2024-10-13 San Jose CRC-sermon only - Gil Suh

 Today's scripture reading is James 3:1-12, Taming the Tongue.

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal, or take ships as an example: Although they are very large and are often driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a very small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body. It sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and itself is set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Or can a fig tree bear olives or a grape vine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. This is the word of the Lord.

So, we are still going through the book of James, this series. And if you pay attention to what we just read, this was a particularly difficult message to prepare and then preach. It's about the tongue and words and the mouth, and I do that (speak with my tongue and mouth) all the time. Just pray with me. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Each year, wildfires destroy, on average, half a million acres in California alone. These fires cause significant damage not only to these vast forest areas but also to residential and commercial regions. It takes thousands of firefighters to put off these fires. In the process, some of them get injured and even lose their lives.

So, what caused these fires? Many of them were caused by lightning, which is a natural cause. But more than a few are of human origin, mostly caused by careless treatment of small sparks from fire sources like leftover campfires or negligently discarded cigarettes.

And today's passage compares the destructive power of the tongue to the sparks of fire. It's a serious reminder about the careless use of our tongue and our words and its consequences that are sometimes beyond our imagination. And it begins with a warning. Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Judged about what? Judged about what we say. Our words, our speeches. Teachers, including preachers, say more words than average because it's by vocation, right? That's what I'm doing now, too. So we are more vulnerable. Teachers and preachers, or whatever their job or vocation, who have to use more words are more vulnerable to mistakes and misuse of words. The impact of these words on students, if they're teachers, on congregations, if they are pastors, or whoever is listening to someone using their tongue and words, the impact can be enormous. Think about it.

Many of us can remember and attest to the impact of those few words we heard from our teachers in the past, whether positive or negative. I can think of so many examples myself. I can still remember what my fourth-grade teacher said about me in front of the whole class.

If you're curious whether it was a positive or negative, you can ask me afterward. But the words of teachers and preachers can be so life-giving and unifying, or deadly, divisive, depending on what they say and how they say. Isn't that so true? But as a preacher, I know if I say 99 right words and one wrong word, people will pay more attention to that one word.

I know by experience. Years ago, when I was preaching to this group of young people, I said one word without thinking, without knowing I shouldn't have said it. Oh, boy, the people's reaction to that! And then afterward! It was almost like they were sleeping, and then, when they heard that one word, everybody woke up and said what did he say?

I need to keep this in mind all the time. So please pray for me and other preachers and teachers for the grace of God in speaking the truth, especially in this post-truth era. At this time, people do not easily give other people the benefit of the doubt. They are so easy to criticize, dismiss, and judge.

And I know you don't. I know you really pay attention, but I also don't trust you that when I say a wrong word, you react. But please, let's bear this in mind. Okay. That, yes, that's why James said not many of you should become teachers if you're going to make mistakes because you'll be judged not only by God but by each other, too.

So then like you may say, who'd like to become teachers or preachers? If that will be judged more strictly in this era of secular and like post truth people will be jumping on you if you say certain words that they disagree or that they don't like. Who want to do that? But you know what?

Actually, becoming teachers was quite popular and desirable in certain cultures in the past. And still so in some countries too. Maybe still so in some circles in in our country as well. Both in Roman world 2, 000 years ago and in the early church, the first century, the position of teacher was one of high leadership status.

It came with authority and honor. So many wanted to be teachers for that reason. Oh, if I want to be teacher, if I'm a teacher, I'll be honored. And people will just, respect me just being a teacher. So they wanted to become teacher for that false motive of public attention and desire for status.

So, James warns and discourages such a pursuit. But that warning is still valid today for any leader who has to use words a lot. Some of you may think I'm not a teacher, preacher, or leader. Don't think you are exempt from this warning because we all use words.

We are all leaders somewhere, if not in our family or at work. We all use words spoken and written—some more than others. And sometimes, I envy those who are naturally quiet. It's not you try hard not to speak, but you are just naturally quiet and reserved; you don't speak; you are a person of few words.

But you know what? Even those of you who are naturally quiet are not necessarily at an advantage. Because even with fewer words, they can still make an impact. They can still cause the same trouble. The calling is not only about not speaking words but also speaking words that are encouraging and life-giving. We're gonna get to that.

So don't think that, oh, this is not for me. It's for everyone. And keep in mind that this message was originally for oral culture. At that time it was oral culture. So there's a lot of emphasis on speaking. But nowadays, it applies to both spoken words and written words. This warning is subject to what we write in email, text, social media, and comments. So, James warns that this warning reflects the word of Jesus. I want us just to pay attention. This is what Jesus said in Matthew 13: 26: But I tell you, Jesus says, that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. In a way, it should scare us. It says everyone will be judged. You need to give an account for every empty word that's spoken. And also, of course, you can add writing. James illustrates the power of the tongue with three examples in the passage: horses, ships, and forests. What do they have in common? Horses, ships, and forests are powerful and big, yet controlled by small things: the bit for a horse, the rudder for the ship, and the spark for the fire that burns the forest. So James is now building up the case by mentioning these small things that control much bigger things. It is like a tongue, a small piece of our body, but it controls big things. Not only us and others but sometimes the community, the whole nation, and the course of history.

