By Calvin Wisen

If you are a sports fan, or read the news, or have been near a TV this week, you are well aware that Tiger Woods has just made his first public comments since the details became public regarding his personal life. I think there are some valuable lessons that we as believers and the church can learn from this situation and I hope these thoughts help us in setting up a biblical framework for how we think and discuss this hot issue in our society right now.

I am a sports fan, for as long as I can remember, I have known where to find ESPN on any TV. I often jokingly say to my friends, “I am to useless sports information, what Charles Spurgeon was to preaching.”

That being said, I admit I have been fascinated with all of the attention and drama surrounding the Tiger Woods infidelity scandal that commandeered the attention of our culture. I don’t care to know what Tiger did, or any of the details regarding those incidents. All I need to do is read Jeremiah 17:9 to know that “the heart is desperately wicked.” What has intrigued me however is that as a young man who desires to serve the Lord with his life, this has really given me a unique insight into not only Tiger Wood’s life but into our culture as a whole.

We have all heard many responses and opinions about Tiger Woods since November from our culture—responses I think we can break down into 3 major categories:

1. Anger: Many people have been angered by Tiger Wood’s actions and have demanded that he apologize publically to all of us, as if we are owed something from him. Some have even gone so far as to demand that he retire from golf and leave the public arena all together.

2. Apathy: This whole scandal has really shown us the true nature of post-modern thought. The frequent response by the media and other golfers has been “It is none of my business what he does with his personal life.” This idea that “if you let me do what I want, you can do what you want” is very individualistic and void of any accountability. This is a very dangerous mentality that is beginning to infiltrate the church and flies straight in the face of how God has called the body of Christ to function.

3. Selfishness: The third response we have heard is “I don’t care what he does, I just want to watch him golf.” The sad thing about being a celebrity is that you are exploited for what you can provide people. Many people don’t care personally about Tiger, or that his family is in ruins, they just like watching him win tournaments.

So how should we, as believers, respond to this?

I believe our first response should be that of grief as we grieve for our fallen state and we understand that all sin grieves the Lord.

In Genesis 6:5-6 we read: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on earth, and it grieved him.”


It is important to understand that it is not only the sin of Christians that grieve God, but that all sin is a reminder of man’s rebellion against God’s authority and his design for mankind. All sin hurts God. Therefore when we look at Tiger let us not be angry, disappointed, or point our finger and laugh, but let us be devastated by the overwhelming path of destruction that sin leaves in its wake.

Secondly, it should make us long for the return of Jesus all the more! In Romans 8:20 Paul writes:
“Creation itself will be set free its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth.”

Creation itself longs to be free from the shackles of sin, and we should long for freedom from sin as well. Let us never get complacent with our walks with the Lord or with life but rather keep our eyes on the Lord in anticipation of His return!

Now let’s take a moment and look at the actual statement that Tiger Woods made as it gives us a chilling insight into his heart.

The Good:

I took away some very positive things from Tiger’s press conference. First, I saw a man who was experiencing the effects of sin in his life. His wife was not with him, and even more telling than anything he said, was the fact that while he gave his speech his own mother wouldn’t even look at him. Tiger has learned in a very public and very dramatic manner that sin will set fire to every good thing in his life and completely rob him of joy.

Secondly, he defended his wife and children. While I understand that the only reason he needed to defend his family was because of his betrayal of them, I was glad to see him defend his wife’s honor. He held her in high esteem and defended her against false accusations. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. There was evidence in Tiger’s comments of unselfish and sacrificial love.

The Bad:

Plainly stated, Tiger is still his own god. He made it very clear in his press conference that he was to blame for the actions that occurred, and it is his responsibility to make things right. He said over and over again that “it was up to him.”

I know that much of the Evangelical attention will be on his profession of Buddhism as a way to fix his issues. That doesn’t surprise me at all. Buddhism is an inherently selfish religion with a self-centered goal of achieving enlightenment and becoming your own god through meditation and works.

What I do know to be true is that as long as Tiger continues to put his faith in himself rather than Jesus Christ, he will never experience the forgiveness, joy, and freedom that Christ provides. Left to himself, he will very likely once again fall into temptation and destroy everything.

The Terrifying:

Tiger ended his press conference with this statement: “Find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.”

What is so scary is not that he will be forgiven, and he will (Our culture is very quick to forgive.), but that people do and will continue to worship this man. Tiger Woods is a god to many people in this country...a false god!
If this whole mess has taught me anything thing it’s that I am so glad that my heart, faith, and worship belongs to Jesus Christ who through is death and resurrection alone has the power to save!

