“Saved from our Tongues” - Hearing the Word: James 1.19-27

Have you been saved … Is he saved … When was she saved? These are questions we often ask and hear being asked in our circles. Individuals who don’t navigate the world of Protestant Evangelicalism, would likely ask, “Saved from what?” When the Bible uses the word, “saved,” it doesn’t always mean what we mean. Jesus’ brother, James uses the word in our reading from January 3, James 1.19-27.

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you (James 1.21, HCSB).

In church contexts, we often use the word, saved, to refer to a one time event when, having believed the gospel, God forgives our sins because they were atoned for when Jesus died on the cross. James, on the other hand, uses the word with a bit more specificity. According to Jesus’ brother, we continually need to be saved from our tongues. In verse 19, we need to be saved from “tongue overuse.”

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1.19b, HCSB).

There is a sinful bent within each of us away from listening. And the opposite of listening, according to Jesus’ brother, is speaking. There is a distinctive Jewish flavor to all that James writes. As a faithful Jewish follower of Jesus, James repeated throughout the day what is known as The Great Shema (see Deut 6.4-9). And the first command in this Jewish mantra is LISTEN!! The rhythm of our day needs to be established by obedience to this command. Noise prevents us from listening. Furthermore, the biggest obstacle to listening is the noise that we ourselves create.

The Word of God is able make us into a people who listen. Be encouraged to find a still quiet place to read and ponder and meditate over and marinate in the Scriptures. Having done so, pause and engage in the discipline that Richard Foster calls “Holy Listening.” Our lifestyles make this difficult. It will require some intentionality, but it will be worth it! The Word is mighty to save. My prayer is that we would believe in the saving power of the Listened-to-Word. 

So may the Spirit of God use the Word of God to make us into a listening people, who were saved, are being saved and will be saved from our tongues.

And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell (James 3.6 HCSB).