09/29/2025
A big THANK YOU to the Berards for dinner tonight! Means more than you know…
after listening to 2 sermons today from 2 different pastors i wanted to elaborate on one of them a little more, especially after today’s mass shooting in Michigan…
James 3:1–12
“Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna). For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.”
the above passage alludes to the gravity of a word, how important what and how you say something is. Evil always attacks righteousness. the snake used words to temp and twist in the garden. just as these domestic terrorists’ (especially in the past couple of weeks) mentality changed, became evil, because of the whispers of the same snake. just as the tiny rudder on the ship directs the huge body, it shows its true power. the absence of the rudder also causes the boat to float around, with no direction or guidance. the tongue, just as the horse’s bit, is a tool a device, one used to control the animal, lead, guide and direct it.
with EVERYTHING going on in the world today, the words we choose, either bring others closer to Christ or farther away. Can we speak faith in Christ and hate in our brother? Can we preach unity from the pulpit and post division on our bookface? i’ve heard the term “Conservative Christian” “white Christian” “black Christian” “moderate Christian” they don’t exist…. You’re just a Christian. the use of secular words to describe the “type” of Christian you are only matter as talking points or fb post. the Good Lord, Alpha and Omega doesn’t care how u vote as long as it aligns with his laws. sorry… i bird dogged on yall there, still needed to be said.
what if a positive, helpful, word had been given to the man before he shot up the Catholic church? maybe a different type of word would’ve turned todays madman to Christ, instead of being eternally damned in Hell? Our words just like our actions have consequences, let’s make sure the reaction to them is one that glorifies our Savior and brings us closer to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Continue to pray for our country… satan has been hard at work, but he will lose just as he always has.
