“Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3:4-5
I recall having a conversation with a youth minister about a group of girls in his youth group who were simply known as the ‘freshman five.’ There was not a youth group meeting that went by where there was not some type of conflict with at least one of these girls. It was either someone gossiping, saying something harmful to another, or flirting with the other’s boyfriend, but they all had one thing in common: It all involved words. If only they had learned to control their tongues, my friend’s job would have been much easier!
If only freshman girls were the limits! We all are deeply controlled by our words. What great explosions we have because of the times we cannot keep our mouths shut! How extremely combustible our lives become when we open our mouths!
I wonder if you would simply evaluate your day today and the words that you said. What words do you regret saying? Are there some words that you wish you would have said that you didn’t? Did someone say something to you that impacted your day? Then ask yourself this: How can I improve on my words tomorrow? Would it be pausing before you respond so quickly? Would it be not verbally responding at all? You will find that your responses will not only shape your relationships, they will also shape you.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Throughout this James study I've been struggling with what our church society deems "swear words". The other day I was working in the garage and a wasp flew by. In my knee-jerk reaction I called the wasp a bitch and ran away like a child (I've always had the fear). Now had this wasp been a person that would've been wrong but I'm wondering how James would direct me in this particular scenario. He does't list certain "swear words" and the context in which they're acceptable. My thought is (and I'm open to differing views) that a word is only "bad" if we use it in a way that might be hurtful to somebody.
Sunday after class (where Brian really did a nice job of bringing the tongue into the light for the teens (and the few adults who were in attendance)) Chad was playing ping pong and said that somebody sucked at ping pong. I called him on it and he said "Oh, that's a bad word?" I explained that "sucked" isn't necessarily a bad word in and of itself but when attached to someone to describe their pong skills (jokingly or not) it is.
Thoughts?
I believe that there are words (in any language or social context) which are uncomfortable to some because of what they refer to, or because they are intended to demean or hurt.
Language changes over time, and to use your example, j-rob, the term originally referring to a female canine has been confiscated by our society to mean something completely different.
That in and of itself does not necessarily make speaking those words a sin, (disregarding the "weaker brother" reference of 1 Corinthians 8 for this argument).
I think, though, that if we were to ask James, the question would not be the context but what it says about who we are and why we feel the need to use those particular words. What are we trying to express that can't be said in a healthier way?
I think that our words say much more about what is inside us than about whoever around us may or may not be offended by them.
...but that's just my opinion....
I've got to agree a lot with CVS on this one. What is interesting to me is that certain 4 lettered words are more offensive than abusing God's name in the opinion of most Christians. I agree that I don't want people using those words around my kids when we have them. However, you could argue that Paul even uses some comparable words in Greek that would refer to 'dung.'
The heart issue certainly is paramount though (i never use the word paramount, but I like it!). It is always the balance of finding freedom from legalism while not using language just in an attempt to be cool or relevant, or simply because we are angry.
However, I think the most important issue has not been addressed, and that is what exactly do we call female wasps? According to the most reliable sources (wikipedia), female wasps are workers (non-reproducing) or queens (reproducing) very much like bees. So, I would recommend calling the wasp a 'worker' or a 'queen' the next time it happens. But here's to hoping that you just don't have that encounter again!
LOL -- very nice.
I appreciate both of the comments left. "What?! Discussion on a Christian blog?!! How could we?"
Post a Comment