James 3 (NRSVue)
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will face stricter judgment. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is mature, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. Since our tongue only speaks what’s stored in excess in our hearts, what can we do to help build a reservoir of love and kindness in our hearts? How does reshaping or cultivating what we take in impact what we send out?
2. If the tongue is untamable, then how do we manage our witness and life with a tongue that will “always” betray us?
3. James 3:1–12 warns of the destructive potential of the tongue. This passage has been used to help believers be more mindful of their own words. Is it fair to also say it been misused within the family of God to silence dissent or inhibit the pursuit of justice? If so, what should a Christ-oriented response to James 3:1-12 most accurately look like—one that honors James’ call to guard our words while still speaking truth with courage, love, and justice.
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. Why do you think James begins with a warning directed specifically at teachers before discussing speech more broadly? What parallels can you see between James’ warning and Jesus’ critique of the Pharisees (Mat 23:1-14, 16-24) who often misused words to heap burdens on people and preserve authority rather than shepherd?
2. James notes that not everyone should be a teacher. In our digital age where words are amplified globally and almost anyone has access to a platform, what new weight does James’ assertion carry? How does the believer rightly discern between the good teacher and someone maligned with a microphone?”
3. The author uses the imagery of bits and rudders in metaphor for our tongues leading us but consider what that means in contrast to being a faithful follower or servant. How can we be sure as followers that we aren’t leading in the wrong direction?
4. The tiniest spark can cause that forest fire, oftentimes a spark we shared that we are unaware of at the moment. What practical steps do you take to help protect from providing that spark? Does the context of my words absolve me of any responsibility for the fire they may cause?
5. We often hear that communication is a 50/50 endeavor between speaker and listener but knowing the impact of our tongues, what does it mean to meet the listener half way? What can I do to ensure that errant words or misunderstandings don’t start ‘fires’? What can I do as the listener to also ensure that a fire is not started by a misunderstanding?
6. What do you think is the “heart” of a person if it’s not the physical organ pumping blood? How does that affect how you think about using your tongue?
For further contemplation, consider these quotes & prompts:
1. By their fruits you know them – when you listen to someone speak, how do you use this to discern the value of their word for you?
2. “Words kill; words give life.” Can you think of an example of how words spoken to you gave you life or gave you destruction? How did you react? How have you held that?
3. “Everything that is said should be true, but not everything that is true should be said” – Voltaire. How does that land with you?