James advised us to live our faith – and to start by controlling what we say.
Here’s a transcript:
I’m thinking about the third chapter of the Letter of James (James 3:1-12).
In the first two chapters James concentrated on the major theme of the letter: that faith needs to be lived. It is not enough to believe. It is not enough to trust in God. That belief and that trust need to find outward expression. “Faith without works,” wrote James, “is dead.”
In this section. James turns to a particular way in which to live out our faith, and that is to govern the tongue. “A restless evil, full of poison, wrote James, “Asking rhetorically,
Who can govern the tongue?”
Well, the answer, said James, is Christians. Christians are supposed to govern the tongue. We are not supposed to say evil things about one another. we are not supposed to say things that are not true. We are not supposed to curse with the same mouth with which we bless.
James, as he notes in this section, was perfectly well aware of the human capacity for folly and failure. James knew that there is always a God who forgives. But, said James, there is no excuse for not trying. Govern the tongue, he wrote. Let the speech that comes from your mouth be that of blessing: for yourself, for others, and for all the world.
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
