How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
–James 3:6-12 (ESV)

How is my tongue also used to curse? (I’ll be glad when James finally changes the subject.)

My inner nature has a critical streak which sometimes leads me to verbally dress someone down. James reminds me that the “someone” happens also to have been created in His image.

I suppose it’s possible to criticize someone lovingly, meaning with the other person’s welfare truly in mind, but I’m not sure it isn’t most times just a curse in disguise.