The First Repaired Tongue?

It has never been attempted before. But a man in Madrid, Spain has had the first ever tongue and lower jaw transplant.

The 43-year old patient had lost the lower portion of his face due to treatment 11 years earlier from a malignant tumor. The replacement was actually part of a full face transplant. The patient should recover the capacity to speak intelligibly, to swallow, and recover sensitivity in his tongue and his face according to the surgeon who performed the delicate operation.

In the New Testament wisdom book of James, the writer speaks forcefully and at length about the negative effects of a defective tongue. But the tongue referred to there is not the physical organ. It is rather speaking to the words that spew forth from the mouth, frequently containing all manner of vicious and hurtful words.

Beginning in verse 5 of chapter 3, the writer describes in vivid detail the power of words and their massive potential for evil. James records, “See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” He not only shares the destructive potential of man’s tongue but how very difficult it is to prevent or harness its attacks.

Then, too, the seriousness of supposedly worshipping God while directing evil toward others is addressed. “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9-10)

For any who might still wonder how God feels about the quality of the words that exit the mouth need only to consult the Old Testament's wisdom book. Proverbs chapter six makes it abundantly and brutally clear. “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19) A careful consideration of the 7 things that God actually ‘hates’ shows that almost half of the list has to do with using words in some negative way.

While the bulk of teaching on the tongue is found in James chapter three, there is also a brief reference that precedes it back in chapter one. Verse 26-27 read this way. “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

The writer presents there how one’s personal ‘religion’ is simple hypocrisy if the words he or she utters are too false, too negative, or too nasty. The passage reveals that all such activity invalidates any religious exterior or claims. He goes on to reveal what ‘true religion’ really is – namely, involvement in good works (Ephesians 2:10) and progressive sanctification (1 Peter 1:15-16)

The Bible indicates in Philippians 2:11 that someday all will use their tongue to acknowledge who Jesus really is – whether they like it or not, or know Him or not. But for the Christian, Psalm 71:23-24 teaches the proper pattern and the primary purpose for the words that exit their lips.

“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long.”

Receiving a new tongue should be the normal result of receiving a new heart in Jesus Christ!

Bill Breckenridge