We may not live in the Wild West, but sometimes we act like it. We become gunslingers, looking to take down our enemy at high noon.
Instead of six-shooters, though, we use words. Words have power. With our words, we can cut people down. With our words, we can damage another. With our words, we can destroy a reputation or even a business.
Words have power. You may have found yourself on the wrong end of someone’s words—what they say to you or about you is terrible and brutal, like looking down the barrel of a .357 Magnum. Perhaps you’ve already faced the destruction that comes from someone’s harsh and hurtful words, and now you’re trying to recover as best you can. Words have power. Choose them wisely.
Too many fail to see how powerful their words are. The tongue can be an ugly thing.
We throw around terms and phrases without thinking about the consequences of those power weapons. In the Army every warfighter has to qualify with their rifle. When we go to the range to shoot, the instructors clearly remind soldiers that they are responsible for knowing where their targets are and what lies beyond. Every time a bullet comes out of the rifle, the soldier is responsible for what happens on the other end.
What would happen if we started treating our words similarly? Stop speaking quickly and think about your intended target and what happens beyond. Where do the words go? Who might the words hit? Human speech has an enormous capacity for harm or for good. Words have power. Choose them wisely. James writes in 1:19-27:
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James isn’t giving us some abstract thoughts here—he’s giving us concrete steps on what we can do to gain control of our mouths, stop tearing people down, and start building people up. It’s not difficult at all–just a couple of things to remember:
- Listen up, shut up, and calm down (let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God).
- We often “listen” while we’re thinking of our subsequent response. So when it is our turn to answer a friend, we frequently say what we want without fully addressing what he said.
- Words have power. Racist words. Sexist words. Slander and gossip. Manipulation. We see examples of powerful words used to hurt and destroy others daily. Sometimes, it’s done in ignorance. Other times, it’s done with the full knowledge of what is being said.
- Human anger may bring vengeance or payback, but it does not bring divine justice. It doesn’t reflect the character of God, nor does it accomplish what God would regard as true righteousness. I’m constantly reminded of Cheri Oteri’s SNL character who told people to “Simma Down Na!”
- No more in one ear out the other (But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves).
- It’s not enough to talk about the power of words—it’s time to start changing how we speak. When we internalize God’s message, He transforms us and our mouths.
- James notes that an untamed tongue is a sign of junk religion—a steaming pile of poo. That’s what I get every time I see a Christian use her mouth to tear down other people.
- Psalm 34:13 says:
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
It’s hard even to imagine our world filled with people who listen first, take their time to respond, and stay calm. But it will never happen if we don’t start to imagine it. Imagine a world where people live out what they say they believe. It means we use our words to build up and not tear down—we actively look to help and support those in need. Christianity is more than about believing the right things. It includes doing the right things. Do right by God. Do right by each other.
Watch your mouth.
Photo by Steven Thompson on Unsplash
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- The Book of James: Surviving the Tough Times - July 19, 2024
Thanks Chris! You hit it out of the park. The church is such a shooting gallery. This is a good reminder for all of us.
Thanks, John. A shooting gallery is a good metaphor…sadly.