MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK SERIES
WHERE DO YOU SWIM?
JAMES 3:1-12
#JAMESatCCC
INTRODUCTION
You know, I really hate preaching on things that I need sermons on. It makes me feel more like a hypocrite than I already feel most of the time. As Christians, we have a high bar set by Jesus Christ as the target for our lives. My favorite writer in Scripture is the Apostle John and he says, “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God” (3 John 1:11). Paul tells the Corinthians “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). The example and the good that we are to make patterns for our lives is expressed in God’s Word and made flesh by Jesus Christ. It is the pursuit of good that should define us as Christians.
Today we are talking about the human tongue. It is part of us that is also called as Christians to a high standard and where I feel that I personally fail daily. I know I fail daily. We use our tongue for many things. We use them to eat ice cream and give icy words. It is the source of bad breath and bad words. We use them to taste sweetness and whisper sweet nothings. A blue whale’s tongue weighs as much as a truck and many times the words that we use weigh even heavier on the hearts of the people we speak them to or can be used to lift such weight off of them. The Bible has many verses about the tongue. Just the word “tongue” is mentioned over 140 times, but it is the times in James 3 that we are interested in this morning.
READ JAMES 3:1-12 (NIV)
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 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. 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 person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
READ JAMES 3:1-12 (MSG)
1-2Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life. 3-5A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! 5-6It only takes a spark, remember, 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 a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. 7-10This 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. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! 10-12My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?
This passage describes the tongue as a powerful muscle that steers who we are. I like that The Message describes the mouth as a possible mud hole. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they talk and the words they use. You can tell how a person will react based on words they have used in the past. The passage in the book of James that we read this morning describes words as a fire, restless evil, poison, and salt water. It is this last thought about salt water that has caught my attention.
I did a little digging into the scientific aspects of fresh and salt water. To be honest, there wasn’t much there. Of course there are differences between the two, but I was trying to come up with a whizz-bang revelation that would impress you. You know, the difference between fresh water and salt water is really quite simple and the truth will make you gag… literally. Imagine yourself thirsty. You take a drink. If you drink the fresh water, you will be refreshed. If you drank the salt water, you would gag and it would make you sick.
Salt water is one of the reasons I hate the beach… along with heat, sand, sun, fat people wearing small bathing suits, and sea gulls. The ocean is an absolute blast as long as it doesn’t get in your mouth. You jump out into the ocean and ride the waves and have a grand ole time and then… smack… a mouth full of salt water that ruins your day. The difference is obvious and not complicated, negative words, like salt water, make your soul and heart gag and sick. This passage in James encourages us away from negative words and towards positive speech which is obviously the fresh water. Let’s dig a well a little bit deeper and look at these two kinds of words.
I. SALT WATER SALUTATIONS
For James, salt water symbolized negative speech. Negative words affect people in negative ways. There are many different ways in which we can fall into the trap of negative words that can harm others or damage our witness of who we are. I want to go through some examples so that we are all swimming in the same pool this morning.
GOSSIP: Gossip is a strange word because it is a verb and a noun at the same time. “A Gossip gossips.” Gossip is the rumor or talk of a personal nature about people. It is also the unflattering title of the person who does such things. I think that gossip is a common problem for many people because in doing some reading about gossip, I found one listing of over 100 synonyms for the word gossip. Babblement, bibble-babble, blabber, blabbermouth, flibbertigibbet, chitter-chatter, gibble-gabble, hearsay, idle talk, natter, nosy Parker, palaver, prittle-prattle, and rumormonger are just a few that mean the same things as the word “gossip.”
When something has that many names, it is an obvious problem for many people. Proverbs 16:28 states very plainly, “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” Gossip would be anything that stirs up dissention and problems among people and separates people. The end result of gossip is hurt feelings, separation, tears, embarrassment, and anger.
ILLUSTRATION: Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed
Whenever I think of gossip, I cannot help but think about “LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed.” It is the twelfth video from Veggie Tales that present Biblical values to children and to teenagers and adults that watch them frequently. The story centers on the character Alfred who is speaking before Junior Asparagus and Laura Carrot's class at Veggie Valley Elementary. He makes the comment that he must go home and "recharge his batteries". The children don't understand the expression is a figure of speech and come to the false conclusion that Alfred must be a robot. As they are walking home, they run into a small Rumor Weed who extracts their secret and promptly passes it along. The Rumor Weed quickly moves from yard to yard spreading the rumor. LarryBoy gets a call from Mayor Blueberry who informs him that weeds are taking over the city.
It is a heralding story of bravery. Finally, Dad Asparagus arrives on the scene and recognizes the absurdity of the rumor. He figures out that Junior and Laura started the rumor and explains to them that "even if it's true God doesn't want us to tell stories that can hurt, he wants us to spread nice words.” Given a second chance, they decide to spread good words and are able to convince the citizens of Bumblyburg that Alfred is not a robot at all, but a very nice man. As the word spreads, the Rumor Weed turns into a flower and Alfred and the city is saved.