So What?

As I reflect on all of this, it strikes me that in many ways Tiger Woods is a modern day Solomon. He has had fame, fortune, and (unfortunately) many women. As I make this connection, I am drawn back to the statement that a lamenting Solomon makes at the end of his life: “Vanity of Vanity all is Vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 12:8) Solomon came to the realization that all of his time and effort spent on wealth, fame, and sexuality were all useless leaving him broken, alone, and unfulfilled.

I see that same brokenness in Tiger Woods.

I want to leave you with what Solomon points us towards at the end of his book: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

So while it is very easy to sit back in judgment of Tiger and his public sins. May we never forget that unless we view our entire lives through the framework of fearing God and keeping his commandments, we will be no better off than him. (Galatians 6:1)

You are Loved,

Calvin Wisen
Student Ministry Director

By Joel Anderson

(My preamble: what I want to share this week is probably one part diary-esque and one part devotional-like. Trust the combo helps express my heart and my hope for our body.)

First, Some Musings from Sunday

In the message of Hosea, I tried (poorly I think) to walk down a very difficult balancing act. I know that there are a number of you who have been through a divorce...if we simply apply the averages, nearly half of us have been through it first-hand. You know the pain, you know the hurt, you know how long and ugly the process can become.

Perhaps you’ve been caught in the middle, broken hearted to see two people you love put each other through such pain.

Although we’d agree that it always takes two, I’d want you to sense the compassion that God has—to hear about God’s ability to make all things new, as we’d read in Revelation 21:5.

I also know that there is probably a group among us dangerously close to divorce. Holding your own counsel, you’ve perhaps convinced yourself that it’s what’s best, or that there’s really “no other way”. Perhaps the severity of your situation has prevented you from seeing clearly what God has to say about it.

And that was and is the struggle in my heart…how can I, would we, adequately communicate compassion to some, correction to others, and conviction to still others? How can I say, “God hates divorce!” without making those who've heaped guilt on themselves heap more guilt on themselves? How can I say, “This is how forgiving God is,” without making others think, “That means God will let me off the hook. I can do whatever I want.”

I'm not smart enough to walk that line which is why I felt led to walk us through the gripping story of Hosea and Gomer—because it normalizes and encompasses every one of our circumstances. How? Because really, we all fit the role of Gomer. And that’s the staggering and scandalous love of Jesus we embrace in the Gospel. There is no one who can claim 100% fidelity to Christ. We all have fallen short. We all should rightly be in awe of the love He’s shown us “while we were yet sinners.”

In fact, if I can say it this way, Hosea and Gomer was less about you and your situation, and more about God’s love for unlovable people. That’s the kind of love I wanted us to grapple with on Valentines Day.

But I’m not sure I hit the mark.

I prayed with some discouraged people…some encouraged people too. So however imperfect the approach was, I trust that the overarching message was that of a God who would and does love us like Hosea loved Gomer—that we too would marvel at the fact that we have been bought back from the marketplace at the cost of much more than the 15 shekels and a homer and a half of barley.

Truly: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.”

And as Romans 8:32 reminds us: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

Wow…as Isaiah…I am undone by that reminder. And that’s the stuff I hope would stay with us from Sunday’s study. God is so good. “Thank you, Lord!”

But now some further thoughts on what that means…

Second, My Messed Up Family

We tend to glamorize and idolize whatever is new. New music stars, new clothing styles, new gadgets and the “new” lists go on.

But “blended families” or the “dysfunctional home” has been around since the beginning. Nothing new there.

In fact, consider Abraham, the founding father of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, who tried to blend Sarah and Isaac with Hagar and Ishmael and finally threw Hagar and Ishmael out of the house (Genesis 21).

Jacob tried to blend four families with disastrous results (Genesis 29-38ff).

First wife Leah and her children Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah;
Second wife Rachael and her children Joseph and Benjamin;
Concubine Bilah and her children Dan and Naphtali;
Concubine Zilpah and her children Gad and Asher.

David began with first wife Michael and married perhaps as many as twenty-eight more. His last wife was the infamous tabloid tale of bathing-Bathsheba…and of course add to that number of concubines, and the patriarchs of our faith were making a mess of marriage. Among Jacob and David’s children, we read of murder, rape, rebellion, incest, hatred, bitterness and anger (2 Samuel 8-18; 1 Kings 1-2).

I could go on.

So what’s the point?

Of course, it’s not to embolden our sinful hearts. “Well they did it and lived to tell. What’s the big deal?” “Eeeeehhhhh.” Wrong. That’s not the point.

