With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness (James 3:9).
There are some things that should never need to be stressed because they are basic to the integrity of human life. One obvious example is the terrible scourge of violence and sexual assault against women and girls. The frequency of reporting such events in the media is overwhelming and the reality that such reporting is the ‘tip of the iceberg’ is alarming, to say the least.
Jesus demonstrates in all his encounters with people that they are valued. This is based not by status or achievement, rather by them being made in the image of God. It is significant to me that Jesus lived out this respect for people in an environment of structured inclusion and exclusion with patterns of power and control that were normalised and accepted. He challenged gender, religious and racial discrimination and exclusion.
Somehow, we have lost our way as a society in this regard. We seem quick to label, judge and exclude. There is debate about whether or not we need to take responsibility for the impact of our words on the well-being of others.
Violence against women and girls is never acceptable. Racism is evil. The growing disparity between rich and poor must be addressed. Integrity in public life needs nurturing.
James in his letter addresses the disintegration of his community in a powerful reflection on the ‘tongue’ (Chapter 3) and one can only imagine what was behind this!
His appeal is relevant for us today (and for our actions as well): With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be (James 3:9-10).
Rev John Gilmore, NCCA President