Vain Words

“ Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. ”

Talk may be cheap, but worlds are made with the simplicity of speaking. How do we use our mouths? If we are made in the image and likeness of God, and He made us and everything with the word of His mouth, what a power is there in the tongue? And what mischief are we capable of by a mere word and careless expression through vain words.

Yogi Berra, the great Yankee's catcher, was known to turn a phrase. He is credited with the most colorful ironies. For example, he said: “Anyone who is popular is bound to be disliked;” and “Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.” He admitted: “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future;” and expressed how we all have felt, “This is like deja vu all over again.” A sage piece of advice: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it;” and “Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours;” and also “The game ain't over until it's over.” But he protested about his fame in saying strange things, and claims: “I didn't say the things I said.” I, for one, am glad that he did.

St. Paul's 5 th chapter of the Epistle today is a favorite of mine, and I realize he's speaking much about what we say, how we use the power of speech. He admonishes us to imitate God, as His children; not even to speak of evil things: “and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks… Ephes. 5:4 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience… v 6 it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. v12 So then do not be foolish… but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” v17-20 St. Paul's point, among other things, is that we must use our power of speech constructively, as God has always done, for we are now His children, and His children do as He does.

“God said, ‘Let there be light'; and there was light.” Genesis 1:3-31 He spoke, and so it was. That's the power of God's Word. Does such power reside in us? Just start a rumor and see. You can destroy the work of many good people in an afternoon by just planting the right evil word in the ear of someone who will repeat it. Winston Churchill said, “A lie can get half way around the world before the truth gets its pants on.” He ought to know.

Who can assess the damage that was done by St. Peter when he just denied that he knew Jesus three times during His trial? It hurt our Lord so much, He felt it coming hours earlier, and it broke the great saint's heart when Jesus looked over at him at the crowing of dawn's rooster. We can even damn ourselves with words, as Christ instructed us: “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28-29

St. James, in his Epistle, warned that “the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell… James 3:5-6 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.” v 3:8 And Jesus clearly foretold us: “And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36

The proverbs of Solomon say a great deal in this regard. The old king was obviously weary of foolish talk: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence; Proverbs 10:11 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing; 12:18 A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are as a scorching fire; A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.” 16:27-28

We don't have to be heard to do harm. We may simply swear under our breath, at the wheel of our car, and the damage goes out. We really have to understand this kind of power; the cursing of our lips can even kill. But conversely, as St. Paul commends us, our words can also give life. Our praises, songs, words of worship create something wonderful, actually create . Proverbs again says, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

The greatest words we may utter come first from God. We revere the prophets, and what is a prophet but one who repeats what God has told him. Jesus, in His prophetic office, said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” John 8:51 Keeping Christ's word is believing that He has spoken eternal life, and even His words give life to us. When we repeat His words in faith, they can literally give life. St. Paul knew this, and said of his churches “when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe .” 1 Thes. 2:13 The Epistle to the Hebrews begins with a history of God's revelation by speaking to man: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” Hebrews 1:1-2

One day Jesus healed a man who was infested with a devil that made him mute, unable to speak. The devil evidently had a stake in that moment and began provoking others to accuse Jesus of working with the devils in order to heal. Jesus turned the moment into a great teaching about how Satan's kingdom may and may not be destroyed. No one may destroy the works of Satan by conspiring with Satan. At the end of His teaching a woman shouted out a blessing on Christ's mother for His being so good. Not to leave such praise unanswered, He said, “ Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Lk 11:28 Jesus wouldn't denigrate His mother, of course, but wanted us to know that God's family consists not of a chosen number, by accident of birth. We become part of God's family by hearing the word of God and keeping it. Back to St. Paul, we become children of light by walking in the light.

I can't think of all the times I've foolishly opened my mouth and let some idiotic thing out. How often have you wished that you had just kept your trap shut? When we are kids, our insults are pretty direct. We can't think of anything more appropriate than to say, “I hate you.” That hatred fades pretty fast, but the sting of such a statement may last a lot longer. When we grow in age, though not in grace, we learn to hurt others with more subtle speech. Out of pure bitterness, we might define a person with a few choice invectives. Or we may amplify our disdain with a few nevers or always , attached to accused behaviors, in order to trap somebody in how we define their character, their very being.

How would it be for us to start blessing the people we see? “Bless, and curse not.” Rom 12:14 We think we have our reasons for hating, and we do sometimes, but how does evil speech cure the wrong or create a better situation? What a power we have and use so often to simply elevate evil and make good impossible? How about turning the tables on the evil one? How about becoming conscious of his game and giving him no quarter? It takes awareness, and we may have to help each other, remind one another of how we are using words, but make a decision this Lent to use your mouth only to praise, bless, create, ordain God's purpose, sing, express beauty, find reasons to enjoy a person, situation, and moment in time. Could we do it?

The television sitcoms have taught us how to combat one another with words that wound. Can we unlearn that, and be educated again with the power to create a better world, actually improve life on earth while we live? The power of life and death are in our tongues, and must it be said of us that we could cleverly cut somebody to ribbons with a turn of a phrase? Might it better be said that our words healed the wounds of years for someone?

I've found that three little words can change the course of a conversation, end a dispute, give life and hope to somebody who is embattled. What are those three? I love you ? Well, that's always good, if it's true. But how about saying: “ You were right ”? Or, “ You're so smart !” “ You look great .” “ I'm happy to see you .” (That's 5, but let's not be counting).

In the police chaplaincy training, I've learned what to say to an officer who just shot someone. That's a situation none of you may ever face, but I've been given that honor for several officers. You don't say, “ He had it coming ,” or even, “ You did what you had to do.” Those determinations will come from the investigation, sometime in the future. What you tell an officer who's just used his gun on a suspect is, “ I'm so glad you're okay .”

With a word, we can give life or take it away. It takes God inside of us sometimes to know just what words need to arise. Jesus told the disciples they would some day be hauled before judges for their faith. “Do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Matthew 10:19-20 It doesn't take a trial for your life to summon up the word God wishes to speak through you, only the life of someone standing before you who needs the right word to save their world. Use your mouth to speak life to them. Use your words to heal. Use your tongue to praise and uplift God. Use your power of speech to create a world better than what already is.

PFH+