Instead, those stories ought to remind us that God has always been the redeemer of people, not just prone to sin, but boldly practicing sin. And so whatever you’ve been through or are going through, remember that God can and does make all things new when we repent and return to him (Acts 3:19). It is the enemy who desires to keep you feeling defeated by a divorce or decisions you’ve already been forgiven of.

So put your foot down!!—on the foundation of God’s clear and comforting Word.

Paul writes in Romans 8, verses one thru four, some of the most encouraging words we’d find in Scripture. Notice his heart:

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

As we unpacked that passage earlier this year (Stuck series, message title: “Getting Free From Condemnation”) we covered three crucial points.

First, we’ve got to put the past in the past. There is “NOW” no condemnation in Christ. So none of this “But I don’t feel forgiven.” Don’t exalt your feelings above the facts, loved ones. When we confess it, we’re forgiven. (1 John 1:9)

Second, put away the partial. Notice again in verse one that there is therefore now “NO” condemnation. Two things happen in the Greek text we don’t always get as clear in the English. For one, the “no” is a compound word which conveys an intensified meaning. It’s the audible equivalent of shouting “no” instead of simply saying it. Second, in the Greek sentence, the “no” comes at the beginning of the sentence also implying the force of the negation. It’s not an afterthought or a wimpy wish, but a starting place for what will be expressed next.

Got it!

There is “NO” condemnation for those in Christ. Not less. Not just some. Not just on bad rainy dreary dismal no good awful rotten days…condemnation. In fact, one commentary I read when studying this put into four buckets the beauty of Romans chapter 8. Check it out:

WHEN WE SAY: “I’m no good!”
GOD SAYS IN ROMANS 8: No condemnation
THEREFORE WE HAVE: Liberty

WHEN WE SAY: “I’m NEVER going to change!”
GOD SAYS IN ROMANS 8: No domination
THEREFORE WE HAVE: Victory

WHEN WE SAY: “My life is falling apart!”
GOD SAYS IN ROMANS 8: No desperation
THEREFORE WE HAVE: Expectancy

WHEN WE SAY: “There is no future for me!”
GOD SAYS IN ROMANS 8: No separation
THEREFORE WE HAVE: Security

I love that!! Put away the past. Put away the partial.

And finally, put away the punishment. The point here, as with forgiveness, is that if God doesn’t condemn those in Christ, what business do we have condemning ourselves?

But that’s what so many of us are great at, right?

“I don’t deserve a good job/family/marriage/kids.” (Just insert the thing or topic to suit your particular situation.)

It’s the “stinkin’ thinkin’” that gets us trapped: “God may forgive me, but I’ve got to pay for my sin as a sentence of mediocrity or meagerness.” Again: WRONG!

And not because I say so, but because God does. Put it away…He has!

Psalm 103 reminds us:

“He has not punished us as we deserve for our sins for His mercy towards those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.”

Let me be clear about this. He does correct us. He does correct us as a parent corrects a child. But He doesn’t punish us. A parent who simply punishes their child because they do something wrong is thinking only of themselves.

“You made it inconvenient for me. You messed my life up. I'm going to punish you because of what you did to me.”

God doesn’t treat us that way. God treats us as a parent who corrects the child. He wants to help us do the right thing. But that is different than condemnation—and certainly different than the punishment we’d place ourselves under.

The point again?

We’ve all fallen short of our own expectations, not to mention those of God. But when we come to Him, when we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He makes all things new…every morning!

Even though we’ve all walked away, God buys us back, adopts us—yes, even blends us into the family of faith, not as a result of anything we do or don’t do but on the basis of what Jesus has done for us. Put away the past, the partial and the punishment.

Yes, Hosea and Gomer was an account about Hosea and Gomer, but ultimately, it was about our relationship with God through Christ. It is about the story that is common to all of us—that we have committed spiritual adultery against God. But that’s nothing new. Instead, we join Abraham, Jacob and David in a long line of messed up families who God has bought back to Himself.

So “let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” (Psalm 107:2)

There is both healing and hope for those who come to the cross…and I look forward to celebrating that gift God has given us in Christ again this weekend.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Amen?!

You are loved,

By Joel Anderson

I know. That’s a bit of an abrupt, not very Jesus-like header for a bit of devotional fodder. But, it’s the charge given by one of literatures most beloved writers, C.S. Lewis.

Lewis puts painfully honest words to the struggle I know I have, and maybe you do too. As we consider Sunday’s message to “forgive as we have been forgiven,” (Ephesians 4:32) we only need to look to our own hearts to know how big of a deal that truly is.

