17—Forty Days with James: The Rudder

Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

.Review: "The Tongue of the Teacher: (no. 16)

• James 3:1 applies to all Christian leaders, at least those who speak, teach, preach—which is pretty much everybody.
• Reading between the lines, we realize that unspiritual teachers were a threat to the communities that James oversaw.
• As we will continue to see, it is broad applications for all followers of Christ, leaders or otherwise!

James 3:3-5

• Illustrations of the impact of a careless tongue:
  • Bits control horses, even though the bit itself is very small compared to the horse.
  • Rudders are essential for steering ships, although in comparison with the entire vessel the rudder(s) may be minuscule.
  • A small spark can still cause an enormous conflagration!
  • There is a note of the diabolical, with the reference to hell. (Gehenna in Josh 15:8b; 18:16b; Neh 11:30 is the word for hell in the N.T., e.g. Mark 9:43, 47. See also Isa 66:23-24.)

• The danger is either potential or actual.
  • The Christian community is susceptible, vulnerable to the predations or errors of ungodly teachers.
  • James may be implying that some present teachers ought to step down.
  • Or he may be asking some to reconsider their interest in teaching others.
  • “Teachers who permit their tongues to get out of control are well on the way to becoming false teachers.”
• The solution isn't to get rid of the teachers (who would include, after all, all elders, preachers, and others who speak to the church), but to make sure of their character and biblical training.

Our next reflection: “The Untamable”