Glorious and Dangerous - The gift of speech
The world and all it contains was created perfectly by a perfect God. Everything in this world was created to glorify God. But uniquely, man was created not only to glorify God passively but also to actively, willingly, and even creatively participate in glorifying God. Yet what we experience today is far from the intention of creation’s design. Since Genesis 3, everything in this world has been corrupted and stained by sin and the curse of sin. The dysfunction of the present is so familiar that we do not see it as strange but recognize it as normal. And yet embedded within the tattered and frayed tapestry of this world is the testimony of how things once were, were intended to be, and someday will be again.
The spoken word is powerful. There is power in speaking a name. There is power in speaking a declarative statement. There is power in asking a question. God created man with the ability to formulate and express thoughts with words. We know God through His word, and we express ourselves to God through words in prayer. Our relationship with one another is developed by the words that we speak. The spoken word can be glorious in that it can encourage, inform, bring joy, and heal. The spoken word can also be destructive in that it can discourage, deceive, and wound. With our words, we can enlighten or confuse, bless or curse, build up or tear down, encourage or demoralize.
The ability to express thoughts and emotions through speech is part of being made in the image of God. God is one who speaks. God spoke all things into existence. The third verse of the Bible begins with the words, “and God said.” With these words, God declared what was good and pleasing. Later God gave testimony to Himself through the words of the law. And finally, Hebrews tells us, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” And our God who speaks, by His command, created man in His image with the glorious gift of expressive speech.
Many animals make sounds. Our family dog barks when he wants something and whimpers when he feels pain. Almost every animal can make some sort of sound that can be interpreted to have some meaning. But only man can express thoughts and emotions with words. Like God, in whose image we are made, man has the ability to form words to articulate the complexities of emotion and the intricacies of thought. Expressive speech is part of the glory of being made in the image of God. This glorious ability was given both as a reflection of the creator’s glory and as a way to glorify our creator.
But like all things this side of heaven, even the glory of speech has been corrupted by sin. Though all things have indeed been corrupted by sin, in the case of the gift of speech, we find something uniquely dangerous. In our speech, we find the alarming principle that the more glorious the ability, the more dangerous it is when corrupted by sin. This is true in many areas. Marriage is a glorious testimony of the intimacy, faithfulness, and sureness of God’s love for us. And yet what was intended to be a beautiful blessing is experienced by many with pain and grief because of sin and the destruction it brings. Sex is part of the goodness of creation. It is intended to consummate the unity and oneness of husband and wife. It is beautiful, holy, and good. And yet, because of the perversion of sin, many will only know sex in the context of vulgarity, impurity, dysfunction, and even destruction. Authority and rule are intended to bless, protect, and care well for those in submission. However, in the context of sinful corruption, leaders often use their authority to pursue selfish gain and use and abuse those under their care. Likewise, with speech, we have the ability to use our voices to praise God, declare truth, and bless one another. Yet under the corruption of sin, many will use their words to curse God, lie, deceive, and hurt one another. God’s glory is demonstrated in marriage, sex, authority, and speech. When we enjoy and use these things in righteousness, they bless man and bring glory to God, but when used for sin, they create great destruction.
In all these areas, the greater the glory, the greater the power, and the greater the power, the more need for careful use and control. The book of James uses three illustrations to communicate the power and danger of the tongue: a horse bit, a ship’s rudder, and a simple flame. In all three of these illustrations, the small object is contrasted with its great power. Horses are large, powerful animals. The average weight of an American quarter horse is 950 to 1200 lbs. and yet the smallest of persons, even a child, can control these great animals with a small piece of metal in their mouths. Modern ships are massive. The largest ship ever built was the Seawise Giant, which, when fully laden, displaced 657,019 tons. However, no matter its size, the direction of a ship is determined by its rudder, which, compared to its overall size, is relatively small. Even the largest and most sophisticated airplanes of our day are directed by the rudder on their tails. But for me, the illustration that most captures the potential danger of misusing the glorious gift of speech is the illustration of the simple flame.
Fire is a gift. When camping, the campfire provides warmth and light. Though electric lights illuminate our homes today, we still find the warm glow and gentle warmth of candlelight mesmerizing and comforting. But James declares, “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” Indeed, forest fires can destroy and consume homes, life, and thousands of acres. When under control, fire is a gift but a dangerous destroyer when out of control. So it is with our tongues. The ability to express ourselves is a glorious gift, but when our tongues are uncontrolled, they are dangerously destructive. Thus, James says the tongue “is a fire, a world of unrighteousness, a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”
James captures the conflicting contrast of glory and destruction in verses 9-10 of chapter 3.
“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9–10, ESV)
His point was to expose an obvious conflict. How can you use your tongue to bless the Lord with worship, praise, and proclamation of God’s truth while simultaneously using your tongue to curse men who are made in the image of God? This cannot be. Would a husband who loves his wife speak words of affection and curses to her? Would a patriot who loves their country speak a pledge of allegiance to their country and another? Would a follower of Christ bless God and curse His creation? No! But do not misunderstand this to mean that James is commanding us to work harder at controlling our speech through more effort. James is exposing the truth that the mouth is a testimony to the heart. Your speech is a reflection and outflow of your heart. Jesus was testifying to this when He rebuked the Pharisees, saying, “How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34 ESV)
So, how is the tongue tamed? How should we employ careful use and control of this glorious gift of speech to glorify God and bless one another? The answer is found in the questions James asks in verses 11 and 12. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? The answer to both of these questions is an obvious no. The water that flows from a fountain is not determined by the fountain but by its source. If the source is fresh, all the water coming from the fountain will be fresh, but if the source is bitter, all the water coming from the fountain will be bitter. Likewise, the fruit of a tree is not a product of desire but of nature. A fig tree will always produce figs. An olive tree will always produce olives. Saltwater cannot become fresh by effort or desire, nor can a fig tree produce anything other than figs. So, I ask again, how is the tongue tamed? How can you ensure that you use the gift of speech to glorify God and not for destruction? The answer is that God must transform you through salvation.
Jesus is restoring, renewing, and perfecting through the work of salvation. Jesus is making all things new through the work of salvation, including the words of your mouth. Those who are conformed to this world speak but not to the glory of God. Those who Christ is transforming are being transformed so that they may use the glorious gifts of God to glorify Him forever.
Take a moment and ponder the glorious gift of speech. God gave you this gift that you might speak words of praise and glory to Him and that you might speak words of truth and blessing to others. It truly is a glorious gift indeed. May the testimony of how you use this gift bear witness to what God has done and is doing in your heart.
