Denise Whitfield
Director of Christian Education
Word Power
There is, in these days, an avalanche of words like we have never seen or read before. We can text, blog, tweet, email, FaceTime, Snapchat, DM, and call. Television provides running commentary 24/7 on every event. Words pour forth carelessly—untested, unproven, uncensored, unhelpful. Present day modes of communication exceed what some of us saw in the futuristic, imaginative portrayals in the movies, TV shows, and comics of our youth. What was once considered fantastic, has become reality. It wasn’t all that long ago that progress was experienced in party phone lines, telegrams, and a single family radio. The sheer volume of the use of words should be enough to cause us to pause because the Word of God tells us: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). Today, more people are speaking . . .more are listening . . . more are not wise.
The breadth of our potential listening audience has increased to include the whole globe. News travels faster and farther than ever before. It is estimated about 4.6 billion people, or a little over half of the world’s population, is online. Internet usage in the United States is at 81%. Seventy-nine percent of Americans use Facebook. Twitter has grown to the point that 145 million use the service on a daily basis, yet users spend only an average 3.39 minutes per session on the social networking platform. Within moments of having a thought, many are quick to catapult those thoughts into words and throw them into cyberspace. A better option would have been to have taken those thoughts “captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The power of our words is one manner in which we bear God’s image. While our words lack the power to instantly create galaxies within a universe, the Word tells us clearly that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Our words can create or destroy.
Today’s national experiences and political climate present followers of Jesus with many opportunities to use our words in contrast with the world’s thoughtless approach. Instead of reckless verbal thrusts that pierce like a sword, we ought to communicate with careful manipulation of our language, like a doctor with a scalpel performing surgery. Our words can be a tool for harm or for healing. We can choose to be more interested in understanding than being understood, in listening than being listened to, and in reconciliation than reprisal.
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18
“The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” Proverbs 26:4
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt,
so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Colossians 4:6