his line got caught in the bushes.  He gave a hard pull, saw black and white streak go flying by.  Suffice it to say that he got “skunked” on that fishing adventure!)

  • Slipping on the wet floor of a business? Low-flying aircraft? High voltage wires? McDonald’s hot coffee?   Have pounds of laws on the books regulating these potentially lethal items.  Appears to be relatively effective.
  • Don’t raise your hand but… how many of you have suffered damage due to someone’s tongue??? Maybe we need more signage:

--When was the last time you walked into your school and saw a sign warning you about the danger of serious injury due to wild tongues roaming the halls and classrooms?

--When was the last time you went to work and saw posted in the lunchroom a notice put out by the Wash. State dept. of Labor & Industry about the hazards of work-place language?

--When was the last time you came to church and saw a sign on the front door, “Warning:  wild tongue range.  Enter at your own risk”?

On the contrary, we live in the ‘land of the free’ and ‘the home of the reckless’, where “freedom of speech” is a constitutionally guaranteed right!  Or at least it used to be.

Fact is, we speak so freely, it is estimated that most people speak enough in 1 week to fill a large 500-page book.  In the average lifetime this would amount to 4,500 VOLUMES or 2,210,000 pages! 

Weighing about 2 ounces, our tongue is the most powerful part of our body, holding the greatest potential for good… and evil. 

Think for a moment about all that this little, soft, vulnerable part of our body does.  Let’s list all the positive things our tongues can do for us and others. 

Now let’s talk about the negative, destructive, sinful power it has.

  

Many are the words of the wise regarding the tongue:

  • “If your mind should go blank, don't forget to turn off the sound.”
  • George Eliot (pen name of Mary Anne Evans) wrote, “Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact.”
  • James S. Hewett – “Saving face is often accomplished by keeping the lower part of it shut.”
  • 17:28 – “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent.”

While holding our tongues may be the most prudent course in many a situation, God has given us tongues for a good reason, a divine purpose.  Speech, perhaps more than any other human capacity other than higher reasoning and thought, is something special that marks us off from the rest of the animal kingdom as made in the image of God. Maybe that is also why our tongues have such great capacity to do harm.

We’re in James 3 today in this journey through James.  As we’ve seen, James is deeply interested in Christ-like actions and behaviors.  He’s very critical of action of inaction that does not line up with the heart of Christ in the life of a Christ-follower.  So in this chapter, James takes aim at something that ALL of us, without exception, struggle with: the use of our tongues. 

(Read 3:1-12) 

Notice the first instruction about this little flapping piece of flesh we call “the tongue” in vs. 1-- Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

  1. Use of our tongues has eternal consequences-- 3:1

“Teacher” – This was often the name given to Jesus in gospels--“Teacher” or “Master” (KJV).  A teacher in the N.T. church replaced the rabbi in Jewish culture as the venerated sp. director or leader.  It was a very high and esteemed position.  How high?

  • If a rabbi and your parents were both being held captive by someone or some army, it was your obligation to ransom the rabbi first!
  • If your parents needed a new pair of sandals and the rabbi did too, guess who was to get the first pair?

“Teacher” brought with it prestige, privileges, greater respect, perhaps even some degree of authority and certainly a degree of influence.  James reminds us – with increased influence in speech comes increased accountability before God…eternal accountability. 

There are a whole lot of things I’m looking forward to in heaven!  But one I’m not, frankly, is the special line I’ll be standing in.  I won’t be alone.  Many of you will be there with me.  It has a sign over it that reads, “Higher Standard – For Teachers Only”! 

But the fact of matter is that most all of us ARE teachers to greater or lesser degrees.  By words, influence, parenting, employment, example. 

Mt. 5:19 speaks to anyone who “breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same [by that example] will be called least in the kingdom of heaven but whoever practices and teaches [by that practice] these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” 

Unlike American citizens who think that the privilege of speech comes with few responsibilities, for the citizens of heaven, speech carries with it eternal accountability.

Lest we get too panicky about our human tendency toward sin, James reminds us we are all on the same cruise liner – the S.S. Grace… Sinning Saints who all need grace!

  1. We’re all on common ground when it comes to our tongues: imperfect– 3:2-- We all stumblein many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Not only do “all sin” (Rm. 3:23) but “we all stumble in many ways” (3:2). 

