BRIDLE THAT TONGUE!

Mike Johnson

Many are familiar with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 15:8-9, where He says we can make our religion vain by “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.  However, there is another way we can make our religion vain, which people may not be as familiar. James 1:26 says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”  Consider the consequences of people not being able to control their tongue.

In the original, the word translated “bridle,” when used figuratively means, “to restrain, govern or control” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary).  The same word is in James 3:2, which says, “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.” In this context, there is a discussion of the difficulty of controlling the tongue.  The idea is that if people can do the more difficult task of managing the tongue, they ought to be able to control the whole body, which is the easier task.

The word translated “useless” (“vain” KJV) means, “…to no purpose, in vain. Vain, empty, fruitless, aimless. It is building houses on sand, chasing the wind, shooting at stars, pursuing one’s own shadow” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary).

The point is as follows.  A person may think his religion is acceptable, but it is not if he cannot bridle (control) his tongue.  As the verse says, it is useless, i.e., of no benefit and unacceptable to God.  A person may excel in many areas.  He may give fifteen percent of his income to the church, live a good moral life, attend every church service, help people in need, and even teach Bible classes.   Yet, if such a person cannot control his tongue, his religion is useless. Controlling our tongues is difficult (James 3:1-12), but we must do so.  We must bridle that tongue!