“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26 ESV). Well, there is a lot of “worthless religion” going on! Without a bridle an untrained horse will run wild. This metaphor James uses to try to teach us something about “wild” tongues. It seems that we live in an era when words are said without restraint. These words produce divisions and create alienation; they leave us at odds with each other. We shoot word-arrows back and forth across the chasm of fear and mistrust. As a follower of Jesus, whose mission in the world is to reconcile those alienated from God, we must choose words carefully and put a bridle on our own tongue. Know when to speak and know when to keep your mouth shut. Know how to guide your words to produce healing and reconciliation.