Why is that so important to remember??? Because reality should breed humility and humility should give birth to a whole host of offspring when it comes to how we relate to each other—with forgiveness, patience, grace, long suffering, gentleness, etc.

According to James, THE best indicator of a person’s personal spiritual maturity is their use of the tongue.  If we can bring the tongue under the control of the Spirit, then we can be quite sure that such a person is able to bring all other parts and functions of his/her body under the control of the Spirit. 

It is interesting that in a book which places such great emphasis upon the vital importance of what one does (deeds) over against what one says, the God tells us that our tongue-management is the clearest gauge of our soul-maturity. 

[“Perfect” = mature, complete]

Now James introduces the first of 6 metaphors with his closing words of vs. 2 – “…able to keep his whole body in check”… literally “able to bridle his whole body.”  Picture of an excellent horseman bridling a superb steed – he knows how to give it proper rein, to slow it down, bring it to a stop, etc.

James uses this word to introduce us to…The double-edged dilemma of the tongue…the “Beauty…& the Beast” we know as our tongues.  In the process, he will use 6 images or pictures to help us remember just what is going on every time we open our mouth.

  • bit (not the drill kind, men)
  • rudder
  • fire
  • poison
  • fountain
  • fig tree (or pick your favorite fruit tree)

James deals with them in groups of two.  With the first two, his intent is to help us remember the tongue’s power to DIRECT our whole life.

James 3:3, 4--When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 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.

            There are times when we’re aware that what we say and how we say it are going to influence the future direction our lives take. 

  • Employment interviews.
  • Graduate school interviews
  • Marriage proposals
  • Discussions with your spouse about having or adopting children.
  • Conversation with your real estate agent…or prospective apartment manager.

But most of speech just seems as inconsequential as the daily newspaper or radio advertisements.  “Not so,” says James.

Our tongue has the power to direct our entire lives.

2 images here:  bit in horses mouth & rudder on a ship.

BIT:  he who controls a horses tongue controls the horse.

RUDDER:  he who controls the small rudder controls the ship – its journey, its destiny, its success or failure. 

The question is not, “Will a horse go somewhere?” It always does.  So do ships once they set sail.  Someone is going to be in charge of deciding the direction.  And their control over a very small part of the horse or the ship is going to determine what happens. 

WHO controls my tongue will determine in large measure the entire direction of my life:

The image James paints is of a ship in high seas…fighting tumultuous gale-force winds.  Life can be like that.  Storms threaten to swamp us. 

We’ve all known people who were buffeted by some strong winds of tragedy or difficulty in life who chose to let those events be their master. Their speech became bitter, caustic, sullen, critical of God and people.  What began as an idle word of doubt or criticism developed into a pattern of speech that defined or destroyed them, often along with friendships, marriages and loved ones. 

The alternative is to allow the Holy Spirit and Word of God to rein in our thoughts in such a way that our words reflect truth, not despair. The reality is… our tongues will shape our lives.  The only choice is…who will shape our tongues?  To whom will we pass the reins?  To whom will we give the ship’s helm?  NO PERSON can guide our speech where it should go.  Only GOD can tame it and turn it. 

This is precisely the point James will make in vss. 7-8.  7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

We’ve just come through a week in our nation that is proof-positive that people without the life of Christ dominating their thoughts will make huge errors with their tongues.  They will say damaging and degrading things.  They will lie and lose people’s trust.  The only hope for truly civil discourse is truly Spirit-dominated souls. 

Which is also why the church is so often seen as hypocritical. When the church and supposed Christ-followers are as critical, negative and sharp with their tongues as the culture, people see NO difference…because they hear NO difference.

ILL:  Several weeks ago, I talked about learning to ride horses when I was younger.  I had to learn to put the bit in the horses mouth… without getting bitten!  Had to learn to guide the horse with the reins attached to that bit-- right, left, backwards, forward, jumping, dressage, etc.

I also had a few experiences with horses when they would literally run away with me.  Horses have minds of their own. They can ignore the gentle tug on the reins, put their head down and take off.   I learned that not all horses respond with equal sensitivity to the bit.  Our horse seem to get a sort of callused mouth! 

