There are many instances in the Bible where we are warned about the power of the tongue, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Perhaps the most extensive treatise on this issue comes to us in the Book of James.

James Warns us About the Tongue

James warns us about the power of words in the third chapter of his epistle. He goes so far as to say that the person who never stumbles in what he says would be a perfect man because he would be able to control his whole body.¹ Of course we know there has only been one perfect man, and we are not him…

He then goes on to say that while we have tamed the beasts no human being can tame the tongue.² He uses some interesting analogies to demonstrate how powerful the tongue can be:

³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.³

We control horses and boats with a small bit or rudder. We can make them go in whatever direction we want them to. Through this small device we can control the whole vessel, so while it is small it is extremely powerful. So it is with the tongue. A convincing, well thought out, and civil argument can win people over, but a wild and uncouth word can start all manners of conflict.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.⁴

Why is the Tongue so Powerful

What is it that makes the tongue so powerful? Why does James say the tongue is unrighteous? It is not the tongue so much as it is what is behind the tongue, as well as the lack of discretion in using the tongue.

Jesus taught us about this as well when he said a tree is known by its fruit:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.⁵

In James’ analogies the bit and the rudder do not move on their own, they are manipulated by the hand of the equestrian or by the hand of the helmsman after the mind has decided where to go. They determine where the horse or the ship will go. It is the same with the tongue. The tongue is driven by the mind of the person speaking.

The tongue gives birth to the thoughts that were conceived in the union between the mind and the heart. It is not so much a tongue problem as much as it is a problem with the human condition.

Words are our thoughts put into motion. Sometimes we cannot help the thoughts that come into our mind, and many times it is Satan who is putting them there, but we can always control what comes out of our mouths. This is why James says let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.⁶

Words spoken in anger or frustration are the toughest words to forgive, they can cut deep. Many times they are spoken without thinking and can reveal a person’s true feelings. They reveal what is in a person’s heart.

The Tongue as an Instrument of Healing

It doesn’t have to be this way, while the tongue is powerful and can be very destructive, it can be used as an instrument to build people up. James reminds us to think before we speak. It is knowing how to build one another up, as it says in Thessalonians:

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.⁷

It goes beyond simply saying nice things, or saying what somebody wants to hear because sometimes a person needs to hear something they might not like. However, it must be coming from the right place, for the right reason, and in the right manner.

Before we can properly contain our tongues we must make sure our hearts are in the right place, because our words are a reflection of our hearts. When our hearts are for God the words which come from our mouths will become more Godly and will have a more Godly purpose.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.⁸

Proverbs 12:18 sums up very nicely exactly what I have been trying to say:

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (ESV)

When we are in the heat of the moment taming the tongue is much, MUCH, easier said than done, however when our focus is on God, and we live to serve him, the way we think starts to change and we will begin to think of things that are more honorable, just, and pure.⁹

Conclusion

As Christians we always want to set a good example, especially when we are dealing with non-believers:

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Our words and our demeanor could be the difference between winning over a non-believer to Christ or driving them further away. Do our words reflect Christ or do they reflect the world? If we sound no different than anybody else what incentive does our example set for somebody to ask us about Christ?

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1. James 3:2 ↩︎
2. James 3:8 ↩︎
3. James 3:3-5 ↩︎
4. James 3:5, 6 ESV ↩︎
5. Luke 6:45 ESV ↩︎
6. James 1:19 ESV ↩︎
7. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ↩︎
8. Ephesians 4:29 ↩︎
9. See Philippians 4:8 ↩︎