RSS

Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

TEACHER'S TONGUE

March 18, 2010

When we threw off our inhibitions in the 1960s, it may be we tossed aside some social graces, good taste and a dose of self-control. Perhaps James urges the believer to reclaim some of those inhibitions.

________________________________________
Not many of you should become teachers, my brother and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes.
--James 3:1,2 NRS
________________________________________

James starts a teaching on the tongue, the care of words that come from our mouths. He starts talking about church teachers, leaders, ones from whom we'd expect speak many words. His point is not to discourage people from leadership or teaching, but to use care in what they say and how they say it. Evidently in James' day people didn't care too much what they said OR how they said it. So James utters this sobering caution. And there is more to follow, however...

Today the pendulum has swung to free expression. Perhaps the Word and Spirit woo us to renewed care. For myself, a person gifted and cursed with flippancy, maybe this message speaks to me as well. You?
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson