Hammer Tongue

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James 3:5–10 (NKJV) See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

What it is speaking to me:

Tearing something down is so much fun. You take a sledgehammer or crowbar and just go to town. Tear-out is the most fun you are going to have in a building project. You see results quickly, you don't have to worry too much about messing up, and it's just fun to break things.

I don't even know why we enjoy breaking things. So, in the spirit of discovery, I did a bit of research and discovered there are many potential reasons we enjoy it:

1. The physical exertion of swinging a sledgehammer is essentially a burst workout, and your body responds by releasing endorphins and adrenaline, the same feel-good chemicals you get from exercise or laughter.

2. Everyday frustration and stress get stored in the body as tension, and the physical act of breaking something gives that pent-up energy a tangible outlet.

3. Deliberately destroying something makes you feel powerful, because exerting total control over an object satisfies a basic human need for agency.

It seems there are a LOT of reasons to enjoy destroying something. And if you are targeting a gross wall in your home, that is great. Have fun!

The problem is, what if your destructive tendencies are directed not at a wall but a person? What if your tools for destruction were not a sledgehammer but your tongue? This is the reality James is describing. The destructive powers of the tongue, even a Christian one, are powerful. James describes a reality where the tongue is far more dangerous and does far more damage than a sledgehammer ever could. And I'm ashamed to admit it, but there have been a few times where I have gotten just as much enjoyment out of tearing someone down with my words as I have tearing down a wall with a sledgehammer. These things ought not to be so.

Here is the principle: The right tool for the right job.

A sledgehammer is the right tool for tearing out a wall.

The tongue is NEVER the right tool for tearing someone down... including yourself.

What is it speaking to you?

• Can you think of a recent time your words tore someone down instead of building them up? What was going on in you in that moment?

• Is there someone you have been "demolishing" with your words, maybe even without realizing it, who actually needs to be built up instead?

• What would it look like for you to treat your tongue as a tool for building rather than tearing down today?

What are we going to do about it?

In every interaction today, ensure your words and tone are aimed at building up the other person, not tearing them down.