{"id":446,"date":"2014-05-10T09:20:51","date_gmt":"2014-05-10T08:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/?p=446"},"modified":"2020-02-05T11:55:38","modified_gmt":"2020-02-05T10:55:38","slug":"tongue-epistle-james","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/tongue-epistle-james\/","title":{"rendered":"The tongue – in the epistle of James"},"content":{"rendered":"

The apostle James writes a remarkable little piece about the tongue in his epistle. He says in chapter 3 verse 2:<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The way in which a person speaks influences his whole body.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Anyone who is unable to control his speech will discover that his body reacts accordingly.
\nFor example: someone who feels anger rising within himself during a conversation and who allows it free rein in his speech.
\nHe starts speaking louder and louder as he becomes more excited, and he becomes more and more expressive in his body language and gesticulations.
\nResult<\/strong>: A difficult conversation, which ends in a quarrel or estrangement between the parties to the conversation.<\/p>\n

If that person does not express his anger, and keeps his tongue under control, there is a good chance that the conversation will be able to progress in a normal way.
\nIt is really awesome if he tries to discover what is making him so angry and opens this up for discussion.
\nProblems can then be solved and relationships are strengthened.<\/p>\n

James warns<\/strong> that the tongue, which is but a small member of our body, can cause big problems if it is not kept under control.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0 (James 3:5)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He explains why this is the case:<\/span><\/h3>\n

The tongue becomes a fire when it is enflamed by hell.<\/p>\n

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among<\/strong> the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body<\/strong>, sets the whole course of one\u2019s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (James 3:6)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hell is the dwelling place of Satan<\/span><\/a>, the devil, the adversary, the slanderer. Enflamed by \u2018the adversary\u2019, the tongue becomes \u2018a world of evil\u2019, a world of deeds, the origin of which is to be found in injustice. This is how the tongue encourages wrong behaviour. This is how the whole body becomes corrupted.<\/p>\n

The \u2018whole course of one\u2019s life\u2019 in this text is translated in different ways in Bible translations. What can be understood from it, is that speech is not only able to corrupt the body, but can enflame a person\u2019s whole existence from birth.
\nSomeone\u2019s personal history burns out, as it were, and is destroyed.
\nA good name built up in someone\u2019s life can be completely ruined in just one conversation through reckless speech.<\/p>\n

There is a problem, therefore:<\/span><\/h3>\n

The tongue cannot be tamed naturally.<\/p>\n

\u2026 no human being can tame the tongue<\/strong>. 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\u2019s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (James 3:8-10)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Praises and curses come forth from the same mouth.
\nThe tongue itself cannot prevent this happening, because, ultimately, the tongue is an instrument that is driven.
\nJames concludes nevertheless: This should not be the case<\/strong>.
\nIf it should not be the case, it can be otherwise. There is a solution therefore.<\/p>\n

What this is all about:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Light and darkness do not mix:<\/p>\n

Can both fresh water and salt water<\/strong> flow from the same spring<\/strong>?\u00a0\u00a0 (James 3:11)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On the one hand it is stated:<\/p>\n

If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts<\/strong>, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such \u201cwisdom\u201d does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic<\/strong>. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice<\/strong>. (James 3:14-16)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On the other hand it is stated:<\/p>\n

The wisdom that comes from heaven<\/strong> is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, (easy to convince, obedient), full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (genuine, without duplicity).\u00a0\u00a0 (James 3:17)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And James concludes that:<\/p>\n

Righteousness is a fruit, which is harvested, whereas peace is sown<\/strong>.
\n(freely translated from James 3:18)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n