Taming the Tongue: How the Holy Spirit Transforms Our Words and Witness
- Jack Selcher
- Oct 3, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 2
Summary
The tongue, though small, has immense power to bless or destroy. Especially for teachers, careless speech brings serious accountability. Human effort alone cannot control the tongue, which reflects an unrenewed mind. Based on James 3, destructive words are purified only by the Holy Spirit. When Christ governs the heart, speech becomes consistent, life-giving, and useful for God’s service rather than harmful or divisive.
Why the Tongue Is So Powerful
What is better than being able to speak six languages? The ability to keep your mouth shut when your tongue is about to veer out of control! An unbridled tongue splits families and churches. The real problem is an unbridled mind. The issue is how to control the tongue as a Christian.
The Special Responsibility of Christian Teachers
A Christian teacher’s tongue is a small but powerful organ. A tongue that Jesus Christ controls can be a great blessing. An uncontrolled tongue can do untold damage. Adolf Hitler’s tongue was largely responsible for starting World War II. An estimated 70–85 million people perished in the war.1
Those who teach the Christian faith use their tongues, but it is a hazardous duty. They are more accountable. God judges them more strictly (James 3:1). Why? Those who tell others how to live cannot claim ignorance when they do not live that way. But those whom God calls and gifts to teach who refuse to do so are equally blameworthy.
Small Instrument, Massive Impact
A teacher’s tongue, like a bit and rudder, can provide invaluable guidance. It can also lead people astray. It is like a surgeon’s scalpel. Used carefully, it brings healing. Wielded irresponsibly, it can kill.
Like fire, the effects of the tongue can be devastating. Careless, unwise words can start a “fire” quicker than gasoline and matches.
The True Source of Destructive Speech
The tongue is “a world of evil” (James 3:6). It is behind almost every sin. The mind that controls the tongue corrupts the whole body. The tongue expresses covetousness, idolatry, blasphemy, lust, and greed. All of them spring from the mind and pollute the entire personality.
The devil is the source of the tongue’s inflaming nature. But there is another fire. It purifies the tongue and prepares it for service. That is the fire of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). The fire is the “live coal” that purified Isaiah’s lips (Isaiah 6).
Why Self-Control Is Not Enough
You cannot control your tongue by yourself (James 3:8). Like a cobra, it is packed with deadly poison. It can blight a reputation or smear a character by injecting only a few toxic words.
The tongue is as changeable as the weather (James 3:9-12). It praises God and curses people who are made in God’s likeness. If your speech is inconsistent, do you know why?
Speech Reveals Spiritual Condition
Fig trees, grapevines, and salt springs produce predictable products. Your speech reveals who you are. If your tongue frequently veers out of control, you need new management. You can be free from your old habits.
Taming the Tongue
Like the current in a power line, your tongue is too hot to handle. Let the Holy Spirit be the step-down transformer in your life. Since taming the tongue is His specialty, your speech will be useful for service. He also helps in many other ways. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,541 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,361 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.
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