What's Wrong with Christians Cursing?
James 3:7-11
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James uses several more analogies to drive home the problem when Christians beliefs don't match their words. Even wild animals can be tamed, but it appears the tongue can't be. And we are made in God's image which should be reflected in who we are and what we say. And then James lifts up the principle problem with this kind of behavior. With the same mouth we praise God in one instance, than in another moment we curse others. Maybe this can even be before and after church, especially if you have kids. (LOL)
But ultimately what James is getting at comes with his metaphor of the salt spring bearing fresh water, and a fig tree bearing olives. James uses these illustration to show it is not possible for a Christian to be in Christ and praise God one moment, and then cursing others in the next. Remember he is correcting an early problem in the early church in its 2nd generation of believers. Christianity is at a critical point in its early life. There is persecution by the Roman Empire, and some are even being killed for their witness to Christ. Therefore, it was even more important for them to behave in accordance with what they believe. The whole world was watching them.
And we know we are in a very challenging time in our era as Christian believers. While the church is growing in some circles, it is shrinking in mainline and other denominations here in the U.S. As with the early church it will be important for us to live lives worthy of our calling. I want to be careful here, because this is not some new law. It is not as if we all don't fall short in this matter in some way or another. But the point is how do we make progress in using our tongue to praise God on Sunday, and then use those same words as we interact with during the week. (Including those who take our parking space at the local supermarket!) We can admit this is challenge. But ultimately our influence in our society, will be related to the sincerity of our beliefs, linked to the words we use!
Finally, we must remember that as remain in relationship with Christ, we will bear fruit through our abiding in Him. The abundant and living water that Jesus brings into our lives, can flow through our praise to God and encouragement of others. May that new reality help you to tame your tongue! Apart from him we can don nothing!
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James uses several more analogies to drive home the problem when Christians beliefs don't match their words. Even wild animals can be tamed, but it appears the tongue can't be. And we are made in God's image which should be reflected in who we are and what we say. And then James lifts up the principle problem with this kind of behavior. With the same mouth we praise God in one instance, than in another moment we curse others. Maybe this can even be before and after church, especially if you have kids. (LOL)
But ultimately what James is getting at comes with his metaphor of the salt spring bearing fresh water, and a fig tree bearing olives. James uses these illustration to show it is not possible for a Christian to be in Christ and praise God one moment, and then cursing others in the next. Remember he is correcting an early problem in the early church in its 2nd generation of believers. Christianity is at a critical point in its early life. There is persecution by the Roman Empire, and some are even being killed for their witness to Christ. Therefore, it was even more important for them to behave in accordance with what they believe. The whole world was watching them.
And we know we are in a very challenging time in our era as Christian believers. While the church is growing in some circles, it is shrinking in mainline and other denominations here in the U.S. As with the early church it will be important for us to live lives worthy of our calling. I want to be careful here, because this is not some new law. It is not as if we all don't fall short in this matter in some way or another. But the point is how do we make progress in using our tongue to praise God on Sunday, and then use those same words as we interact with during the week. (Including those who take our parking space at the local supermarket!) We can admit this is challenge. But ultimately our influence in our society, will be related to the sincerity of our beliefs, linked to the words we use!
Finally, we must remember that as remain in relationship with Christ, we will bear fruit through our abiding in Him. The abundant and living water that Jesus brings into our lives, can flow through our praise to God and encouragement of others. May that new reality help you to tame your tongue! Apart from him we can don nothing!
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