How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. —James 3:5b-6a

A member of our congregation sent me an email with an attachment from a news source that indicated a Methodist bishop, in light of the burning of a Koran by a non-Methodist pastor, had said he would burn one of our church buildings for every Koran that was burned in America. This member was wondering if this was true. I did a little research and it didn’t take long before I discovered that it was a bishop who said this all right, but a bishop from another denomination.

There are so many stories on the internet these days and I really appreciated that this member thought enough to run it by me in order to determine its veracity. I read some place that a myth on the internet, if not refuted in a couple of days, will become truth. That’s kind of scary.

Once upon a time we used to think, perhaps some of us still do, gossip was something that took place among some squinty-eyed people in a corner whose tongues spread false rumors and kept things stirred up. We tend to forget that the internet (email and texting) in so many ways has replaced this. So, many get sucked into the process not thinking that we may be participating in gossip which is every bit, if not more, as destructive as that which takes place in some corner of the room. James is writing about the power of the tongue. Like a small blaze it can burn down an entire forrest—it can destroy the reputation of one person or the unity and harmony of a congregation. Noting the power of the tongue and how it might be used, James writes later in this chapter: With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God (James 3:9).

With the tongue we can affirm someone or tear them down. With it we can honor our co-workers or cut them up. With it we can speak well of our spouse or bad mouth them to others. With it we can speak about our great congregation or we can pick it and its leadership apart. I have seen churches with the potential for greatness whittle away their gifts and destroy the very things that would have made them great—unity, harmony, and purpose. My brothers and sisters this ought not to be so (James 3:10).

So guard against spreading gossip on the internet, in the workroom, or the narthex of a church. In so doing, we will strengthen others and the Church of Jesus Christ.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, there is much that I need to do today. Grant me the wisdom to discern what may build up those with whom I work or those members of the body of Christ, for it is in His name I pray. Amen.

Mac Hamon,
Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana