Religion and the Tongue


James 1:26-27
26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

We live in a world where words are power. Between emails, tweets, and social media everything we say is “out there” floating around, waiting to come back and haunt us. (I am painfully aware of even this blog’s ability to come back and bite me!) And yet are we careful about what we say? James would urge a little caution when it comes to our words for they are a fantastic indicator of what’s going on inside of your heart and mind. If you are a God-follower those words indicate your commitment to your faith and its ability to change your heart, way of thinking and speaking.

Just like the toothpaste from a tube, once your words are out there, you can’t take them back. There is no way to un-speak something. We use the words of others as a barometer of the speaker’s intelligence, love, and character. Are we justified in using the words of others (and ourselves!) in such a manner? According to James, we are.

King Solomon also has a great deal to say about the power of our tongue. If you have the time, do a word study of “fool”, “mouth”, and “tongue” in the book of Proverbs. You will want to remain silent for the rest of the day after reading the dozens of verses that refer to our words! I have included just a few of them here for you.

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

(I personally love this one. No one will think you’re a fool until you open your mouth and prove that you are!!!)

Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 18:6–7
6A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

It is okay to have an unspoken thought. James clearly indicates that faith is displayed not in the overabundance of words but instead in a life of service. Guess I’ll be quiet for the rest of the day.

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