Rev.
Stephen E. Stults
St.
Paul’s Anglican Church
July
7, 2024
“…whosoever shall say,
Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire.”[i]
Words have
power. Perhaps this is an obvious
statement, yet it is true. Words send
men to war. Words inspire people to do great things. Words have founded cities,
launched revolutions, and caused people to accomplish things they never thought
possible. Words trigger thought and thought triggers action.
Words do
other things as well. They also reveal
our thoughts, our feelings and even our motivations. This applies to most people, except for that
special class of people called politicians, who have learned how to say the
exact opposite of what they are thinking, and what may be the truth. In short, they have learned to lie
convincingly.
For most of
us, however, we usually say what we mean, most of the time. There are
exceptions, of course, like when we tell a so-called “white lie” to safeguard
someone’s feelings, or perhaps to avoid
doing something we do not want to do. Like times we may have pleaded ignorance,
when we actually know more than we admit, or when we have said we have a
commitment to avoid appearing somewhere we’d rather not.
Words and
languages in general, are gifts from God.
We are blessed to be able to communicate one with another, although
there are a multiplicity of languages.
At one time,
this was not true. According to Genesis
11, in early history, mankind had one language.
This one language led to a high degree of unity, for the people
concocted a plan to build a great tower “whose top may reach unto heaven…” They
wanted to magnify themselves, even above God; thus their hubris had no
limit. As we see consistently throughout
human history, man always wants to be his own God. One source says: “The Tower
of Babel narrative conveys important messages about human
pride, disobedience, and the consequences of challenging divine authority. It
teaches humility and emphasizes the need for obedience to God's will rather
than pursuing self-glorification and independence.”[ii] Well said, indeed. Without being unduly negative, it could be
said that the history of mankind in regards to God is a history of disobedience. So it seems.
What does God think
about negative language? Judging by the
tenor of today’s Gospel selection, not very well. Thinking about the power of
words, consider this: “The word “Raca” means a worthless, empty headed man; a
brainless idiot, foolish, witless.”[iii] Jesus
said calling someone this name could incur civil judgment. Yet, calling someone
“Thou fool” could put one in danger of eternal judgement and punishment. Considering the rather popular use of this
word today among some people, it must give us pause as to its severity.
Thus, words have consequences. Reading our Gospel selection certainly gives
one pause. Does this mean that we are accountable for every casual or stray
word that comes out of our mouth? It
would seem so. Thus, St. Paul cautions
us: “Let your speech be
alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to
answer every man.”[iv]
St. James also warns us: “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the
Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.”[v]
Not only should we
be on guard for statements and words, we must monitor our internal state that
produces such words. Did not Christ tell
us: ”… for of the abundance of the heart his mouth
speaketh”?[vi] Obviously, when we speak evil of someone,
there is a reason for it in our heart.
Is it envy? Hatred? Disapproval? Judgment? What is the reason we speak?
During the solemn ceremony
called Extreme Unction, or Last Rites, The priest is preparing the soul for departure
into eternity. As part of this process,
the priest anoints various body parts and prays for absolution for any sins
committed or aided by that member. One
is the lips, where the priest prays that the departing soul may be forgiven for
any sins done by speaking or tasting. How appropriate…
On the other hand, what
happens when we utter good words? Is it
possible to leave a blessing? The very
word “benediction” is quite literally translated as “good speaking.” So, the answer is yes.
The Book of Proverbs tells us
that: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise useth
knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”[vii]
Just so. Our gift of language can build
up or it can destroy. It can enlighten or it can denigrate. It can cause
feelings of great joy or it can cause feelings of great grief. The choice is up to us. Will we be trumpets of joy, or will we be
drums of doom? Will we be known as spreading grace through our speech or will we
merely leave blasted patches along our path, caused by our negative talk?
Again, the choice is up to us.
A healthy spiritual condition
produces speech that pleases God. As with all things good, we cannot generate
the grace to do it ourselves. As history attests again and again, our own
devices produce less-than-desirable fruit.
Instead, let us pray that we
produce fruits, “worthy of repentance”, yes, but also the peaceable fruit of
the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law.” [viii]
If we, through our speech,
show evidence of such fruits, how blessed shall we be?
In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
