“Its political correctness gone mad!” he said. “You can’t say anything without offending anyone these days. Generation of sissy-ass snowflakes!”

Hmmmm.

We could look at this idea from the point of view of ‘rights vs responsivities’ (spoiler, you don’t get to pick one for yourself and the other for everyone else). Or we could look this from the perspective of the amorphous concept of ‘freedom’ (or as it’s often understood, my God-given right to do whatever I feel like regardless of others). Nope, this isn’t either of those posts – this is a post about James 3 and ‘the tongue.’

The tongue is a pretty wacky thing to start off with. Did you know that the tongue is not a muscle, it’s eight muscles! That the little bumps aren’t actually tastebuds – they contain them. How about the fact that there are almost as many tongues in the world as there are people? I know, right! Mind blown.

The tongue has also been demonstrably the biggest natural disaster known to humankind. More death and destruction have followed words than any action in history. In our day, the internet has provided a monstrous amplifier to the common tongue. Words steer the world.

This would be why James 3:3 likens the tongue to the control of a horse, and v.4 to the guiding of a ship, and v.5 to the spark that begins a forest fire.

The tongue is immensely powerful.

It needs to be turned (v.3), steered (v.4), and tamed (vv. 7-8). All these metaphors assume training, difficulty, effort, time, and struggle. They need help, guidance, and growing maturity. There’s no sense of ‘say what you want and let other people’s ears do the hard work.’

And there’s the problem: We too easily shift the responsibility from our tongues to others’ ears. From our words to their interpretations. From our ‘rights’ to their ‘just deal with it.’ From which part of James 3 did we get this? And at what point did we decide that the call to serve others in love – even to extreme measures and personal discomforts – doesn’t apply to what we say?

You have a right to remain silent

Let’s shift this a step further by looking at the beginning of James 3.

There seems to be an view that if one has an opinion (however ill-informed, fresh, infantile, broken, or offensive – I could even add racist, sexist, abusive, disruptive, or destructive), then one has a responsibility to verbalise that opinion. It’s seen as boldness and honesty to share, and censorship, or a removal of freedoms to not.

Why?

Freedom is the ability to do something, not the necessity. And freedom to do whatever we want, we would do well to remember, is exactly what Christ laid aside – along with His life – for the good of others. As of course did Peter, Paul, and many throughout history.

It’s almost like Paul knew we would struggle with this when in Gal. 5 he says our freedom should be used to serve one another in love (v.13-15).

James 3 begins with a stern warning to teachers – that they will be judged more strictly because of the immense power that words have. The word teacher here means to train and instruct verbally. In ancient Greek texts beyond the New Testament, it was used for those who demonstrate ideas through informed, educated, well-presented oratory, drama and poetry.

It’s not just that not many should be teachers (v.1), but not many can be. Teaching comes with the element of passing on information, sure, but it also comes with a second element. That is to lovingly serve, guide, and protect those who hear.

Teachers are called to lovingly serve, guide, and protect those who hear – not just from others, but from their own tongue.

It’s this second point that I think we miss. Teachers need to develop huge amounts of compassion, empathy, self-awareness, and care. Not many should be teachers.

By assuming our opinion needs by right to be voiced to others, regardless of the consequences, is assuming we are called to be a teacher. Then it’s assuming that the second part of classical teaching – that’s the duty of care over the listener – simply doesn’t apply to us.

That’s pretty arrogant right?

As someone who feels called to be a teacher, and has spent more than half my life working hard on it, and by God’s grace have made some small progress, I feel huge amounts of resentment at those who just dive in with some assumed right to do so. This is especially true when the duty of care for others is so causally tossed aside.

But, but… the snowflakes?

I don’t buy into this idea that this generation gets more easily offended than others. Honestly, I find that silly. I work with a lot of young people, and I have for the last fifteen years. I have been much more likely to offend older than younger people, and I don’t think that says anything either.

This is certainly a more amplified and visible generation, but that doesn’t mean they get hurt more or more easily. In fact, there’s quite a few reasons to see this as a surprisingly resilient generation, but maybe we’ll save that for another time.

James 3 ends with the writer importing us to use wisdom for the good of others. To lead a good life known through its humility (v.13). It’s this wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere (v.17). This is all other-people focused.

Is your freedom to speak important? Sure – use it to build one another up in love (1 Thess. 5:11). Should you speak with boldness? Yea – to share the gospel (Acts 4:24-30), fight injustice (Is. 1:17), and stand for those who can’t stand for themselves (Ps. 82:3).

The call is to build up, not tear down. To edify, not demonise. To help people walk, not just insist that they drag themselves up by their bootstraps while we’re simultaneously stepping on them.

Don’t be so easily offended by those who are offended. Approach them in love. Ask to hear their story. Lead with compassion, selflessness, and mercy, and then ask the Holy Spirit to inhabit your words to them.

We’ll all be better off.

Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash