Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Tongue - James 3:6

James 3:6 - And 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. (EVS)

Last month I talked about the need for encouragement in the body of Christ. There is so much hurt and pain out in the world and the church ought to be a safe haven for the weary and worn from the journey and battle of life. Throughout the week you and I experience battles, struggles and storms that come in many forms. The enemy uses these to attempt to discourage, distract and destroy us in the body. Ephesians 6 talks about where this battle comes from and who is behind the attacks hurling those fiery darts at us. We expect the attacks from without but what about from within? How do we deal with it then and what does the Bible have to say about this?

Read James 3:1-12 – I want to focus on James 3:6 - And 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. James says the worst thing about the tongue imaginable. “A world of unrighteousness or iniquity” Of course James is referring to the uncontrolled and unsanctified tongue. A little girl asked her mother which was worst; to lie or steal? Her mother explained that they were both sins and they therefore are the some. The little girl then said…”I think to lie is the worst of sins”. Her mother asked why she thought that. “Well if you steal you can take it back unless you have eaten it, and if you have eaten it you can pay for it making it right; but when a lie leaves your lips it is forever.” James says that this tongue is set among our members and defiles or stains the whole body. So one bad tongue in the body can stain the whole body? Yep that’s what James is saying; a dirty tongue make the whole body dirty; an evil tongue makes the whole body evil. James goes on to say that the tongue sets on fire, (meaning out of control) the course of our life and it is set on fire by hell. The Greek word hell here is (ge'-en-nä) this is the only instance outside the gospels were this word is mentioned. This is a Chaldean word, which is the name of a valley southeast of Jerusalem where Moloch, an idol having the form of a bull, dwelt and received children into his fiery arms as they were thrown in the fire as part of a heathen sacrifice. The word actually means “the valley of lamentation.” The Jews abhorred this place and after King Josiah abolished this place (II Kings 23:10) they began to cast all the refuse, garbage and even the corpse of dead animals and unburied criminals who had been executed in this place. Fires were always needed to consume the filth and the fire burned continually; the place soon became known as the “ge'-en-nä of fire”. Jesus himself referred to it ten times as a place future punishment for the wicked. With all that said; James is using some pretty serious words here and a pretty horrific picture as well. The same place where they sacrificed children and burned the corpse of animals, unburied executed criminals and all the garbage of the city is equal to that of gossip, unwholesome words, and unkind words, backbiting, grumbling and complaining. All evil talk James says has its beginning in hell. So the question comes to mind; do I want to be used in that way? Do I want my tongue to cause that much destruction? If not I must bring it under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We will do well to head the warning here and sanctify the tongue using it for righteousness. Think about it.

Pastor Bill

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