APP:  Much like you and me with God - He has no desire to even attempt to lead or direct someone who hasn’t allowed Him to “break” them of their wild independence and submitted the control of their life to the ‘bit’ of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even once that fork in the road has been decided, we can continue to be headstrong and resist the gentle…or even strong…pull of the Spirit on the reins of our lives. 

Where is your mouth leading your life?  Your relationships with those closest to you?  Your marriage?  Children?  Parents?  Employees?  Brothers & sisters in Christ? 

God knows how difficult it can be.  He knows that unless our lives are dominated and continually directed by the Holy Spirit in us, no good thing will come out of us.  Romans 8, Galatians 5 & Ephesians 4 all speak to this.  Notice Eph. 4 – calls disciples of Jesus to give ourselves over to the Spirit of God so that our speech life will be radically changed. 

[25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.]

  • 25--We will put off lying and giving false impressions and will replace it with absolute truthfulness.
  • 26--We will not give the devil a foothold through unresolved anger in our hearts.
  • 29--We will not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths but instead speak only what can be helpful to build others up according to their need, not ours.
  • 31-32--Instead of bitterness, rage and anger, slander and all different forms of malice, we will express kindness, compassion and forgiveness in our speech.

Only the Spirit-controlled life has that potential.  But one thing is still unchangeable:  our tongue will direct the course of our life.  The only “changeable” variable in that equation is, “Who or what will control our tongue?”

Someone has once said, “You are master of the unspoken word, but the spoken word is master of you.” 

From the power of the tongue to DIRECT, James now turns to the power of the tongue to DESTROY. 

James 3:5-6-- 5 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. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Notice the imagery used here for the tongue:

  • an uncontrollable forest fire
  • a defiling sickness in the body
  • a deadly poison (vs. 8—“It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”)

Notice in each case it is something that starts small but grows to consume and ultimately destroy its host. 

When is the easiest time to control a forest fire?  When the match is in your hand…not after it has been dropped onto a bed or dry pine needles. 

When is the easiest time to guard your body from gangrene or cancer?  When it is still healthy or first discovered.

When is it easiest to limit the effects of a deadly snake?  Before it bites!

Fire, disease, poison – they all have the capacity to virtually multiply themselves and their destructive abilities to unlimited proportions… as long as there is fuel to burn or an organism to infect.  Water can’t multiply itself and spread but fire can. 

Entire cities all over the world have born tragic testimony to the destructive power of a single spark.

  • The London fire of 1666 destroyed all of London.
  • O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in Chicago in 1871 and started a fire that destroyed 17,500 buildings, killed 300 people, left 100,000 homeless and ½ a billion dollars damage.
  • We’re no strangers in the Pacific Northwest to the devastating effects of a single spark. Firestorm 1991 in Spokane burned 110+ homes and killed 2 people…all in mid-October when gale force winds downed powerlines and sparked multiple fires.

But a conflagration lit by the spark of a lie or half-truth of the tongue is usually even more devastating. Such was the case in 1899 when 4 newspaper reporters from Denver, CO set out to tear down the Great Wall of China.

All Stevens, Jack Tournay, John Lewis and Hal Wilshire each represented the 4 Denver papers:  the Post, the Times, the Republican and Rocky Mountain News.

Each had been sent by his respective newspaper to dig up a story – any story – for the Sunday editions.  They all encountered each other at the railroad station, hoping to snag a visiting celebrity or dignitary.  When that failed, one of the men suggested they all walk over to the Oxford Hotel and have a beer.

Over beer, Al declared he was going to make up a story and hand it in.  Jack stared to like the idea and suggested that they all fake a story and get off the hook.  John said that four half-baked fakes wouldn’t cut it.  What was needed was a real whopper they could all use.

They ordered another round of beers. 

Since a phony domestic story would be too easy to check on, they began discussion foreign angles that would be difficult to verify.  China was distant enough so they decided to write about China.

John suggested this angle, gesturing dramatically in the dim light of the barroom.  Why not pretend that a group of American engineers had stopped over in the Denver area en route to China.  The Chinese government, they would say, was making plans to demolish the Great Wall; these engineers were bidding on the job.

But Harold was skeptical.  Why would the Chinese want to destroy the Great Wall? 