LYING: Lying is one of those things that has been around ever since time began. Jesus says in John 8:44 that Satan is the “Father of Lies” and states that his native language is lying. We see in Genesis 3 that Satan spoke only lies when speaking with Eve. He spoke half-truths and twisted words. A half-truth is a whole lie. A twisted story ends up being the bent truth. Lying is anything opposite the truth. Revelation 21:8 lists those who are disenfranchised from God and who will spend eternity away from God. There are eight characteristics of the people who will have such a fate. Revelation 21:8 lists, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Lying is no light sin.
ILLUSTRATION: “Shark Tale” 2004
I love the movie “Shark Tale” which came out in 2004. The story begins with the son of a gangster shark boss being accidently killed while on the hunt by being clobbered by a boat anchor. His would be prey, the central character in the movie, and the shark’s vegetarian brother both decide to use the incident to their own advantage. They lie. They make up stories. They manipulate the situation for fame and fortune and it all comes crashing down when the lies are found out. That is always the way with lies. Lying is always looked down upon and always destroys love, trust, goodness, and relationships.
CRUDE JOKING: Ephesians 5:1-4 commands, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” What I find interesting in this verse is that “coarse joking” or “crude joking” is put into contrast with things that are proper and in place. Crude jokes are simply out of place for a Christian.
Now, I could give you an illustration of a crude joke, but we will skip that for now. The end result of a coarse joke is often hurt feelings or inappropriate language or belittling someone or a group that is already hurting. It is just something that is out of place for a person of God.
SARCASM: Ephesians 5:4 also would cover sarcasm. The kind of sarcastic speech that I am talking about comes off funny, but in the end hurts feelings once the person it was said to realizes what was said. It is funny or wit covered in hurt. I went in search of sarcastic comments and to be honest, had to repent after I read some of them. I laughed, but then I realized how hurtful such things can be. My question was (and still is) how do I describe sarcastic language without using examples. So here are some tame examples:
1. Well, this day was a total waste of makeup. (attacks looks and appearance)
2. Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we? (attacks intelligence)
3. Don’t bother me. I’m living happily ever after. (indicates you will not listen)
4. I’ve found Jesus. He was behind the sofa the whole time. (attacks and belittles religion)
5. I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a very bad mood for 30 years. (excuses bad behavior)
6. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed. (attacks looks and appearance)
7. Do they ever shut up on your planet? (indicates you will not listen)
8. I’m trying to imagine you with a personality. (attacks and belittles the person)
9. Kelly said to me this week, “Did you catch stupid?”
The end result of all of these examples is a cutting into a person. Words can cut. Did you know that? The old phrase: “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me” is an absolute lie. One of the most dangerous kinds of words we can use are funny or witty remarks that in the end hurt feelings and attack a person’s worth. Remember Ephesians 5:4 which says that such things are out of place for God’s people.
CURSING/CUSSING: You know, many of these things that we are speaking about this morning are habits of the tongue. Cursing is a habit that is hard to break once it becomes part of you. We hear the words from others, the radio, the TV, movies, books, magazines, and 100 other different ways. There are so many curse words and words that are substitutes for curse words and it is an easy habit to get into.
Colossians 3:8 says, “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” This verse comes in the midst of a metaphor that Paul is using about Jesus Christ. He says that when we become a Christian we put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ and set our old clothes aside. Cursing and filthy language is one of the rags we lay aside when we become new in Christ. These kind of words are filthy rags that shame us and make us dirty. It makes sense to me that “filthy language” is included in the verse about anger and rage because it is in those times when cursing is most prolific. Bad language is an extension of the emotion many times.
LORD’S NAME IN VAIN: This last area of bad language comes straight from the Big Ten… now I do not mean some college sports conference, but the Big Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:7 commands, “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Pretty much saying the word “God” in a situation where you are not talking about Him is a misuse of His name. It is the same with Jesus. Unless your relative’s name is Jesus, you probably should use that name only when talking about Jesus. If you did not know, “H” is not Jesus Christ’s middle initial… God doesn’t damn anything yet (and as a side note we pretty much do that on our own)… and saying “Oh My God” when you are excited or in shock is only appropriate if you happen to be standing in the throne room in Heaven… and the Lord does not care who is 40. Typing OMG is taking the Lord’s Name in vain.
SALT WATER SUMMARY
Salt water has a property that people who own boats know all about. Salt water is corrosive. I suppose this is why “dry docks” were invented and why the undersides of boats need special care. Over time, salt water corrodes the boat and it sinks. Negative speech has the same affect on people. It corrodes the heart of the one using it and sinks the heart of the ones hearing it.
James says that negative speech and positive speech come from the same fountain. He said this should not be so. It should not be the normal flow of language that both good and bad flow from the same mouth. We should not curse God and bless Him with the same mouth. We should not build up others and tear them down with the same tongue. Yet we do and it is a sin.
II. FRESH WATER PHRASES
The positive speech is obviously the fresh water in the passage. The positive speech would be the opposite of everything we have been looking at thus far and would be the nourishing side of what the tongue and language can do.
