Taming the Tongue

Two thoughts as we continue reflecting on the difficulties of "taming the tongue" from last week's sermon on James 3. 

First, it stirkes me that if the tongue is as wild as James claims--if it's so difficult to control that nobody can do it perfectly--then that's a call for all of us to live with a heightened awareness of the need for grace in our lives.  When we understand the difficulty others inherently have in saying the right thing (and even more so in saying the right thing at the right time in the right tone of voice...), then we need to be prepared to offer forgiveness when something is said that hurts us.  The tongue, after all, as James says, is set on fire by the flames of hell themselves...so maybe we can cut the other person some slack. 

I still remember things my parents said when I was growing up that hurt me.  In fact, I've held onto many more of those than the many, many things they said that encouraged me or built me up.  Perhaps it's time I let go of the ones that hurt.

Second, using our tongues in honor and praise and glory to God does not mean that every word out of our mouths has to be bright and perky and upbeat.  The Psalms in particular are filled with words of sorrow and pain and suffering, yet those words too still bring honor to our God.  They just do it in a way that also honors the current circumstances. 

This also sheds a new light on the way we approach the everyday, including our everyday words.  One of the great strengths of the Reformed tradition is that we emphasize that every moment of every day belongs to our God.  This means that even the mundane and common tasks--and even more so the mundane and common words we use--can be done/spoken to God's glory.  So, then--how would one say, "It's time for the bus!" in a way that glorifies God?

Peace,
Pastor Jay

Midadventures of the week:  (1) We returned from the Pastors' Conference/Retreat we were at on Monday and Tuesday and I emptied my pockets only to pull out the key for the room we stayed in while there.  Oops--needed to make an extra trip to the post office this week.  (2) We confused many of the members of the study of Islam small group as they came to our house for the first meeting and were greeted by two children--ages 11 and 8--and they wondered what had happened to Emma and Brianna.  We were simply watching the kids of some friends of ours.  (3) Elizabeth had the hardest time convincing the folks at the hardware store it was okay for her to charge something to the church's account.  Apparently she wasn't on the list of approved persons, so they called the manager, who responded, "Wait--you don't trust the pastor?!"