James Chapter 3
Originally posted Friday October 31, 2008
James,
Chapter 3:1-12 Taming the Tongue
In 1:26 James
gave a brief introduction to the need to bridle one's tongue. In this passage
he gives full voice to just how important such an admonition is in the
Christian community. He begins with a caution. Being a teacher, one who
uses speaking as a tool, is not a position everyone is qualified to hold.
Indeed, teachers will be judged more strictly because of the influence they
might have in what others believe. Mistakes in teaching are of greater harm
than other errors. Of course, everyone makes mistakes unless they are perfect
and have found a way to apply self control, to use a
"bridle" as a self imposed restraint. A "bridle" that
can perfect one's speaking - without mistakes, could also keep the entire body
under control. However, no one is perfect. James is referring to bridling the
tongue, a small "member" (a part of the body which can be an
instrument of sin or good). He uses two analogies of something small having the
power to control something large. A bit in a large horse's mouth controls the
movements of the entire horse. With the use of a small rudder a large ship moved
by strong winds and waves can be kept on the desired heading. The
tongue is like the bit and the rudder, a small member of the larger body.
Unfortunately while the bit and the rudder can be controlled
to effect a good outcome, the tongue cannot. As a small fire can burn down
a forest so the tongue "is a fire" and a "world of
iniquity" which sets ablaze the "wheel of birth" (staining all
of human existence). Not content with just identifying the negative impact
of this "tongue of fire" James attributes its capacity for
evil to Gehanna (hell) which has set it on fire! Even though every
species of animal can be tamed, the tongue - "a restless evil...full of
poison," cannot. Even though the tongue is capable of blessing (praising)
God and Christ, the same mouth can just as easily curse a fellow human being.
Such cursing is an indirect curse of the God who is the creator of all
humanity. This, James sternly declares, "ought not be so." He considers
such an act as contrary to nature, as if a spring, tree, vine or the sea could
produce two widely differing products.
James,
Chapter 3:13-18 Two Kinds of Wisdom
James suggests that there are two kinds of wisdom: earthly -
unspiritual and devilish, and heavenly. Spiritual wisdom from above is
demonstrated by the goodness of one's life expressed in good works born of
wisdom, done with gentleness. Earthly wisdom, born of earthly values, is
characterized by "bitter envy and selfish ambition," boastfulness and
deceit. This earthly wisdom is devoid of spiritual content informed by the
Spirit. It spawns "disorder and wickedness" rather than unity in
Christ and righteousness. It is diametrically opposite of heavenly wisdom which
is characterized by its purity, peacefulness and gentleness. It produces mercy,
good works, without hypocrisy and partiality.
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Note
In the first three chapters we have read a series of
"essays" written by James to address general issues in the Jewish
Christian congregations of the Diaspora. These issues are not restricted to
time and place. They are with us in the same way as they were with James'
readers. Partiality, damaging speech and the affects of earthly wisdom that
fosters envy and self-centered ambition are a plague that can invade all kinds
of institutions, including the Church. James offers only one remedy to these assaults
on peaceful unity. It is rooted in submitting one's personal interests to
the greater good. This greater good is informed by and discerned from an
understanding that God has a stake in the outcome of the human experience. It
also affirms that God has defined that stake in and through the ministry - and
the death, of Christ. As James wrote in his introduction, all of us make
mistakes. We are not perfect. However, the degree to which we are capable
of faith we are also capable of letting faith examine our motives and the
words and deeds born of such motives. Are the motives earthly, rooted in
an arbitrary set of standards or are they heavenly, rooted in a high principle
which characterizes the very persons we are? James opts for the latter
which, in his words, is a harvest of righteousness within one's being. James
asks the question: is our faith significant enough to guide the way we live?
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