Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
The background of last week’s lesson applies to this one as well, so that information need not be repeated here.
But since today’s lesson draws heavily on figures of speech, some background information in that regard is in order.
Figures of speech add interest and excitement to writing, and chief among these are metaphors.
A metaphor takes an idea and imposes it on an unrelated but familiar idea to help explain the qualities of the original.
An example from the ancient world is the assertion “Achilles is a lion.”
This does not mean the Greek hero literally had a shaggy reddish-orange mane, sharp claws, large teeth and walked on all fours.
It means, rather that Achilles was a brave, courageous warrior in battle.
Metaphors abound in our speech, so much, so that we don’t always notice them.
Rather than refer to a particular car’s color as “gray,” we might say it is “battleship gray.”
This does not mean the care has any of the size or armament of a warship.
The use of the word battleship as a metaphor for a shade of gray helps us visualize how the car appears: it is neither nearly black nor nearly white.
James uses a variety of word pictures, including metaphor.
These are drawn from life experiences share with his readers.
This style of writing is vivid, and James chose his figurative language carefully to help the readers better understand the urgency and importance of his topic.
Lack of Control -
James is addressing the topic of teachers.
With the use of we he includes himself in this group.
James warns that the role of teacher should be considered soberly, because teachers are under great scrutiny.
We see the importance of the words more strictly when we realize that teachers’ thoughts and ideas are made public.
Good teachers are not simply relayers of correct information, they are also interpreters.
Teachers in the first-century church had two primary responsibilities.
First, they were to teach the fundamentals of the Christian faith; these were truths they had learned from other teachers.
Second, they were to interpret the Old Testament Scriptures from a Christian perspective.
Since James wrote in time when teachers did not have all the New Testament, the teaching function was especially subject to error and misinterpretation.
The teaching function in the church today is easier in one sense: we have the completed New Testament.
But the era of the Information Age makes the teaching function more difficult in another sense: faster communication means faster communication of error and ridicule.
That fact may tempt us to embrace an old saying attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
This humorous but cynical view should not intimidate Christian teachers into silence.
The church needs the spiritually mature to open their mouths and impart godly teaching and wisdom to others.
But be forewarned: you will be judged by God.
The word stumble gives us a word picture of careless use of the tongue (in what they say).
The phrase we all stumble means all of us make the mistake of using speech that offends.
The person who is never guilty of verbal miscues does not exist.
The hypothetical person who achieves perfection in speech would, by extension, be able to control every aspect of his or her life.
That is, he or she is able to keep their whole body in check.
In verse 3 & 4 James turns to metaphors to help us understand the influence of the tongue on our lives.
A bridle usually includes a bit, a metal device inserted into the mouth of a horse.
The bit results in uncomfortable pressure, causing the horse to respond to the pressure of the reins attached to the bridle.
If the rider pulls back on both reins, the horse will slow until the pressure from the reins is released.
If the rider pulls the right rein, the trained horse will turn right until the pressure from the bit is relieved.
This is an amazing thing for James, that a metal bit that fits in one’s hand can control such a large animal.
The analogy is how the human tongue has an influence our of proportion to its size.
The next metaphor is drawn from the world of sailing ships.
Such vessels may be large and strong, able to withstand the pressure of mighty winds.
Despite this bulk, the ship can be turned by a very small rudder.
This steering mechanism of ancient ships is something like a large oar fastened to the side of a ship.
If the end of of the steering oar is pushed to the right by the pilot, the ship goes to the right and vice versa.
This is an amazing thing for James, that a metal bit that fits in one’s hand can control such a large animal.
The analogy is how the human tongue has an influence our of proportion to its size.
Like the bridle and bit illustration, the point is that a small device can turn a mighty ship.
With the tiny tongue, a small lapse in judgment that is spoken can have an enormous influence on one’s life or the lives of others.
What safeguards can we adopt to protect friendships from the negative effects of boasting?
In terms of attitudes; in terms of prayer; and in distinguishing between godly and ungodly.
Result of Failure -
James moves to another metaphor: the phenomenon of fire.
Big fires start as small fires.
We know that single spark can result in a fire that burns down a great forest.
Likewise, a few unwise words spoken carelessly can cause permanent, life-changing damage.
Reputations - either those of the ones speaking or those of the ones being spoken about - can be ruined.
How do (or should) methods of reconciliation change, if at all, after damage caused by the tongue become enormous?
In the workplace; in family life; and in the church.
In verse 6, what is implied in the previous verse is explicit here: the uncontrolled tongue not only causes widespread external damage, it also ends up being suicidal.
James pictures this self-destruction as being a life on fire, a life that is fueled as though set on fire by hell.
The person who ignores the need to maintain control over his or her speech is risking eternity.
This is serious business.
In verse 7, James now begins a comparison from another setting: that of humanity’s taming of various creatures.
The idea of taming here refers to , where humankind is commanded to “rule over” all creatures.
In blunt terms, this means there is no creature that humans have not been able to conquer and kill.
Humans exercise dominion over all earthly creatures, whether for good or bad.
Animals can be tamed, but can the tongue?
No one truly brings his or her tongue into full submission.
As we ponder this, we should be careful not to take this verse out of context.
It would be wrong to conclude, “James says no one can tame the tongue, so why even try?
It is a futile waste of time.”
Those who accept that argument should read the previous verses again.
Although no one is able to keep his or her tongue perfectly controlled, we must make the effort since uncontrolled speech destroys.
What counsel would you offer someone who is looking for help to tame his or her tongue?
In terms of spiritual disciplines to practice; in terms of friendships to cultivate and avoid; in terms of biblically sound resources.
Lack of Consistency -
In verse 9, having used many comparisons to show the destructive power of the tongue, James now turns to the paradoxical nature of much of our speech.
We have only one mouth, and we use it both to praise God and to curse others.
This makes no sense!
It makes sense to use our tongues to praise God.
But after doing so, why would we then use the same mouth to curse people, who are made in God’s likeness?
Because of that likeness, cursing people is perilously close to cursing God himself!
The bottom line is this, we cannot successfully live a double life.
Mouths that easily bless God should also offer godly and encouraging words to others.
We must have consistency in our speech and let it be controlled by the impulse to use our words to praise and bless the Lord.
What specific steps can we take to uphold the image of God in others when we’re tempted to vilify them instead?
Regarding those of differing political views; regarding those of differing doctrinal views; regarding those who have vilified us.
James concludes our lesson this morning with a flurry of word pictures.
These illustrate the inconsistency of praising God and then abusing others with the same mouth.
The fruit a plant bears reveals its inner nature, since fig trees do not produce olives and grapevines do not produce figs.
We have no trouble whatsoever declaring what is and is not an olive tree, what is and is not a grapevine, etc.
The reason we have no problem in this regard is that we know for certain that his morning’s olive tree will not become this afternoon’s grapevine.
But we humans do something directly contrary to this model when we heat a person praising God on Sunday, and then cursing the boss or coworkers on Monday.
What is that person’s true nature?
The logic of this inconsistency is reinforced by the bookends that begin in verse 11 and conclude in verse 12: comparisons with the quality of spring water.
In James’ territory, the area around Jerusalem, springs or natural fountains of water are highly prized, for they provide a year-round water supply.
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