"Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly." — James 3:1 (NLT)
Ask almost any Christian what James chapter 3 is about, and you'll likely hear the same answer: GET YOUR TONGUE UNDER CONTROL! And they're right.
But before James says a single word about the tongue, he says "Not many of you should become teachers..."
At first glance, the verse feels disconnected, like he changed subjects.
James Isn't Changing the Subject
Imagine you're teaching someone how to handle a loaded firearm. You wouldn't begin by talking about target practice. You would begin by talking about responsibility.
Why? Because the greater the potential impact, good or bad, the greater the responsibility.
That's exactly what James is doing.
Before he discusses the power of words, he reminds us that words are never neutral.
- They shape people.
- They influence lives.
- They form beliefs.
Teachers carry greater accountability because their words don't simply communicate information—they influence how people think about God.
He's establishing a principle:
Influence always carries responsibility.
Now do I wish that the people who post on the internet would take that last sentence seriously? Yes.
- But the reality is, we see peoples lives destroyed with words everyday.
The Warning Isn't About Status
Some have treated it as though James is creating an elite class of Christians who alone can explain Scripture while others avoid teaching altogether because they're afraid of being judged more strictly.
Neither is James' point.
Notice what James says: "...for we who teach…" He's not speaking down to others. He's placing himself under the very standard he's describing.
Biblical leadership has never been about privilege. It's about accountability.
The greater your influence, the greater your responsibility to handle God's truth faithfully.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
When James wrote these words, relatively few people had the opportunity to teach.
Today, almost everyone does. The over saturation of Facebook posts, YouTube videos, Podcasts, Instagram reels, comment sections, group chats and AI-generated devotionals has given millions of people a platform.
Here is a big truth we need to remember. James reminds us that having a platform isn't the same as having wisdom.
We often measure influence by followers, views, or subscribers. James measures influence by accountability.
The question isn't, "How many people are listening to you?"
The question is, "What are you teaching them?"
Every Christian Is Teaching Someone
You may never stand behind a pulpit but that doesn't mean you aren't teaching.
- Parents teach.
- Grandparents teach.
- Small Group leaders teach.
- Youth sponsors teach.
- Friends teach.
- Coworkers teach.
- Even new believers teach others what they think Christianity looks like.
People are constantly learning from our conversations, our attitudes, our priorities, and our responses.
Long before they study our theology, they observe our lives.
That's why James immediately turns to the tongue.
Because words are one of the primary ways influence is expressed.
If our words are careless, our influence will eventually become careless too.
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