Readings for today: Ezekiel 25-26, James 3
“The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:6-10)
Reading these words today makes me wonder if James looked into the future and saw the dumpster fire that is social media these days! Everything from our national discourse down to the conversations we have around so many dinner tables only serves to prove James’ point about the untamable tongue. How many fires are started by careless words? How much violence is stoked by those who peddle lies? How much damage is done to people and to communities all across our country because some choose to weaponize their words to further their own selfish ends? Indeed the whole body that is America has become stained. Our entire way of life set on fire. So many relationships ended due to the restless evil and deadly poison that is spreading throughout our land. All because we can’t seem to tame our tongue. We can’t seem to control our words. We refuse to follow grandma’s advice, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say it at all.”
Sadly, far too many Christians are leading the charge. Rather than submit their words to Christ, they throw gasoline on the dumpster fire that’s raging. They speak out of both sides of their mouth. Praising God one minute and cursing those made in the image of God the next. Rather than offer a gentle answer to turn away wrath, they respond in kind and the flames only rise higher. Rather than overcome evil with good, they retaliate with “an eye for an eye” mentality and the fire only burns hotter. Rather than embrace humility and gentleness like our Lord, they feel the need to be prideful and arrogant, rude and abrasive, and the conflagration burns out of control. They are highly critical of everyone but themselves. They sing of God’s amazing grace but then refuse to extend it to anyone who might disagree with them. They assume the worst of their opponents and refuse to love their enemies. One might think James had caught wind of it or perhaps this is simply the way Christians have always acted.
My brothers and sisters, these things ought not to be so. The same mouth that praises God should not damn those made in His image. The same mouth that blesses should not curse. Imagine how different our world would be if those who claimed to follow Christ simply took these words to heart? Imagine how different our interactions would be if those who claimed to follow Christ refused to vent their anger and frustration but instead carried it to the Lord? Imagine how different our communities would be if those who claimed to follow Christ seasoned their words with love and grace and joy and peace? Imagine how different your Thanksgiving would be if you simply sought to bless each and every person who came to your home and sat around your table?
Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 27-28, James 4