Fresh Water

A few months ago my wife and I were sitting together watching a show when I made a comment about someone we saw on the screen.  I wish I could remember what I said because Manda's response is something that stuck with me.  She said (and I'm paraphrasing), "Wow, you're really harsh!  When did you become so judgmental?"

I was rocked back by her response because I have always thought of myself as someone who loves equally and reserves judgement.  Now, here I was, being accused - rightly so - of judging someone I didn't even know.

And we do it all the time, don't we?  It's human nature to judge others.  Those who look different, act different, or believe different.  It's also human nature to want to be right.  Therefore, those who aren't like us must be wrong... and so we judge.

Last May, Mike Tyson tweeted this:  

Wow.

The reason I still remember this tweet is because I was struck with a thought when I first saw it.  Here's a guy who's been judged a lot in his life.  He's a public figure who has messed up more than once in front of the whole world.  He's been the punchline of so many jokes and a symbol for the type of person you don't ever want to become.  But here he is reminding himself that others have feelings.  My guess is he's probably a very nice guy.  My guess is he has experienced so many public scenarios where his feelings were hurt that he wants to remember to treat others with respect.

James 3:7-12 says this:

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 
8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, 
and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 
10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. 
Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 
11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 
12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? 
No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

Verse 9 hit me like a ton of bricks this morning.  The tongue sometimes praises God and sometimes curses those made in the image of God.  We are all made in the image of God (Gen. 1), so when I judge someone or curse someone, I am judging or cursing God!

Let me run a quick list of people who are made in the image of God.


You, me, your friends and family, people who are no longer your friends, the homeless person you pass when you leave the store, the person that cut you off on the highway just after that, your favorite politician, your least favorite politician, that person you haven't forgiven, the person who hasn't forgiven you, Tiger Woods, the Kardashians, Michael Vick, Charlie Sheen, the lead singer of Nickelback, Kanye West and Taylor Swift, Bush and Obama, Palin and Pelosi, Tebow and Roethlisberger, and yes, Mike Tyson.


All of us.


When it comes to the words that come out of my mouth, I don't want to curse one of God's unique creations.  Absolutely not.  And not just because my wife is holding me accountable.  And not just because I don't want people to judge me.


Verse 12 ends with a sobering statement.  You can't draw fresh water from a salty spring.


I want to have something good -something pure - to say when I open my mouth.