Authentic Christianity
Things that should not be

Friday July 3, 2009
 1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because
you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all
stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he
is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we
can turn the whole animal. 4Or 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. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a
fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the
whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself
set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are
being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the
tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse
men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth
come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both
fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers,
can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a
salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:1-11)

Reflection
James continues on his discussion of the tongue in verse nine.  He
makes an observation of reality that we praise God and curse men with
the same instrument of speech. He goes on to list three examples, the
spring, the fig tree, and the grapevine.  The questions he asks are
rhetorical ones, the obvious answer being no, this cannot be.
Likewise, the tongue cannot be an instrument of both blessing and
cursing.  Like the ship and the horse, each created thing has an
intended purpose, and it  exists for the glory of its Creator.  We rob
God of His glory when we curse people, speak evil of people,, and
curse God.  James mentions how one can praise God and curse men. We
can also praise men and curse God.  This too should not be. I believe
it is sometimes easier to speak good of God who we cannot see, but we
speak evil of people who we can see but who irritate us. We are to
praise God and bless people.

Father, everything exists for a purpose.  Additionally, James provides
us with some examples of things that simply cannot happen, salt water
and fresh water flow from the same spring.  Likewise, we cannot praise
You and curse people with the same instrument of which we use to talk.
 Also, we cannot curse You and praise people.  This cannot be. It
cannot be, but it happens so much  We’ll get impatient with You and
impatient with people.  We talk behind people’s backs, and moments
later we sing songs of worship. Would this passage remind us that we
exist for Your glory, and that in all that we say, would it encourage
the listener, and would it honor You.