Words

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about words. About the power of the words we speak. About why we say the things we say.

God has been working on my heart to show me the damaging power of voicing complaints, of criticizing others, of speaking words that tear down instead of lift up.

The Bible has a lot to say about our words. Here is some of the scripture that's prompted my introspection:

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless." James 1:26

That last one really gets me. It means that those of us who call ourselves Christians but can't control our words or don't think we should have to practice a worthless religion. The negative words from our mouths anger God so much that he sees the rest of our actions and good intentions as meaningless. Whoa! That's powerful.

Since I've had this on my heart, my eyes have been opened to the negative things that come out of my mouth and the mouths of the people around me. Things like complaining about having to pick up after someone else, criticizing the parenting tactics of others, posting opinionated or inflammatory remarks on Facebook, making fun of someone for being overweight, ripping the halftime show of the Super Bowl, making fun of the religious or political beliefs of someone else or criticizing the leadership of others all stand out to me now as behaviors I want no part of. I don't want to practice a worthless religion.

For Christians, the Bible clearly teaches us that just because we have a thought or opinion, we don't have the right to state it out loud if it tears down those who hear it. We are only to speak words that "are helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." And when we have negative or critical thoughts, we need to make them obedient to God and pray for compassion and grace in our heart instead of haughtiness and pride.

I've been trying this for the last few weeks, and it's hard. Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle, that it's simply human nature to give voice to our complaints and negative observations, that there's no way I can even go one afternoon without saying something critical, let alone make that a way of life. But, I believe in Christ's word, and He says that I can do all things through the power of the Holy Spirit. I can transform my heart and my words over time, and I will practice a religion that brings Him honor.

Now, if you don't believe in God and therefore, logically, don't feel convicted by scripture, I want to encourage you to at least examine why you say the things you say. Do you criticize the work of others because you know for a fact you could do it better? Do you ridicule the beliefs of others because you're so certain that you are right and they are wrong? Or do you make fun of someone else because you honestly think you're superior to them?

I'd like to think that most people don't really feel that way. That they respond negatively or critically because they've been hurt or offended in the past, and therefore don't realize that the intolerance they show for others makes them just as reprehensible. But it does.

Either way, I invite you to ponder your words and your motivation for speaking them along with me, and I leave you with this Proverb:

"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." -Proverbs 10:19