ILLUSTRATION… Ocho Rios, Jamaica (p)
When I think about fresh water, I cannot help but think of Ocho Rios Jamaica. I remember my missions trip to Jamaica very well. We spent days helping build a church for Christian brothers and sisters in Lluidas Vale. Towards the end of the week I was a good kind of tired and a bad kind of stinky. We had showers, but when you work constantly like that sometimes it feels like you can’t get clean. We took one R & R day and went to a touristy place. The falls at Ocho Rios are amazing and you can climb them. I sat under the falls for quite awhile. I have never felt so clean. I was refreshed, rejuvenated, and my whole perspective changed having been in contact with these fresh water falls. Fresh water is like that.
Positive words are like that and focus on strength, hope, love, and peace. Positive language seeks the betterment of the person and prioritizes the relationship. Positive language adds to a person’s heart and strengthens their spirit. A positive word is green grass in a weed situation. As offensive as the salt water can be is the amount of refreshment fresh water can be. Again, the fresh water is the positive speech that is opposite of everything we have been looking at thus far and would be the nourishing side of what the tongue and language can do.
ENCOURAGING WORDS are the opposite of GOSSIP. Encouraging words are all about rescue and healing rather than sharing about people’s mistakes and making them feel judged. Proverbs 12:6 tells us, “The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.” Proverbs 12:18 says, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Our mouth has the potential to make situations better and not worse and this should always be our goal. That is a fresh water thing to do.
TRUTHFULNESS is the opposite of LYING. I know that statement is quite obvious, but most of the things I am saying this morning are not new to us, but are a reminder of who we should be in Jesus Christ. Proverbs 16:13 describes “Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.” Proverbs 23:23 tells us, “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” Hopefully you want to be known as a person of honesty and integrity and this begins with our words. Jesus was truthful in love with everyone He met and so should we. It is a fresh water thing to do.
SOFT EDGED WORDS are the opposite of SARCASM and COARSE JOKING. Sarcasm and coarse joking seem like hard cutting words and so soft-edged words are preferred. That does not mean they do not do their job and you confront things, but have more tact and more live. Proverbs 16:24 tells us, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” That is the fresh water thing to do.
GODLY WORDS are the opposite of CURSING. Cursing is a habit from the Devil that is meant to destroy our Christian witness. You can love someone all you want and share Christ and serve them, but let slip the salty curses and it all comes crashing down. Proverbs 17:27 states, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is.” Retraining our tongue is no easy task and must become a habit as much as an unrestrained tongue. That is the fresh water thing to do.
And the last one, well, there is no opposite of taking the LORD’S NAME IN VAIN… just don’t do it. That is the fresh water thing to do.
III. WHERE DO YOU SWIM? [adapted from The Silent Seduction of Self-Talk: Conforming Deadly Thought Patterns to the Word of God By: Shelly Beach]
So, James gives us this visual metaphor of our mouths as a stream. He says that salt water and fresh water should not flow from the same stream even though at times they do. When they do, it is a sin that has consequences for us and for those around us. So where do you swim most of the time? Are you a fresh water person or a salt water person? What type of fountain is your mouth? Would other say you are fresh water or salt water? If you are like me, you find yourself spewing more ocean water than you would like each day. How do we move from salt water to fresh water with our language? How do we gain muscle control over this very difficult muscle?
Step 1: Listen to yourself. You could pay closer attention to what you’re saying in your mind throughout each day and evening. Cut down on busyness that interferes with you hearing your own thoughts well. Ask God to reveal the ugly parts of yourself that you’ve worked to hide. Listen to what you’re saying and consider how you might be trying to justify or rationalize the words or attitudes in your life. Pray for God to help you change from the inside out.
Step 2: Recognize the temptation. A battle between good and evil rages in us all the time. Satan’s goal in that battle is to shift our focus from God and onto ourselves and will use our mouths to do it. Pray and ask God to open our eyes to the temptations we have to use poor language and to whom we say them.
Step 3: Confess and repent. Read, study, and reflect on Bible passages regularly, so its truth will soak into your soul and transform the way you think and more importantly the way you talk. When you notice that your talk conflicts with biblical truth, confess and repent of the wrong thoughts and the salty language. Ask God to help you kill whatever wrong thoughts are passing through your mind, from pride and greed to anger and fear and to rid the corresponding words from your mouth.
Step 4: Pray about your talk as it occurs. Perhaps you always tell a joke around certain people or speak in anger in certain situations. Pray about the thoughts that concern you as they go through your mind and as you are in the midst of the situation. As soon as you become aware of something disturbing like a flash of guilt or pride or anger or hurtfulness, confess it and take advantage of the opportunity to have God immediately restore your mind and ask Him to freeze the words. Catch yourself when you’re lying or cursing or saying the Lord’s name in vain. At that moment, invite God to transform your thinking in that moment. At that moment, invite God to transform you from the inside out.
It is only from the inside out that we will be able to conquer the battles over our tongue. I think the temptation to lie or curse or tell a dirty joke will always be there. Sarcasm and gossip will always be a temptation. Yet, even though it will always be there, we can invite God to change us to that it happens less and less as time progresses.
CONCLUSION IN PRAYER
