When I say ‘Tongues’ it immediately brings to our mind speaking
in tongues which was a
dramatic miracle that helped the Christian church begin (Acts 2). Here I am not going to debate about speaking in tongues, instead I am going to explore a bit about the four
different kinds of tongues under:
untamable vs. tamable tongue.
The
Latin word for To Tame is Domito,
Domito
is defined as: to tame, subdue, break in.
The word "tame"
is from the Greek word damadzo,
Damadzo means: to domesticate, to subdue, to tame,
or to bring under control.
Synonyms for tame
[bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, control]1,2
Some examples of untamed tongue would be
gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching,
exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. An example of a tamed tongue would be encouraging others and
not putting another person down. Proper speech is not only saying the right
words at the right time, but it is also controlling one’s desire to say what
you should not.
The word tame (damadzo) occurs in the New Testament passage in Mark 5: 4; apart from James
3, about the maniac of Gadara
Book of James chapter 3 talks about the
dangers of the tongue and he compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging
fire. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and set them against each other
and spread destruction like a raging fire in a forest. The
Untameable Tongue Jam 3:5-12; 5 Even
so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a
forest a little fire kindles! 6 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. 7 For
every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has
been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison. 9 With
it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in
the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does
a spring send forth fresh water
and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my
brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both
salt water and fresh.[b]
I would like to classify tongues under 4
categories and their meanings are self explanatory.
a. caring tongue;
b. careful tongue;
c. careless tongue; and
d. conniving tongue.
Our tongues are a system and a world of
iniquity, which can set fire on the whole course of life, and used by Satan
very often to accomplish whatever the world system wants! James explains that
man is made in the image of God (Gen:
1:26; 27; 5:1), so to curse people and bless God is inconsistent (Jam 3:9). The fall of man has distorted God’s image in man, but with the
indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and His wok in a person we can tame our tongue, one of the smallest organ in our body. We can ask ourselves in
which of the above category we fall, and we can work towards perfection for His
glory. Jam 3:13-18; talks about
worldly wisdom vs. godly wisdom. The wisdom from God is pure and always
promotes peace, ending in righteousness (Jam
3:17-18).
Our contradictory speech often puzzles our inner core
and destabilizes our state of mind. At times
our words are right and it pleases God, but often they are violent and
destructive. My question here would be which of the speech patterns reflect our true identity? The tongue that is our speech very often gives a
true picture of our basic human nature and our relationship with God. God loves to work in us inside out; and
the Holy Spirit is able to purify our heart and give the necessary control so
we speak the right words that please God.
Even if we may not achieve perfect control of our tongues, we can
still learn enough control to reduce the damage our words can do. The Holy
Spirit will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say, so
that when we are offended, the Spirit will remind us of God’s love. When we are
reminded of God’s love, we will not react in hateful ways when we are criticized, and the Spirit will heal the
hurt, and we will not lash out with our
tongues which can dishonor God! “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone
does not stumble in word, he is
a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” Jam 3:2.
References:
1. Dr. Ed Murphy. The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 1992, 1996, pgs: 432-436.
2. Jay E. Adams. Critical Stages of
Biblical Counseling, Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started. New
Jersey
3. Jay E. Adams. How to Help People Change, The Four-step Biblical Process.Grand
Rapids
4. John F. MacArthur, JR.Wayne Nashville
5. Jay E. Adams. Lectures on Counseling.Grand
Rapids
3. Jay E. Adams. How to Help People Change, The Four-step Biblical Process.
4. John F. MacArthur, JR.
5. Jay E. Adams. Lectures on Counseling.
6. The Holy Bible, New King James
Version, Women of Destiny Bible. Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures,
A Spirit Filled Life Bible. Nashville ,
Tennessee
7. Warren W.
Wiersbe. Devotions for confidence & Integrity, Hebrews & John. Colorado , Springs, Colorado
Notes:
1. Taming Synonyms, Taming Antonyms | Thesaurus.com
thesaurus.com/browse/tamin
verb: domesticate, make compliant. Synonyms: break , break
in, break the spirit ... verb: train in new skill. Synonyms:
accustom , condition , educate , gentle , get ...
2. Synonyms of tame | Infoplease.com - Thesaurus Search Page ...
thesaurus.infoplease.com/tame
tame: synonyms,
definitions, and usage ... Synonyms for tame
Verb 1. tame, chasten, subdue, change, alter, modify usage:
correct by punishment or discipline
Website References:
1. Speaking in Tongues | Bible.org - Worlds Largest Bible Study Site
bible.org/article/speaking-tongues
Lehman Strauss writes on the subject of speaking in tongues
... Introduction. This is not the final chapter to be written on the subject of
speaking in tongues.
2. What the Bible Says About Speaking in Tongues | Grace Communion ...
Chapter 1: JESUS' PROMISE "What you are seeing is real," a church
member told the visitor. "These people are filled with the Holy
Spirit." The visitor was seeing a ...
3. Bible passages about speaking in tongues: Glossia and Xenoglossia
Bible passages
which deal with speaking in tongues (glossia &
zenoglossia)
4. Related searches for Tongues in Bible
5. Bible Tongue Speaking and Modern Impostors!
First century: Today: Spoke a known language. Acts 2:8: Today don't even
claim to use known languages. Were understood. Acts 2:6; I Cor. 14:19: Don't
claim to ...
6. James 3:2 NKJV - For we all stumble in many things. If - Bible Gateway
For we all
stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect
man, able also to bridle the whole body.
7. James 3:2-6 NKJV - For we all stumble in many things. If - Bible ...
For we all
stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect
man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses ...
8. James 3:1-9 - Scion of Zion
James 3:2 (KJV) For in many
things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man,
and able also to bridle the whole body.
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