Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (CL)

James 3:1-12

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

What does a teacher have to do with a tongue? Most of us may think that they give a good tongue lashing to their students. But James really teaches us that the one leads and directs the many. Just as a bad tongue will drive the entire body to hell. The small spark will burn down the entire forest. The corrupt, or false, teacher will lead their entire class, or flock, astray.

Whether or not you call yourself a teacher, you are one. You are a teacher of the Christian faith. You are an example for others to follow. You are the Light of the World, a city that can not be hidden. But often times we find ourselves reaching for the words that have just left our mouth. We wish we could take back what we said. Often times not because we think it to be false, but because we know it will cause offense.

A Good Teacher is not worried about causing offense, but speaking the truth in all things. It is important not to back down from the truth. The Law of God is the true measure of our offense. The good news is that we do have a good teacher who not only taught the truth in all things, but laid down his life for those words that escape our mouth. He is the sacrifice for all false teaching.

Yes, a teacher will be called to account for all his teaching, you will be judged on your deeds. Christ has paid the price, or fine, for all your failures and false teaching. This does not mean you should keep preaching, or teaching, your own ideas as truth, but bring your focus on Christ's sacrifice.