Podcast 100, James, “Pt 3, Ch 3”

In typical hands-on fashion, James looks at the practical side of the new Religion that comes to be known world-wide as Christianity. Christianity is a hands-on religion that translates into everyday life. In Chapter 3, James addresses the issue of language. Even in the early days of a new religion that would change the world, it was known that every spoken language in the world would be affected by Christianity. For example, before ascending into heaven, the resurrected Christ, who now had been given all power by the Father, gave instructions that the eleven remaining disciples should gather in Galilee unto a mountain. Matthew, in the concluding statement of his Gospel, records Jesus’s instructions:.

Matthew 28:19-20

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christianity was no longer simply a provincial religion. It was destined to take its place among the other great religions of the world. In the above Christ concluded his remarks by saying, “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” That is an allusion to his Second Coming which will be preceded by a day of wrath for Babylon, or the wicked of the world. The wicked shall all be destroyed before the Millennium begins. Only the righteous, regardless of religion, culture, or language, shall live during the Millennium. During the Millennium everyone shall live in peace, or they shall not live at all.

Some Christians, perhaps, shall be disappointed that God meant it when he said that he was no respecter of persons. He loves all his children. He does not judge others for the laws they do not have. He holds us all accountable only for the laws we have been taught. Christians of all people should understand that principle for only Christians have John 3:16-17. Christ is the only God of this world. The Millennium shall be a day of teaching, not a day of contention. Even among the wild beasts there shall be no enmity. The Millennium is certainly a form of judgment, not between religion and religion but between the righteous and the wicked. Perhaps many shall be disappointed that even atheists who are righteous shall enjoy millennial status. Righteousness is determined not by orthodoxy but by adherence to law. At birth everyone, regardless of race, religion, or culture, has the spirit of Christ which is the spirit of truth, and everyone has the potential to discern between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral. It is referred to as conscience. Some allow conscience to be “seared with a hot iron,” but most know that murder, rape, robbery, adultery, lying, cheating, stealing, brutality, deceit, hate, envy, and slavery, etc. are evil. We call it civilization. Only the civilized shall live during the millennial reign of Christ. All the rest shall be destroyed.

Furthermore, all good religions or philosophies will be represented in the Millennium, but only the righteous of those religions or philosophies will survive the Second Coming of Christ and be allowed to live in the Millennium. A primary goal of God is to protect man’s agency, that he may choose for himself whom he will serve, and it is expected of all earthly governments to do the same. Lucifer was cast out of heaven because he tried to take away man’s agency. And any government that tries to destroy man’s agency is of Satan.

As with the other New Testament writers, James’ message transcends traditions, languages, cultures, and governments. It speaks to the individual, teaching them how to live among men in any language, culture, or religion. Verse 1 of James 3 is provocative.

James 3:1

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

How can a Christian be “many masters?” And why is that offensive to the Lord. James answers the question for us.

James 3:2

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Though the counsel applies to everyone, James is directing his words to new converts. We become many masters through language. James said that if we can bridle our tongue, we can bridle the whole body and therefore become the perfect man. Such a simple concept yet with far reaching consequences. How does one offend in word?

Perhaps all, at one time or another, have received an unjust and angry ‘tongue lashing.’ The tongue is often the angry whip with which oppressors berate the underlings. Unfortunately, many people are beaten down by harsh, violent, crude, and threatening language, by unbridled criticism, uncontrolled anger, by curses, by tongue lashings, by foul and indecent language, by verbal abuse, undeserved threats, snide remarks, searing criticism couched in subtle words.

Roaring language is more danger than a bellowing beast. How many can face a roaring lion but fear a loud and lying tongue. Beware of a contentious tongue. In Dante’s Fifth Circle, Dante places the wrathful, those consumed by anger, rage, and hostility, in the River Styx, the boundary between the world of the living and the realm of the dead. The river Styx suggests hatred, abhorrence, and detestation. James, though probably unknowingly, compares an angry tongue to the river Phlegethon, the river of fire, which suggests destructive passion and wrath.

James 3:3-6

Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

It is good to govern a horse with a bit. It is good to govern a ship with a helm, but it is greater to govern one’s own tongue. In war a landmine can shred the body. In peace a contentious tongue can shred the soul.

Notice how the astute James doubles back on his imagery. In his opening statement he said, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.” In the above he said, if a man offends in word he “defileth the whole body.” But it is even more far reaching, It sets on fire “the course of nature.” A flaming tongue is like a forest fire that creates its own bellows to fan the flames. Foul words feed anger till it grows hotter and hotter, thus overwhelming the original intent. Rather than a means to an end, it becomes the end itself. Anger begets anger. How many small fires set to burn a contained area soon burn out of control. Such it is with anger fed by the fuel of burning words. A fire out of control does not care what it burns or whom it destroys. It becomes the dragon. How many sit in prison today having done a foul murder because they did not control their fiery tongue? Our freeways have given it a name. It is called ‘road rage.’

Language is often used like a whip to control others, to beat them down into submission. They withhold their fists while they, like Claudio who poured poison into his brother, King Hamlet’s ear, thus killing him. So it is with those who kill the spirit through language. Parents may kill the heart of a child, husbands or wives the tender heart of their spouse, masters may kill the spirit of a servant, keeping them in submission through fear. How many use anger as a chain to keep others in bondage?

James 3:8-9

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Notice the wisdom of his counsel.

7 LINDA

James 3:10-13

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

7 RON

What greater advice in controlling the tongue can James give us than, “Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom?”

There are three great evils in this world: The Cunning of Satan. The Craftiness of Man. The Natural Man. All are enemies to God. Notice where James places the source of strife.

James 3:14-15

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

An evil tongue serves all three masters—the craftiness of man, which is earthly; the natural man, which is sensual; and Satan, which is devilish.

An unbridled tongue comes with a host of demons.

James 3:16

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

“Every evil work” is a very broad term. James counsels us to look to God.

James 3:17-18

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.