And, as we prepare to come to the communion table this weekend, Lewis’ words ready us to understand once more what reconciliation is all about…how we might be unwittingly preventing it instead of preparing for it.

In a letter to a friend, Lewis describes the necks we’d too be wise to notice…and to break!

“During my afternoon ‘meditations,’—which I at least attempt quite regularly now—I have found out ludicrous and terrible things about my own character. Sitting by, watching the rising thoughts to break their necks as they pop up, one learns to know the sorts of thoughts that do come. And, will you believe it, one out of every three is a thought of self-admiration: when everything else fails, having had its neck broken, up comes the thought ‘What an admirable fellow I am to have broken their necks!’ I catch myself posturing before the mirror, so to speak, all day long. I pretend I am carefully thinking out what to say to the next pupil (for his good of course) and then suddenly realize I am really thinking how frightfully clever I’m going to be and how he will admire me…And then when you force yourself to stop it, you admire yourself for doing that. It is like fighting the hydra…There seems to be no end to it. Depth under depth of self-love and self-admiration.”1 (Italics from the author.)

As we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion, or the Eucharist (euchre, Greek meaning “thanks” or the “thanksgiving” from Matthew 26:27) this Sunday, we consider how communion was achieved. We consider what reconciliation really means.

And as we do so, we’d allow Paul to remind us of three things that this might mean. First the text, and then three thoughts…

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:23-34)

First: WE LOOK BACK
“you proclaim the Lord’s death” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

First, we look back to the cross. We are reminded of our Lord’s sacrifice; how He gave himself unselfishly and completely for the atonement of our sins. The marvelous thing about this is that He did this "while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8). Christ did what he did for all mankind without exception—knowing all the while that many, no most, would reject His gracious gift.

Amazing.

When I approach the elements then, I not only do it understanding that His death is what has given me freedom from sin, but as the pattern set before me. I too am to die to self and live my life for Him and others…before self.

How am I doing at my imitation of Christ?

Second: WE LOOK WITHIN
“A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28)

The second look is to the present or within—here and now. We look at ourselves: what do we see? What are we doing with our lives? How are we living? Are we striving for holiness? Do we put Jesus first in our lives—are we totally committed to Him? Let us truly examine ourselves—look deep into our hearts as Lewis did. God wants us to acknowledge our sins and humbly ask for forgiveness.

Don’t forget to do this with victory and not condemnation in mind. A tremendous verse of hope and cleaning is found in 1 John 1:9 which says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Name those necks that need breaking…right now! Do it…

➢

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Check out Acts 3:19.

Third: WE LOOK AHEAD
“until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

The third look is to the future. Are we looking forward to the time when He will come again and we will have Communion with our Lord in His kingdom? (Matthew 26:29; 1 Corinthians 11:26). Are we looking forward to His coming with joy or with fear?

But before we become self-focused again, are we looking for opportunities to make Christ known? Just as Abraham was blessed to be a blessing to the nations, so have we. Pray both about the opportunities the Lord would place in front of your path to share Christ and pray for our fellowship in the days to come, that God would allow us to make an impact in this community for His Kingdom’s sake.

I remember a phrase from a missions speaker at a college rally of about 20,000 students in Urbana, Illinois. “Why” he said, “do we say we’re ready to go, but make it look like we’re planning to stay?” Does my calendar and check book suggest my greatest investments are in the “here-n-now” or in the future to come?

Might our time Sunday remind us to look back, look within and look forward to the future God gives to “whosoever” calls upon the name of the Lord.

The Body and Blood…broken and spilled for me and you.

“Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15) And thanks C.S. Lewis for the transparency and challenge. What do you say? Let’s break some necks! ☺

You are loved,



“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-6:1

1The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis, Page 133

By Joel Anderson

Okay, so Sunday “with a side of cow-tongue” was a bit gross. But, it reminds us of the power and potency of our tongues as Proverbs 18:21 says so well:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

We find more concentrated teaching about the tongue in James than anywhere in the New Testament. In fact, every chapter in the book of James says something about the tongue.

Why?

Because as we said Sunday: “It’s a big deal.”

And as we read, James challenges us that if we can control our tongue, the text says we are: “perfect” (James 3:2). Now he's not talking about sinless perfection. Instead, the word "perfection" in Greek literally means "mature, healthy".

And so moving from milk to meat in our maturity as a Christ-follower means learning to manage our mouths. (Which is ultimately about what? Our hearts. That was the point in Matthew 12:34.)

We’ve had three kids with strep in the last 2 weeks and on Monday Lily and I sat in the doctor’s office as she said the famous line all doctors must know: "Stick out your tongue and say..."

What’s the answer? “AAAAHHHHH.”

And so I’m asking us to stick out our spiritual tongues for a few pages to diagnose and determine if our tongues are controlled and building up others or are chaotic and breaking down others.

So stick out your tongue and let’s look at...

THE POWER OF THE CONTROLED TONGUE (James 3:1-4)

1. Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
2. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
4. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

Notice verse one gives the sober reminder to those who would teach God’s Word to remember that their words will come under a more strict investigation—they must not only present it carefully, but follow it closely.

Becoming a teacher or rabbi was often viewed as a position of status and respect. Perhaps in James’ mind, many were too eager for the office. But, notice verse two, just because you don’t teach doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Everyone can stumble in what they say. And as James broadens the scope, he brings into focus the foundational point, namely, maturity. “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect/mature man, able to bridle the whole body as well.”

There is tremendous power in the lives of those who learn to control their tongue.

And so what’s that power really like?

First, it’s a Bit Controlling Our Internal Nature

Verse three asks us to consider the bit in a horse's mouth. When I think of the epitome of a horse, I think of a Clydesdale—a huge animal weighing some 3,000 pounds, or about ten times the weight of any rider. WOW. And how is it controlled?

...By a tiny piece of metal and a few leather straps.

The point? Our tongue controls the direction of our life. Even small words or phrases can influence the direction of our lives and the lives of others. And even big issues and emotions don’t entitle us to wild or careless words. Which is why Paul said in Ephesians 4:25, “Be angry, yet do not sin.”

Do you need a bit? What do you mean?

Do you gossip or slander others? Do you enjoy savoring the stories of others trials? Do you speculate on motives others must have had to do or say this or that?

We have an old nature that wants to control us and make us sin. But James would exhort us that God’s truth gives us power to overtake our tongues.

If you’re tongue is a big problem, just a little bit of God’s book can reign it in. Will you consider that? Let’s be sure our young fellowship is one where we bridal our tongues and seek to speak of those things that build up and not break down Christ’s work in our midst.

Second, it’s a Rudder Controlling Our External Navigation

Both the bit and the rudder must overcome strong forces. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse (our wild sin nature), and the rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course. It must provide navigation through the seas of society.

And so our tongues have got to overcome these contrary forces. There are circumstances around us that would make us say things we ought not to say. Sin on the inside and pressures on the outside are seeking to get control of the tongue.

This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand. The expert horseman keeps the mighty power of his steed under control, and the experienced pilot courageously steers the ship through the storm.

We must allow and constantly ask Christ to help us controls the tongue.

Notice both in verse three and four the term “direct.” The bit and rudder have the power to direct, which means they affect our lives and the lives of others. A runaway horse or a shipwrecked vessel could mean injury or death to pedestrians or passengers.

Never underestimate the guidance you give by the words you speak or do not speak.

Say, “AHHH.”

Second we see...

THE PAIN OF THE CORRUPT TONGUE (James 3:5-8)

1. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
2. And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
3. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
4. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

Corruption brings damage, and again James gives us the perfect picture of how quickly what we speak can spark saying, in essence, you’ll never believe the destructive power in this little thing.

What kind of damage?

First: Tongues Can Cause External Destruction

There are all kinds of fire, with each one uniquely destructive. Take for instance the one back in 1871—another “moooving story” about a careless cow.

A fire reportedly started in the O’Leary barn in Chicago at 8:30 p.m., October 8, 1871. And because that fire spread, over 100,000 people were left homeless, 17,500 buildings were destroyed, and 300 people died. It cost the city over $400 million.

And that’s it. It’s the picture of the potential of our words. Proverbs 26:20-21 says it this way:

Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

In some marriages, in some families, in some schools, on some sports teams, and at some churches, there are members who cannot control their tongues, and the result is destruction. Like a fire, the tongue can “heat things up”.

Have you ever met a verbal arsonist? Are your words always inflammatory. Don’t fan the flames and stir things up...speak the truth in love. Keep that tongue under control. It’s a big deal.

Second: Tongues Can Cause Internal Destruction

In verse seven, James reminds us that all animals of the world have been tamed—but the tongue? That’s another matter.

It's got the potential to be like poison. The word in Greek is literally "snake venom". Just a few drops can kill. You can assassinate somebody with your words. Assassinate their character.

So how are you doing? How are we watching our words?

Take some time to reflect on what God’s Word has and would say to our hearts. What things characterize our communication? Are we building up or breaking down?

Learning with you!

Ephesians 4:15,