What is the most powerful thing that humankind possesses? What do we have that has the power to protect or attack, build or demolish, heal or kill? Do we even have anything with this power?
The TONGUE!
The tongue has the power of life and death... (Proverbs 18:21 NIV excerpt)
But why?
We are made in the image of the same God who spoke life into existence from the beginning of time.
That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. (Romans 4:17 NLT)
So we have the same power in us of the God who brings the dead back to life and creates new things out of nothing? How does He do THAT?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. (Genesis 1:1-3, 6, 9, 11, 14 NLT)
In all of this, how did creation begin?
"God SAID"... Remember? He spoke things into existence.
So we must realize that WE also speak life and death into existence.
What should we do differently knowing that our words are so powerful? A good place to start is a study of His word to find out how to control our tongues.
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. (James 3:1-12 NLT)
First, I've heard people try to use this passage to say, "Well, I can't tame my tongue. The verse says no one can, so I won't even try." That attitude is wrong and sinful. The same book of the bible tells us this...
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17 NLT)
Second, far too often I've heard James 3 misquoted as if the term, "cursing" meant using foul or abusive language, but in this context, that isn't what this term means. This verse is saying that to curse those made in God's image simply means to slander someone, or talk bad about them. This can mean spreading rumors behind someone's back, gossiping, or even bullying face-to-face.
But let's focus on gossip.
The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! (Luke 12:2, 3 NLT)
In simple terms, we all know that what we say about people behind their backs will eventually get back to them and ruin our relationships.
Now back to foul language. If James isn't referring to cuss words when he says, "cursing" than does the bible actually tell us that cussing is wrong? Yes; in Colossians twice.
You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. (Colossians 3:7, 8 NLT, emphasis mine)
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (Colossians 4:6 NLT, emphasis mine)
So make no mistake about it, cuss words have no place in the vocabulary of a Christian.
There is so much evidence in scripture that WORDS hold the power that saves or destroys. Even FAITH itself is made by words...
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 NKJV, emphasis mine)
And Jesus' disciples acknowledged that He had the "words of eternal life."
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:66-68 NKJV, emphasis mine)
Words- Hawk Nelson feat. Bart Millard
In closing, Christianity is known as the Great Confession. Christianity is a confession of LOVE which should be spoken by words of LOVE. We have the power of life and death in our tongues and we should always use this power to choose LIFE!