John suggested that they say that China was tearing down the ancient boundary to symbolize international good will, to welcome foreign trade.

Another round of beers.

By 11:00 p.m. the four reporters had worked out the details of their preposterous story.  After leaving the Oxford Bar, they would go over to the Windsor Hotel.  They would sign four fictitious names to the hotel register.  Then they would instruct the desk clerk to tell anyone who asked that 4 New Yorkers had arrived that evening, had been interviewed by reporters, and had left early the next morning for California. 

All four Denver newspapers carried the story… front page!

Though a fake, the story was picked up and expanded by newspapers in Eastern U.S. and then by newspapers abroad. 

When the Chinese themselves learned that the Americans were sending a demolition crew to tear down their national monument, most were indignant; some were enraged. 

Particularly incensed were the members of a secret society, a volatile group of Chinese patriots who were already wary of foreign intervention.  Inspired by the story, they exploded into a rampage against foreign embassies in Peking.  Hundreds of missionaries were slaughtered.  Within 2 months, 12,000 troops from 6 countries joined forces and invaded China with the purpose of protecting their own countrymen.

The bloodshed which followed, sparked by a journalistic hoax invented in a barroom in Denver, became the white-hot international conflagration known to every high school history student… as the Boxer Rebellion.  [Told by Kent Hughes in his commentary on James, Crossway Books, 1991, pp. 135-7

We shake our heads in condemnation.  It’s relatively comfortable to sit in padded chairs and talk about horses bridles and ships rudders.  I could have brought one of each and had them here as visuals today.  Nobody would have minded a bit.

But what if I had pulled out three things and thrown them on the floor here: 

  • an open flame,
  • a vile of anthrax
  • and a live cobra???

How comfortable would you be right now?

Even worse, how safe would you feel if you knew that scattered throughout this auditorium, seated in every classroom of this facility, roaming every hallway were pyromaniacs with pockets full of matches and lighter fluid… people with highly communicable, life-threatening diseases… and snake handlers with venomous rattlers and cobras???

Know what?  Every one of us has the potential to be a spiritual pyromaniac, a venomous snake, a walking deadly disease carrier… every time we wake up in the morning, every time we pick up the phone, every time we chat with someone in the store or after Bible study or in at our school.

With this potential residing in each of us, it’s a grace of God that there are not more international wars, clan feuds, gang fights and church splits than there already are on the face of this planet. 

We all need a healthier respect for the destructive nature of the tongue just as we all need a deeper appreciation for the positive power of our words. There is SO much good that can come from this little member.  That is how God designed it to be uses – for pure good.  James uses a couple of metaphors to allude to how our words can do such great good and hold power to DELIGHT every human soul.  But even as he does that, he reminds us of how shocking and disorienting switching back and forth from words that feed and heal to words that poison and destroy. 

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Some of you grew up around people who were so unpredictable you couldn’t tell what you were going to get at any given moment.  Things might appear calm and then, seemingly out of the blue, there would be a storm of angry words.  For others the norm was abusive words punctuated by confusingly kind and loving speech.  Those mixed verbal messages confuse and confound even the most stable of children.  But such “should not be” in the hearts and mouths of people directed by the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, the church, “Christian” homes and Christian friendships have too often become like Chicago in 2016.  They have plenty of laws on the books designed to stop violent crime.  But the sad reality is that there have been over 650 homicides in the past 10 months…over 2 murders a day…in our nation’s 3rd largest city.   

Like guns, knives and baseball bats in the hands of out-of-control people in Chicago is bringing untold grief to that city, so words in our out-of-control mouths is doing deep damage to people and the body of Christ.  It’s not the fault of the guns…or the knives…or the baseball bats.  It’s the hearts and minds of the people who wield them. 

Imagine the power of being people with life-giving words, words that are like a cold drink of fresh water on a hot day?  Imagine giving people something sweet and nourishing with our conversation every time we opened our mouths. Imagine the power of a single human tongue under the control of the Holy Spirit!

We know that power in Jesus Christ.  When he walked this earth, He spoke only what He heard his heavenly Father speak (Jn. 14:10, 24).  The Holy Spirit “speak[s] only what he hears” (Jn. 16:13) Jesus and the Father say. Imagine what life together would be like in a church or a home or a business if we, God’s people, spoke only what we heard God calling us to speak to our children, our spouses, our friends, coworkers, fellow Christ-followers?   

 How different life might be if we just got in the habit of running our words by God before we ran off at the mouth.  There are times when someone comes to me for advice or counsel and I remember to ask the Holy Spirit, “What do you want me to say right now?  What message do you have for this person?”  But so often that doesn’t happen with those I’m around most, those I speak to most in a day—my wife, my children, my coworkers, people I encounter on the street or in the bike shop. 

Words can be SO powerful—powerful to take life AND powerful to give life.  Which kind of words do you want to be remembered for? 

ILL:  This past Friday, Veteran’s Day, I was reminded to “speak” (or more accurately “write”) a few words to our son, David, who has just completed his first year in the United States Army as a helicopter pilot in training. I wanted to share some words that would bring strength and life to him over 2,500 miles away. So I chose words that I hope and pray let him know what is in this Father’s heart for his son, words that bring life.  Here’s what I wrote.

Good Morning, David.

I wanted to drop you a short email just to say how much I appreciate the dedication you have and are showing to your country and all of us who live in it and enjoy its freedoms.  So many people today have no understanding of what they have in this country.  So many are confused about what they should be fighting for in America.  So many do not grasp all that is at stake these days in this land.

But you do.  You are no radical, no idealist and no anarchist. You are a man of honor, integrity, dedication, commitment, sacrifice and hard work.  You are a man who thinks before he acts and then acts wisely and righteously.  You are a man who can be trusted not only with great military power but with the lives of people in and outside the military.  You are a man who lives a measured, focused and faithful life--faithful to your God, to your family and to your country.

You are not afraid to ask the hard questions of either yourself or others.  You are not afraid to go it alone when everyone else is swimming the wrong direction.  And you are not afraid of what people think, say, plan or perpetrate.  You are a man of quiet strength and honorable determination.  That is why you are and will be a great leader.

On this day when we remember you and many men and women who have gone before you for their service to this flawed but great nation, I want you to know that I HONOR YOU!  Thank you for being a son that makes his father and mother proud, a brother that is held in highest esteem by your siblings, a saint in the service of your Savior and a citizen in the best sense of the word..
Have a blessed Veteran's Day, son.
Your devoted Dad

Oh, that my tongue was more attuned to words that bring life.  It can and should be if my heart is attuned to the Spirit God has given me. 

CLOSE:

  • Is there someone God is asking you to do some repair work with because of your tongue? Will you ask for God’s help to do that soon, well and humbly?
  • How about trying to commit every conversation this week to Christ by asking the Holy Spirit what He wants you to say and how he wants you to say it?
  • Perhaps you need to surrender your whole heart and life to Jesus before you ask Him to take charge of your tongue? (Call to faith in Christ.)
  • In what one relationship does your speech need the greatest change/Spirit-led words? How is God asking you to make that happen?
  • What might God be asking you to do yet this morning to use your speech to be a blessing to someone else?

PRAY

Small Group Study Questions

  1. This passage begins with a sober warning. What is it?  Is it true that God will judge by different standards or criteria as this verse seems to indicate?  How does grace, forgiveness and the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ relate to this?  See passages such as Mt. 12:33-37; I Cor. 3:10-17; Rev. 20:11-15; Hebrews 9:11-15.
  2. James 3:2 states an absolute truth about the common ground we all stand on before God and each other. Discuss just how level that common ground is?  Then read James 3-4.  What does this passage have to say about humility?  What are its characteristics?  Its manifestations?  Conversely, what are the characteristics and manifestations of a lack of humility?
  3. James 3:8 makes another statement of absolute truth about the human tongue. Why is this statement true?  What is God’s answer for this problem?  How can we practically experience the Holy Spirit directing our speech.  (See Mt. 12:33-35; Rm. 7-8; Gal. 5:16-26; Eph. 4:20-5:20)
  4. Take some time in your group to identify ways in which you have seen speech (yours and others) among God’s people used a.) to damage, destroy and defeat and b.) to bless, heal, encourage and empower? What does James 4 tell us must be parts of any remedy against misuses of our tongue?
  5. What could your group do every time they meet to bless each other through speech? To bless people without Christ?