This Is Me / 这就是我
Dexu Xia
This Is Me
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:10
The powerful song “This Is Me” is an unforgettable show tune featured in The Greatest Showman, the smash movie musical loosely based on the life of P. T. Barnum and his traveling circus. The lyrics, sung by characters in the film who’d suffered verbal taunts and abuse for failing to conform to societal norms, describe words as destructive bullets and knives that leave scars.
The song’s popularity points to how many people bear the invisible, but real, wounds caused by weaponized words.
James understood the potential danger of our words to cause destructive and long-lasting harm, calling the tongue “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). By using this surprisingly strong comparison, James emphasized the urgent need for believers to recognize the immense power of their words. Even more, he highlighted the inconsistency of praising God with one breath and then injuring people who are made in God’s image with the next (vv. 9–10).
The song “This Is Me” similarly challenges the truth of verbal attacks by insisting that we’re all glorious—a truth the Bible affirms. The Bible establishes the unique dignity and beauty of each human being, not because of outward appearance or anything we have done, but because we are each beautifully designed by God—His unique masterpieces (Psalm 139:14). And our words to each other and about each other have the power to reinforce that reassuring reality.
Whose forgiveness might you need to seek for using damaging words? How might you encourage someone today?
Creator God, thank You for creating each of us. Help us to use our words both in praise of You and to encourage the people You expertly designed.
这就是我
颂赞和咒诅从一个口里出来，我的弟兄们，这是不应当的。-雅各书3章10节
电影《大娱乐家》（The Greatest Showman）的歌曲《这就是我》让人无法忘怀。这部轰动一时的音乐剧电影取材自传奇人物巴纳姆（P. T. Barnum）和他的巡回马戏团。剧中人物因未能符合社会规范而遭人辱骂和污蔑，对于这些具破坏性的冷言冷语，他们在歌词中将之描绘成会让人伤痕累累的子弹和匕首。
这首歌极受欢迎，这显示出许多人因攻击性的话语而承受无形但真实的创伤。
雅各明白言语能造成破坏和持久性的伤害，所以他说舌头是“不止息的恶物，满了害死人的毒气”（雅各书3章8节）。雅各用这令人震惊的比喻，强调信徒需明白言语的巨大力量。雅各也更进一步提到，先是用舌头赞美上帝，后又咒诅有上帝形象的人，两者何等矛盾（9-10节）。
《这就是我》的歌词呼吁我们无需畏惧别人言语的攻击，坚信所有人都是荣美的，这合乎圣经的教导。圣经表明每个人都具有独一无二的尊荣和特质，不是因为我们的外貌，也不是我们所做的事，乃因我们每个人都是出自上帝的精心设计，是祂独特的杰作（诗篇139篇14节）。我们对人说的话或对他人的评价都带着力量，能强调这令人感到安慰的事实。
上帝啊，谢谢祢创造了我们每一个人。
帮助我们能用口来赞美祢，也用口来激励那些祢以巧思所创造的人们。
你曾用言语伤害了谁，现在需要向他请求宽恕？
今天你要如何鼓励人呢？