Taming the Tongue

by Larry Purvis

"For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." - James 3:2

Have you ever longed to retract or rephrase something you've said? If you're anything like me, this desire is all too familiar. We’ve all likely found ourselves regretting our words more times than we can count, especially in moments of heightened emotion or complex conversations.

With political tensions and a myriad of differing opinions from family and friends today, our conversations frequently deviate from being helpful, cordial, or gracious. The gap between our intentions and our actions becomes glaringly obvious. Unfortunately, these moments show that, as the prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 6:5, we are a people of unclean lips and dwell in the midst of those with unclean lips. We are not the perfect individuals that James speaks of, capable of controlling our tongues and, by extension, our entire beings. 

Yet, there is hope. Where we have failed to bridle our tongues and speak in ways pleasing to God, Jesus Christ has succeeded. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has spoken words of blessing rather than cursing, and healing instead of harming.

In Him, we are not only forgiven of our sinful speech but empowered by His spirit to speak a better word toward our neighbors and even toward those who oppose us. Consider the Apostle Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 4:29,

"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."

This call to edifying speech is not a mere moralistic command but a reflection of the new life we have in Christ.

Yes, we won't always get it right. We will stumble and fall, but as we continue to turn to Christ and rely on His strength, our speech will increasingly reflect His character, and through us, he will speak life to those in desperate need of truth and love.