Pastor Caleb Gordon: Words matter
Lately, I have been acutely aware of the power of words. Matthew 12:36 has been ringing in my head.
"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken."
This is serious. For it says the way we talk to one another really does matter. It does have an impact on our lives. The words you and I speak to each other can truly set us on one of two paths. If we use words that lack grace and are filled with poison, our path will be extremely tumultuous and filled with potholes.
"But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God" (James 3:8-9).
It doesn’t take much to throw us off course. How many of us have been in a place where we were praising and worshiping God and then, within half a day, we lost our minds on someone because they made us angry? I have.
I’m not trying to justify that kind of behavior. I’m simply stating that God’s Word was proven right. The only one who can tame the tongue is the Holy Spirit. If God does not control our mouths, we will spew restless evil to everyone around us. You don’t have to be a follower of Jesus to recognize this conduct will end badly for everyone involved. On the other hand, if we use words that are seasoned with grace, our path will be fruitful.
"The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body" (Prov. 16:23-24).
You don’t have to cave in your convictions to have gracious speech. When we communicate with the goal of redemption and reconciliation, our talk will sound different. It won’t be a short, quick comeback or hurtful and mean. Rather, it will seek to see men and women find grace and mercy.
Many Christians use their theological intellect in such a way that it sometimes feels like the Miley Cyrus song "Wrecking Ball." We blast into a conversation, tearing down everything, looking to prove ourselves because we have the desire to be right. As blood-bought Christ-followers, our speech and desires should look, feel, and sound totally different. Our desire should not be to “be right” but rather to please the Lord Jesus Christ and bring Him glory alone, for He is the only one who is worthy of such things.
I honestly think we need to change our approach. Scripture says it this way “for you have been bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20). The price that we were bought with is the precious blood of our Mighty Sovereign King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of this, we are to glorify God with our speech. So, therefore, we need to use our words as a skilled surgeon uses a scalpel, with the desire to see healing and people put back together. One can ONLY be put back together and redeemed by the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. When we use the "judicious speech" of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ it brings sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Allow the words you use this holiday season to be filled with grace and humility. Point people to the saving work of Jesus Christ this Christmas and see where God will take us.
Merry Christmas.
Caleb Gordon is a longtime Bartlesville resident and pastor of the First Baptist Church of Cedar Vale, Kansas.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Pastor Caleb Gordon: Words matter
