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Part 2. A World of Iniquity
Bridle Thy Tongue “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.” --James 1:26 Homer Montague The above text relates to consecrated believers who covenant to follow the Master’s example – true Christians who have had their lives transformed by the influence of the holy spirit. After our consecration is accepted we will begin to put off characteristics such as anger, malice, hatred, envy, strife, evil speaking and other works of the flesh. This cleansing involves not merely a mental appreciation of the scriptures, but also, the deep heart-searching self-examination to be guided by godly principles. Having the treasure of the new creature in an earthen vessel, we will be assailed from time to time with a transitory wrong thought. The new creature must put this thought away from consideration; so that it does not take root in his heart and choke out righteousness and proper sentiments. Paul The apostle Paul gives sound counsel about regulating our thoughts and thus our tongues: “Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report – if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). The first consideration –the truth of a matter – excludes dwelling upon and speaking about idle speculations and exaggerations, which corrupt the mind and squander consecrated time that should be used for those things which edify. Next is the honesty of a matter. We are to promptly dismiss any inclination towards deceit, hypocrisy and intrigue. Sometimes, true but dishonorable thoughts come to our minds about weaknesses or idiosyncrasies, of neighbors, friends, and even brethren. Such thoughts must be dismissed promptly before we sin with our lips. Whatsoever things are just –We should think about righteous, just things and principles instead of meditating upon grievances, or injustices, real or imagined. We are living in “this present evil world.” Being evil spoken of, or misunderstood, for Christ’s sake, is to be gladly endured instead of complained against. Whatsoever things are pure – All around us impurity may be found – in the expressions of people, the smutty jest, advertisements in the newspapers, bumper stickers on cars, commercials or common television programming. Let us avoid giving utterance to such matters. Jesus was the sublime example of purity. Bringing all of our thoughts into conformity with his character will help us avoid entertaining any impurities which are presented to us for consideration. Whatsoever things are lovely – We do well not to think continually on secular matters, especially after we leave our jobs or other necessary mortgages upon our spiritual lives. Rather, we are to think mainly upon the fruits and graces of the spirit, and how we can cultivate them to a greater degree in our lives and to the benefit of others. Keeping these things in mind and offering praise to God for His assistance in nurturing us in this way will be taking positive strides toward inculcating loveliness of character. Whatsoever things are of good report. This refers to those things that the Bible endorses as being proper. It includes anything that would be well thought of by reputable characters. Noble deeds and sentiments illustrate the kinds of things we may properly entertain to encourage the transformation we are undergoing. This text under consideration concludes with the words “if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” First and foremost, we should think upon those things, which God would praise, and those things which would enable us to praise him better as we seek to glorify his name, and fully meet with his approval. All of these efforts towards entertaining proper habits of thought will have a profound effect upon our utterances. James Several verses in James chapter 3 deal specifically with the tongue, as well as references to this instrument in James 1:18, 26; 2:12; 4:11 and 5:12. James introduces the subject with a caution against having a hasty desire to become a teacher of God’s word before carefully weighing the responsibility and privilege of such service. Beyond this, however, James considers a believer’s pattern of conversation, noting the tongue is the most difficult member of the body to control. However, the tongue is merely an instrument or index of the heart condition, for the Master declared “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Only Christ – who was perfect, free from the taint of sin through the Adamic condemnation –reflected truth, righteousness and holiness in all his utterances. Nevertheless, as new creatures under the influence of the holy spirit, we must increasingly gain ascendancy over our fallen tendencies and speak helpful, wholesome words that will be edifying and beneficial to those who hear them. In one illustration, James compares the responsibility of the new mind to control the power of the tongue to governing a horse’s motions by pulling the reins connected to a bit in the animal’s mouth. Though the bit is a very small piece of steel, it can be used to control the horse’s entire behavior. Without this restraint, an unruly horse could easily run away with, or overthrow, its rider. Similarly, without exerting watchfulness over our words, the believer’s spiritual growth can be seriously hampered. Another simile for the tongue is a fire. When insinuations or evil speaking are carelessly dropped into the minds of others, the effect is like dropping a lighted match into combustible material. It can result in a huge conflagration that leaves behind a charred mass of devastating ruins. Many savage beasts, winged creatures and reptiles of various types can be tamed or trained, given sufficient time and perseverance. However, man’s success in subduing wild animals does not extend to his control of his tongue. Because words can inject untold evil into the lives of others, the apostle also describes the tongue as an instrument full of deadly poison (James 3:8). Character assassination and gossip concerning others, involving such phrases as “Keep this to yourself, but…,” “Did you know…,” or “I wouldn’t tell you this but I know it will go no further…,” have a poisonous effect upon the hearts and minds of both those who utter these phrases and those who receive and entertain them. Perhaps the greatest rationalization for such an evil propensity is the statement, “I am telling you this so that you can pray about it.” It is inconsistent to use the tongue for both good and evil. “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so [can] no fountain both yield salt water and fresh” (James 3:9‑12). It would be an act of hypocrisy to render praise to the heavenly Father while in worship with the Lord’s people, but, outside of that setting, to vilify the character of someone else with slanderous words. If someone claims to love the Lord, yet spews forth words that tear down another, that bitter speech certainly challenges the genuineness of his profession to being a believer who is earnestly striving to manifest a Christ-like character. The contradictions James alludes to – a fountain yielding both fresh and salt water, or fig trees bringing forth olive berries or the reverse – simply do not exist in nature. Better they don’t exist in our character. If daily we render up our accounts to God and seek his grace for greater overcoming power with each succeeding day, we shall be acquitted in judgment and stand approved before God, through Christ, having the testimony of his holy spirit with our spirits that we are pleasing and acceptable to him. So, dear brethren, let us "take heed to our ways, that we sin not with our tongues" (Psalms. 39:1). “There is nothing that is of so powerful an influence as the tongue. The influence of a good word, a good thought, may become world-wide; an evil thought, an evil word, may also extend its influence to the end of the world.” Reprints, p. 4805.
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