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Sticks and Stones (James 3:1-12)
How often have we told each other that, "Sticks
and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me"? Such
sayings are designed to give us perspective, strength and courage
in the face of some verbal assault or another. We tell it to our
children, hoping it will help them get through a difficult period
of unpopularity perhaps, or to ourselves to help us get over a time
of conflict when hurtful things are said.
It isn't true though, is it? It may help us deal with the immediate
situation but we all know that names can be exceedingly hurtful.
Children have suffered years of self-doubt and worry into adulthood
as a result of a piece of schoolyard taunting; Politicians have
lost elections and prominent people have had reputations ruined
by a little name-calling. We know that it needn't be true, it is
enough that it is said to change someone's whole world for the worse.
As James points out:
"The tongue is a small part of the body,
but it makes great boasts...The tongue 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...It is a restless evil, full
of deadly poison" (Js.3:5-7)
This truth is so widely accepted and unchallenged that James uses
a series of familiar and well used images to drive home his point.
Of course, the uncontrolled tongue is a frequent theme in the Old
Testament but even in the secular world the images used by James
were well known. In the 5th century BC Sophocles writes into one
of his plays, "I know that spirited horses are broken by the use
of a small bit". Again, Aristotle had, long ago, observed that the
huge mass of a ship was controlled by a small rudder. Likewise,
James wrote:
"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us,
we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although
they are so large and 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" (v.v.
3-5)
James isn't so much "borrowing" from others' writings to make his
illustrations as drawing on something that is common knowledge in
the wider culture. The tongue does make great boasts, i.e. has great
importance and can legitimately claim to have a profound effect
on a person's life and destiny. Phillip's paraphrase puts it:
"The human tongue is physically small,
but what tremendous effects it can boast of!"
James is telling people what they already know - but do not act
upon. The wounds inflicted by sticks and stones heal, but the wounds
inflicted by the tongue can remain a lifetime. This is no better
illustrated than in the example of teachers of the gospel. James
begins this passage:
"Not many of you should presume to
be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will
be judged more strictly" (v.1)
The influence of a teacher can be profound and the tongue is his
instrument for good or ill. As someone once observed, "Words are
also works". Those who seek to teach need to be aware of the implications.
They place themselves under greater scrutiny. Are they teaching
by example as well as precept? People will want to know and will
be watching closely to see. They carry a greater responsibility
because those they teach, both by precept and example, take what
is taught into the rest of their lives. Today, even as in James'
day, we sometimes see people attracted to the teaching role for
the wrong reasons, not realising the onerous responsibility it is.
"Not many of you should presume to be teachers", James warns.
The tongue can also make us hypocrites:
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse
men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth
come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be" (v.v.9,10)
James honestly identifies with the problem, saying, "We all stumble
in many ways", but goes on:
"If anyone is not at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man,
able to keep his whole body in check" (v2)
In this ministry we do presume to teach, formally and informally,
and James' words are especially applicable. We need to take them
to heart and teach the truth, teach it in love, live it in our lives
and, recognising that we do all stumble in many ways, nevertheless,
the battle to control the tongue must be won every day if we are
to bear the close scrutiny that teaching brings and keep ourselves
disciplined in the service of our Lord.