As I was driving home recently, I listened to a radio program with two political candidates having a debate. One of the candidates had a very condescending tone and added a mean personal attack with almost every reply. As the debate continued, the other candidate seemed forced to ‘return-fire’ with his own sharp, personal jabs at the other man’s character and family. I changed the station when it became apparent that neither person was interested in a useful discussion of the local voting issues. They wanted only to slam each other with insults.
As I thought more about this sad display from our public servants, I realized that most of our daily media is infected with this style of communication. The cable news channels are solely interested in attacking one side of the political spectrum by repeating all the harsh statements of the day. A large percentage of social media posts tend to be negative and focus on “hitting others with words”. There are many famous people that have made short, nasty tweets into an art form (but I won’t list his name here).
So where does this love of rough and tough talk leave us as Christians? How can we be a light in a world of dark places (Matthew 5:16)? King Solomon who wrote much of the Book of Proverbs has many wise concepts about our use of words. Proverbs 15:1 might be the most well-known verse about the effect of words: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
We have all learned this lesson from both sides of the verbal equation. When someone hits us with a verbal jab, we have a choice to make. We can return verbal fire with equal force, or we can reply with a kind word and simmer down the tone of the discourse. We make that choice! Our desire to show the love of Christ to the world should give us the determination to offer that soft answer at just the right time.
Did you know that gentle, kind, and loving words can do far more than simply provide temporary optimism? Paul writes in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Paul says that our words can give grace to those who hear. Grace is defined as ‘God’s unmerited favor.’ Our words can communicate our own love and concern, but they can also reveal God’s love and grace to others. What greater measure of grace can we give than sharing the good news that Jesus offers complete forgiveness of sin to all who believe in him? Only the gospel has the power to actually change a person’s heart (Romans 1:16).
All humans desire to be treated with respect and to feel love from others. And our words have the ability to harm or heal. Proverbs 15:4 reads, “A gentle tongueis a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks thespirit.” The power of the gospel in our life is the only way for us to replace our human responses with godly responses to others. The question is, will we be a tree of life to others? Will we offer a thoughtful thank-you, a soothing word of encouragement, or an expression of empathy to someone who needs it? And will we share the incredible news of Jesus Christ?
The gospel, proclaimed with words and demonstrated with good deeds, is the very means by which we can share the the love of Christ to others. Look for an opportunity this week to drop an unexpected kind word on another person and see what God can do with your “Good Words”.