For people of the word, whose faith is bound up in books, we often give little credence to words. We say things like talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words, and put your money where your mouth is. Even our patron saint is purported to have said, “Preach the gospel always, and if necessary, use words.” Truly, at times it seems that talk IS cheap, and sometimes it’s viewed as completely worthless. How many of us have clicked on user agreements without ever reading what we agreed to? Apple’s Media Services Terms and Conditions, something anyone using an iPhone must consent to, is just under ten thousand words; this is not counting the numerous links in the text that lead to more terms and conditions.
It’s hard to make the argument that words matter in a world that gives so little value to them. There are several words that have power but little to no value, words that are best left unwritten and unsaid, while the words that should have the most value have been weakened by overuse and/or misuse, or turned into exclamations of disgust. The first word to come to mind is love. Nobody would think it amiss if I were to say, “I love my family, tacos, and Star Wars.” I have a great fondness for tacos and Star Wars, but if pressed, I don’t love them in the same way as I love my family. It would be weird if I did. In the same way, the name of Jesus should fill us with hope and love; it should not be the preface to an insult.
Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil…Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you,” Ephesians 4:25-26, 29-32.
Words matter. What we say matters to ourselves and each other. What words do we subject ourselves to during the course of the day? What are we reading and whom are we hearing, and is it worthy of our time? Are the voices in our lives building others up or tearing them down? We can be angry without denigrating and hurt without verbally lashing out. Imagine having the courage to say, “I AM HURTING!” instead of verbally (or physically) attacking the person/people that hurt us? We talk and write volumes without ever saying anything real about who we are.
And sometimes, we say nothing, which can be worse. Sometimes, rather than pointing out what is wrong, sinful, or evil, we say nothing. In a world where silence equals assent, silence can be deadly. Rather than confront words of hate, violence, or ignorance, we stay silent, because silence is easier than conflict.
Do we believe the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians? Do we believe that we should speak the truth to our neighbors because we are all members of one another? If we do believe that, I have a bit of good news: we don’t have to wonder what truth we are to speak to one another. The greatest truth we have is that we are loved by God, and that in loving one another, we are loving God in return. We know what it means to love God and our neighbor; thankfully, Jesus was very clear about this (see Matthew 25 and Luke 10:25-37). There are so many empty words being thrown about in the world. Let us make the words we write and say count; let us never be ashamed to have the words we write and say be repeated. We are people of the Word. Let us live like it.
The Rev. Jason Shelby
Rector