David Layman

"ON SPEAKING WITH TONGUES" September 17, 2000

James 3:1-10

The third chapter of James makes a big deal about a small part of the

body--the tongue. We don't have time this morning to hear all the times

I've regretted something I've said, but let's begin with confession!

While in college, I took 3 years of Greek, in preparation for seminary.

Greek and Latin were taught by saintly white haired Dr. Alfreda

Stallman. Dr. Stallman wanted all her students to become part of

Eta Sigma Phi, an honorary society of those studying the classical

languages. Being part of such a society, to be honest, wasn't a high

priority for me. But a friend and I were in the Student Union, heading

to the room there where the meeting was to be held, and I was saying to

my friend "Yeah, the only reason I'm here is that I want to get an A in

Greek." And as those words flew off my tongue, around the corner walks

Dr. Stallman, having heard every word I said. She smiled at me and

walked on.

Sometimes, our words only embarrass ourselves. It's worse when our

tongues embarrass others. One morning at Richmond High, the parent

teacher organization had invited the parents of students who were being

honored by teachers to a breakfast. The teachers took turns saying

something nice about their students. One of Andrea's teachers started

talking about what a nice girl she was, and how, if he had a son, he'd

want his son to marry someone like Andrea. My personal belief is the

age of about 25 is a good time for a girl to go on her first date,

chaperoned, of course, by me. So this made me uneasy. The other

parents weren't making a verbal response when their child was

introduced, but I couldn't resist. Sitting in between Andrea and Pam, I

rose to make a remark. Instinctively, I felt each of them pulling on

the tail of my sport coat, wanting me to sit down and hold my tongue.

Instead, I said "I'm Andrea's father, and if anyone wants to date let

alone marry her, they'll have to go through me, first!" The fathers in

the room chuckled, but for some strange reason, my daughters since then

have been very hesitant to introduce me to any of their dates. And once

words like that are out of your mouth, it's hard to call them back!

Our tongues can embarrass ourselves, and others. They can also wound

and defame others. My mother used to tell us "If you can't say anything

nice about someone else, don't say anything at all." The fact that I

remember this reveals that Mom likely had to say this to us children

again and again! A priest, rabbi and pastor got together and were

really growing close to one another. While they had to be reserved with

their respective parishioners, with one another they could let their hair

down, complain about people that bugged them, or struggles they faced.

Suddenly, the priest revealed a secret. He confessed that he had a bit

of a drinking problem. The rabbi then proceeded to relate that he had a

gambling problem, always engaged in out of town, of course. They turned

to the pastor, and he said "I as well am a sinner. I must admit, I'm a

terrible gossip!"

Most churches don't have murderers in their midst. Hopefully, there are

no members who rob and steal. Do you think there are no gossips in the

average church? Cannot one's tongue be used to "murder the reputation"

of another? To "steal another person's dignity and good name" by

spreading rumors? Could it be that some of the things we don't put a

person in prison for may be more harmful, than some of the crimes people

do get sent away for? And are there times that what we say may be

true...but it is not helpful?

In the letter of James, we read "HOW GREAT A FOREST IS SET ABLAZE BY A SMALL FIRE! AND THE TONGUE IS A FIRE." James compares the tongue to a bit that guides a horse, a rudder that guides a ship. James says all

sorts of animals have been tamed by humans, but we haven't been able to

tame our tongues! "WITH IT WE BLESS THE LORD AND FATHER, AND WITH IT WE CURSE THOSE WHO ARE MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD. FROM THE SAME MOUTH COME BLESSING AND CURSES. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THIS OUGHT NOT TO BE SO."

One day Jesus asked his followers "WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM?" And

they gave the usual answers. Some say you are John the Baptist, come

back from the dead. Some say the great prophet Elijah. Some just say

you are a prophet. Then Jesus asked "BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"

Peter insightfully responded to Jesus "YOU ARE THE MESSIAH." Peter gave

the right answer, but then when Jesus went on to say that as the

messiah, he must undergo great suffering, be rejected and killed, Peter

rebuked Jesus saying "GOD FORBID, LORD! THIS SHALL NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU!" With the same tongue, Peter proclaimed Jesus the messiah one moment, then rebuked him the next. The problem was not really with Peter's tongue, it was with his heart,

soul and mind. Peter did not want a savior who would have to suffer,

and might call upon him to suffer and sacrifice. When our tongues get

us in trouble, the problem really lies deeper. When we say one thing

and do another, it's not our tongue that is the problem. It's a

spiritual problem. When we gleefully share bad news about another,

whether the news is true or not, it's a spiritual problem. Jesus said

the Pharisees were like cups that were washed on the outside, but not

the inside...like "whitewashed tombs" that were white and pure on the

outside, but on the inside were filled with the bones of the dead.

Sometimes our tongues don't just embarrass us. They embarrass God! In

the movie "OH, GOD!", John Denver plays a young man who keeps getting

messages from God that he's supposed to relate to others. In one scene,

he goes to hear an evangelistic preacher, who is a caricature of the

worst form of an evangelist. John Denver interrupts the preacher's

sermon to tell him that God has a special message just for him. The

preacher stops the service and announces to the crowd "This young man

has come with a message from God!" John Denver looks at the preacher

and says "God wants you to shut up because you're embarrassing Him!"

(Campolo, Tony. FOLLOWING JESUS WITHOUT EMBARRASSING GOD. Word Publishing, Dallas, 1997, p. 3)

When we gossip, when we say things that aren't true or helpful, when we

say the right thing, but then live the wrong way, we're embarrassing

God! Why is it we find it so easy to spread bad news about someone

else, and so hard to share the Good News about Jesus?

I remember one day as a teenager being taken aside by my father. I had

been giving my sister a hard time, saying caustic things to her. Dad

said "David, you need to stop that. You're trying to cut your sister

down to build yourself up." And you know something? Dad was right. My

cutting words to my sister were coming from an insecure heart. Instead

of asking God to forgive, encourage me, make me, by His grace, better

and stronger than I was, I was trying to build myself up by cutting

others down.

My father loved me enough to correct me when I needed correction. We

can't always share with others what they WANT to hear. Sometimes we

need to share what they NEED to hear...hopefully, in a private place,

and with love.

James writes: "WITH [THE TONGUE] WE BLESS THE LORD...AND WITH IT WE CURSE THOSE WHO ARE MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD." We can do so much good with our tongues, AND so much ill! When Jesus asked his disciples, WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?", Simon Peter correctly responded "YOU ARE THE MESSIAH." But then when Jesus shared that as the messiah, he must suffer and be crucified, Peter rebuked Jesus. With the same tongue

Peter professed he would always be faithful. And then denied Jesus 3

times! As one who has often failed to use my tongue as God would have

desired, I find hope in this: Jesus loved and forgave the Peter who failed him. There is a vivid scene where Jesus has been arrested and is being tried. Peter is

warming himself in the courtyard of the high priest. Peter denies Jesus

with his tongue, for the 3rd time. The rooster crows, and Jesus looks

at Peter. (Luke 22:61) With that broken hearted look of Jesus, Peter's

sinful heart began to break. It was later mended by the risen Christ.

I am in need of that look and forgiveness. How about you?

Let us pray. O loving God, forgive us. Forgive us for the sins of our

hearts AND our tongues. Forgive us for the unloving words that have

come out of our mouths. And the good we have left unspoken. Forgive

us for the times we have said "It's no use." May the words of our

mouths, and the meditations of our hearts, through the cross and

resurrection of Jesus Christ, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord!

Amen

David Layman

First Presbyterian Church

Richmond, Indiana