Tongue taming
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We each possess something small but powerful. It can be a source of joy and happiness, but also can be highly destructive. You’ve probably guessed what I am describing… the tongue.
I remember first hearing the phrase, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’, when I was at junior school.
A disagreement had broken out in the playground and turned nasty and those involved started saying unpleasant things to each other. The teacher on duty intervened and as she broke up the conflict said this phrase.
Of course, I know now that the phrase is not quite true. If I was beaten with sticks and stones, that would hurt physically. However, what is said also has an impact emotionally and psychologically, be that positive or negative.
When our children were little, we said affirming things to them, as that gave them a sense of security, knowing that they were loved by us.
In his letter in the Bible, the author James, who was probably the brother of Jesus and leader of the first church in Jerusalem, wrote…
“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.”
James identified the problem! The tongue communicates what we are thinking. James describes it like a rudder on a ship or bit in a horse’s mouth.
The challenge is for us to ‘tame the tongue’. How do we do that? For James, and the early church, it was God working on an individual, transforming them to be like Jesus. In other words, what we say is shaped by who we are on the inside.
For me, it begins with knowing that there is a God who loves us just as we are. This is truly being known (the good, the bad and the ugly). We are loved. But it doesn’t end there.
God desires for his great love to envelop us and to wash out our insecurities, fears and doubts so we become ‘secure’ in him. As this security grows, God changes us to see things as he does. As our heart changes so does what we feel and that then is reflected in what we say.
The tongue becomes a vessel of love, hope and encouragement. That does not mean we don’t have difficult conversations – that is part of life! The issue is how we go about it and the manner in which they occur.
May God help us all in ‘taming the tongue’, so that we may speak well with one another.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader