On Sunday, September 15, the lectionary texts from Proverbs 1:20-33 on wisdom and the Epistle of James 3:1-12 on “the tongue is a fire” spoke powerfully to the worst news story of the week — the lies told about the Haitian refugee community in Springfield, Ohio.
It was also the first time in six months that I was in the pulpit. I asked the pastor in advance if I could preach about Springfield, and the above sermon is the result.
The service turned out to be far more powerful than I could have ever imagined. Having this sermon followed by the hymn, “In the Midst of New Dimensions” was spiritually and theologically gut-wrenching in all the right ways (the hymn is not on my recording). I deeply appreciate the leadership and people of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware, for trusting me — and more importantly, for trusting the Word.
The theological opinions expressed herein are shaped by my conscience. And I am grateful that the congregation received this sermon thoughtfully and heart-fully.
I hope you’ll listen — among others things, this was the first time I’ve ever referred to hell in a sermon!
The sermon was based on my Sunday reflection on the same texts but differs in very important ways.
Because this is a sermon, I carefully followed the legal strictures of no campaigning for particular candidates and no directive to vote in a partisan manner from the pulpit. This is an issue-based sermon on Christian morality regarding wisdom and the power of words. The method and structure was inspired by Karl Barth’s old suggestion that preachers should hold the text in one hand and the newspaper in the other.
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INSPIRATION
Its spice, its ire, its hot desire
Will lure the listeners in
To stoke the blaze of Hades’ fire—
This weasel’s out to win.
Its schmooze tempts snoopers ripe for fun
With tantalizing bait.
Its spill of juice will thrill and stun
With ills that dull and chill the sun
In tales that devastate.
— Susan Jarvis Bryant, from her poem, “Gossip”
SCRIPTURE TEXTS
Proverbs 1:20-33
Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
when panic strikes you like a storm,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel,
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.
For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.”
James 3:1-12
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue — a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Wisdom Cries Out in the Streets...And Nobody is Listening