Today, we look at one of the passages where James really goes from preaching to meddling.  He talks about the tongue. We live in an age of cell phones and social media, and we forget that the person on the other side of our online argument is someone made in the image of God. All are made in the image of God, and Jesus died for everyone. That means that how we speak to and about each other really, truly matters. Our tongue is a fire that we cannot control. But it will burn so much down. As the children’s song tells us, be careful, little mouth, what you say!  Great harm can come if we are not careful. 

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you this Wednesday as we continue in James. A quick reminder—this will be our last Rooted for about a week as our staff takes time for spiritual renewal. I look forward to sharing the blessings from this time with you.

Today, we’re reading James 3:1-12, where James warns about the power of the tongue.

“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.” (v. 9)

This passage hits home in our digital age. Social media has given us incredible tools, but it has also made it easier to speak harshly, especially about those we disagree with. We say things online that we’d never say face-to-face. Yet, every person—regardless of background, belief, or politics—is made in the image of God.

James reminds us that while we can tame animals and control ships, no one can fully tame the tongue. It is a fire, capable of both blessing and destruction. If we claim to love God, we must also be mindful of how we speak about others.

Being faithful doesn’t mean we stop standing for truth, but it does mean we season our words with grace. People struggle to believe in a God they can’t see when Christians they can see don’t seem to love them.

So today, let’s be mindful of our words. Let’s be careful with our speech—both in person and online—and use our tongues to build up rather than tear down.

Thanks for being with me! I look forward to being back next week. If you’re in Madison, I hope to see you at St. Matthew’s on Sunday. Have a great day!