James then makes his point about the effects and source of the unguarded tongue, using some of the strongest terms. In verses 6 through 8, the unguarded tongue is destructive, like wildfire, out of control, and dangerous.

We usually read the New International Version of the Bible, but The Message Version, another version, translates this part more visually and dramatically:

Remember, it only takes a spark to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech, we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on our reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it. Smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary. You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue. It's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer.

A very dramatic way to portray the power of unguided tongue. A careless word, exaggerated rumor, or nasty slander can ruin a person's reputation and devastate a community. Once the spark is lit and the fire starts, the damage is already done beyond, to the extent of beyond our imagination. Every time I drive past Home Depot on Blossom Hill, in front of the Oak Ridge Mall, that's a vivid reminder of what happened two years ago. This fellow was trying to steal those few tools. To distract attention, he just lit a small fire. Did he intend to destroy the whole warehouse? No. His intention was just to distract people so that he could run away. The result? The whole thing burned down. Praise God. Thankfully, nobody got hurt. Nobody got lost.

It could have easily gotten out of control. Nearby, not too far off, far from us, but what this spark of fire negligently used could do The destructive power of tongue is like the spark of a fire. The sparks of words have damaged countless friendships and communities.

That's why we try to teach our children and ourselves with wisdom, the Proverbs, right? The Proverbs are full of warnings about this, and even a Sunday school song. You remember?

Oh, be careful, little tongue what you say. Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say. There's a father up above, looking down in tender love. Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say.

We need to hear that not only when we are young, but also again and again. So we can even sing, let us sing.

Oh, be careful little tongue what you say. Oh, be careful little tongue what you say. There's a father up above looking down in tender love. Oh, be careful little tongue what you say.

And James puts the reality quite strikingly, right? All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It means that although our tongue is a small part of our body, it's so powerful that we can hardly control it on our own.

So, The Message Version uses the image of the tiger. It's scary, but you can tame a tiger. There are some people who tame tigers, but you can't tame your tongue.

Okay, the situation is grim. I've just been reminding us through this word of this danger, but that's what this word and passage are all about, right? Reminding us, warning us. Is there any hope for our tongue? Then what do we do? Is there any good news in this? Yes, there is. The word tame.

This is a very interesting word, tame, in scripture. This original word appears only two times throughout the New Testament. Here, in Mark chapter 5:3-4. This is the gospel: This man lived in the tombs. This is the demon-possessed man who went by the name Legion. He lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. That word subdue is tame, the same word. Here is a man, a demon-possessed man, so strong the chains could not tame him, hold him.

Now, he met Jesus. According to this story, although he was so powerful and out of control that no one could subdue him and tame him, only Jesus could tame or subdue this man and save him. And Jesus did. He cast out the legion from him. As a result, if this story continued, this man began telling others how much the Lord had done for him.

The same is true of our tongue, left alone. Like this demon-possessed man on his own is untamable and destructive, only Jesus can tame our tongue and keep our speech from destroying the good. That's true for everyone. And God's salvation plan for us covers the whole being. When God saves us from sin, He intends to save us from every area of our life that was influenced or contaminated by sin, including our speech, words, and tongue.

But let us think about it. Do we let Jesus tame our tongues? How about you? Do we have a habit by any chance of using our spoken or written words out of immediate impulse or quick reaction? Do we speak or write without considering how our words will impact others? And more importantly, how will God hear and see?

And brothers and sisters in Christ, if the Lord Jesus is with us, then the Spirit of God is working to tame our tongue and sanctify our mouth to be not the source of dissension, division, and bitterness but to be the source of life-giving, encouraging, and telling the truth and graciously. So, let us cooperate with the Spirit and we will speak graciously and truthfully. We'll learn to do that.

So let us make this our prayer: Psalm 19: Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Redeemer, and my Rock. Our words are related to our hearts. Amen. What is in our heart comes out in our mouths, so no matter how hard we try to control our tongue, if our heart is not changed or transformed, it will come out.

So let us just pray that God's grace and mercy will sync our mouths, words, and hearts. So you'll be a source of life-giving and encouragement to others. It may not happen overnight, just like any good thing—the habits. But today, as we listen to these words, not only will our tongue be tamed by the grace and power of God, but our tongue will be transformed, becoming more like Christ, full of grace and truth.

So it is our prayer: Lord, use my mouth and my words to reflect your glory and goodness and to be a source of good news to others. Let's pray for that. Pray with us. Amen. Amen.

Dear Lord, we acknowledge the power of our words and the damage they can cause when not controlled. Like a spark, our tongues can ignite great destruction, but we trust that you alone can tame them. And also, Lord, we ask for your forgiveness for the words that we spoke and wrote in the past, maybe even the past week, that caused the hurts and maybe the damage that we don't even know. God, have mercy and help us surrender our speech to you so they may be sanctified and used for your glory. May our words be filled with grace, truth, and love, bringing life and encouragement to others rather than harm. Guide us to be mindful of the impact of what we say and what we write. And through the Holy Spirit, help us speak and write words that reflect your goodness. Yes, Lord, the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. Oh, Lord, our rock and redeemer. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.