James 3.2,8 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well….8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
Doubtless you have been exposed to the recent firestorm that has ensued since Don Imus’ remarks on his radio show last week. Imus’ comments were directed at the women’s basketball team at the University of Rutgers. His comments were unkind, insensitive, not funny and flat out uncalled for.
Imus is a talk show host who has made his living making statements like this that many people find funny. In the case of the Rutgers’ basketball team, the overwhelming majority took offense and as of yesterday MSNBC has canceled his show and companies have pulled their sponsorship.
Every time something like this happens (see Time Magazines’ list of 10 recent verbal flaps) I am reminded of the power and devastation of the tongue. Our tongues are the prime weapon of a fallen heart used to slay people’s character through slander, gossip, to hurt people’s feelings through harsh words, and to manipulate for personal gain through deceitful speech.
According to the James, we have been able to control horses with a bit, ships by a very small rudder, and all species of beasts and birds, but yet we cannot tame the tongue, for it is “a restless evil and full of deadly poison” (James 3.8).
I am not shocked by Imus’ statements, or any of the other things that fly out of the mouths of people on a daily basis. I understand that there is not any divine powerful restraint to subdue the hearts weapon of choice. However, with Christians there is a restraint. The believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and is to be controlled by him and producing fruit in accordance with this control (cf. Gal. 5.19ff; Eph. 5.18ff).
When we hear the uproar and outrage over statements made by entertainers we should be reminded again of the tongue’s power and carnage. In just a matter of seconds people can be cut down, careers can be ruined, lives can be destroyed, characters may be attacked, and pain may be increased; all at the expense of an unbridled tongue.
Christians should be all the more aware of and on guard against this type of assault. We should see our tongues as attached by a puppet string to our own hearts. This image should frighten us towards radical action. For even our Lord taught that out of the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matt. 12.34). Therefore we need to be scrubbing our hearts with the Word of God, prayer, confession of sin and repentance. We understand that where gossip, slander, unkindness, and harshness dwell there also dwells an unattended heart, growing hard and being hardened by the effects of sin.
We should not be looking down our pious noses at people like Don Imus, as if we have bridled our own tongue. Instead we are to remember who we were and are, what God is doing and will do (Titus 3.3-8), and go to work on our own heart that we do not speak sinfully.
I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” (Psalm 39:1)