April 17: Controlled Speech

One of the most humiliating spiritual exercises we can perform is to ponder the times when our words cut somebody deeply. No amount of apology will suffice. We can only bear the burden and vow not to make that mistake again. The story is told of a woman, a confirmed gossip, who came to the pastor and asked how she could rectify what she had done. He supposedly took a feather pillow and, holding it in the wind, sliced open the pillow case. He said, “Gather up all the feathers and you will understand the answer.” That’s probably too drastic an approach, but we can profitably ask, “Why can we not control our speech?”

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

• One answer is, realize such speech shows a lack of maturity (3:2b-6). We have not grown up. The Bible recognizes what a hard time we have in choosing our words. At one time or another, each of us has been offensive and caused someone to stumble. If it were possible never to use language which would hurt someone else, we would be mature people.

Such is not the case. The Bible uses two illustrations to highlight the problem. A bridle in a horse’s mouth can be used to guide the animal. The tiller of a ship is small, but the coxwain, the pilot in charge, can steer whatever course the captain desires. The tongue also is small, but, oh, the damage it can do. It has some kind of connection with hell itself (v. 6) and sets on fire nearly everything it contacts. Its venom defiles the whole body.

• A second problem can be discerned, the lack of discipline (vv. 7-8). We are not to give up hope at our tendency to be offensive. We tame animals of all kinds. In fact, most of our domesticated dogs and cats came from ancestors which roamed wild. But the tongue seems to be an exception. Like a deadly rattlesnake, the tongue harbors its own brand of venom, showing itself to be untamable.

• The Bible points to another problem with the tongue, its lack of consistency (vv. 9-12). We use our tongues to bless God and then curse men made in God’s image. Blessings and cursings proceed from the same mouth, and as we can attest, sometimes in the same conversation. To say that these things ought not be (v. 10c) is a deliberate understatement. The Bible drives home the point with four illustrations: (1) One well does not produce sweet water and bitter nor (2) salt water and fresh. (3) Fig trees do not bear olives nor (4) vines, figs. As nature teaches us, our tongue ought to reflect one way of life, not two.

• The Bible changes topics and illustrates the way uncontrolled speech shows the lack of respect for the law (4:11- 12). The Bible does not specify which law, but the context points to the Second Commandment, to love your neighbor as you love yourself (Lk. 27). We are cautioned about judging a brother. We obviously have divisions about moral issues, some which may involve a fellow Christian. During those rather rare moments we must learn all the facts, guard against warped or biased conclusions, and draw conclusions to match the evidence. We must never become harshly critical or destructive of the other person, remembering that God is the ultimate Judge.

• Finally, uncontrolled speech shows a lack of thought (5:12). Some people seem to think that stacking up expletives somehow makes a deeper impression. It does, but it is always negative. I have heard professors in a secular university, qualified immensely in their academic fields, use the most vile language in the classroom. My evaluation was, a person with that much education should be able to express himself without having to resort to vulgar language.