Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Words and Judgment

 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.H



[i] Matt. 5:22

[ii] Britannica, “Tower of Babel”

[iii] https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/raca/

[iv] Col 4:6

[v] James 3:8-9

[vi] Luke 6:45

[vii] Prov. 15:1-2

[viii] Gal. 5:22-23