The Poison Tongue - Day 310 Month 11-5 Week 43-2
The Poison Tongue
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
2 Chronicles 33:1-34:7, Job 29, Jonah 3, James 3
“No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.” (James 3:8-10 NASB1995).
When the book of James was written, communication was either spoken or written. Today, we have another way of communicating that has changed things considerably. Social media allows us to say things to a much larger audience, often without having to look the person we are speaking about in the eye.
When we speak to someone face to face, we are more likely to see the reaction our words cause. That doesn't mean we always think before we speak, or that we never say hurtful things. But social media can put a distance between us and the people our words affect. We can hide behind a screen and say things we might never say if that person were standing right in front of us.
Sylvia was a little frustrated, especially with winter driving, because the lines on Parker Mountain Road, which we travel daily, had faded and couldn't be seen. In winter, when there is a light snowfall, visible lines help us determine where the centre of the road is because they can still be seen through a dusting of snow. Without those lines, sometimes it's a guess where the road is, and drivers do their best to stay on their side without slipping off the roadway.
Sylvia made a post on Facebook asking if anyone knew whether lines were going to be painted before the winter started. Many people supported her question, and there were some helpful comments suggesting who she could call to ask about this concern.
Then there was that other comment! “You should know how to stay on your own side of the road without lines if you know how to drive.”
Now maybe the person who made the comment would have said the same thing verbally to Sylvia if they had been standing in front of her. That may be so, but the comment certainly came across as suggesting that Sylvia did not know how to drive if she needed the lines.
Someone who represents Jesus must present a different way. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our minds, hearts and souls, and we are to love our neighbours as ourselves. Rather than tearing down, we need to build up.
I think this is where James's words become very practical. We can use our tongues to wound people, or we can use them to bring encouragement, comfort and healing. We may not be able to cure someone's hurt, but we can choose to walk alongside them rather than add to their burden.
We were reading a book before we went to sleep last evening. It is by Rachel Held Evans and is entitled Searching for Sunday. There is a chapter called “Healing.” In it, she explains that the church, those of us who follow Jesus, is called to bring healing. Healing is different from curing. We often look for a quick cure, but healing can mean walking alongside someone who is hurting, offering support and showing them that they are not alone.
I wonder how different social media would be if we approached our comments that way. What if, instead of looking for an opportunity to criticize, we looked for an opportunity to encourage? What if we used our words to build people up rather than tear them down?
James reminds us that the same tongue we use to praise God can also be used to hurt people made in His likeness. I don't think we can read those words and then simply blame social media. The problem isn't the platform. It's what comes out of us. I know I need to be more careful with my words. How about you?
Have a great day!
Steve
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