I am a big fan of email as a form of communication. I appreciate a well-crafted email that tells me what I need to know, includes important attachments, and gives me the opportunity to respond in a timely manner. Using email means you don’t have to catch me on the phone at my desk. It means you don’t have to rely on the Pony Express and send me something via mail through the Estes Park Post Office.
I am not such a big fan of social media and texting. Why? People blast out comments on these formats without giving it a second thought. They don’t edit themselves, and the meaning of the message is often misconstrued.
You see, I am in love with language. And I believe words matter. Words have great power. They can convey beauty, spread knowledge, inspire faith. Words can also be weaponized to impugn reputations, destroy self-confidence, start wars.
Biblical scholar Abraham Herschel puts it this way: “Words create worlds.”
As a journalist by trade, I have studied words and spent my life making a living using precise words. I love to read novels. Those words take me to another place and provide me with different views of the world.
I am also one of those rare people who still writes letters and sends cards. There is power in the written word, placed on paper with your own handwriting. Let’s face it. You might save a love letter and read it later for pleasure. Few people save a text or a voicemail.
Words are a particularly human trait. Animals communicate and have their own languages, but they are not using words and creating big ideas, remembering history, and forging the future with them.
I believe that choosing your words carefully is an act of faith. Let me explain.
The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of words.
The first passage that springs to mind is the ending of Psalm 19.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Oh, that we lived speaking or writing like that every day.
C.S. Lewis called Psalm 19, “the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.”
Consider this. The average person speaks more than 7,000 words a day. If you add writing to that, the total may be closer to 10,000 words a day.
Not all those words are going to move mountains. Not all those words are going to spur people to action or change the world. But the simple prayer in Psalm 19 is this: May my words and thoughts pass the acceptability test and bring God joy. May God guard me against speaking in the heat of the moment or without thinking about the impact on the people who are listening.
This takes some brainpower, some self-restraint and forethought, all of which (I am afraid to say) are in short supply in our speeded up, noisy world.
That’s why it’s important to turn to the Bible for inspiration in this regard.
There is this encouragement in Proverbs: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Also famously from Proverbs: “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
In Matthew, Jesus warns, “I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Words matter from the very beginning of the creation story. I recently learned from my daughter, who is a scholar of the Bible, that upon creation, God didn’t just proclaim it “good.” He proclaimed it “tove” in Hebrew which means “as it should be.” That’s a little bit different from just “good.”
In a recent Netflix documentary about Moses, I learned the second time the word “tove” is used in the text is when Moses is born. The deliverer of the Hebrews from Egypt was not only good, but he would also fulfill the purpose for which he was created. As it should be. Wow.
Words can get us into trouble. Make no mistake, we are told unequivocally that “in this world we will have trouble.” But by playing fast and loose with our words, we can create more trouble than we can handle.
Words have so much power, they can change people’s lives. Lies lead to sins which can lead to crimes, which can lead to prison. Fighting words spark wars that can end in death and destruction. Gossip can create despair and ruin someone’s otherwise peaceful life.
Even casual comments can stir up weirdness. People say, “love ya” to people they barely know. That’s watering down an important word.
What about the perfunctory “how are you?” Most times people just say fine and no one really cares about the answer anyway. I think it may be more sincere just to say, “nice to see you.” I don’t need a whole list of your health issues or your financial concerns anyway. I’m just greeting you.
Psychologists say childhood bullying, verbal abuse in domestic relationships, and even word choice by medical professionals can lead to emotional challenges.
Peter is a great example of the hurtful power of lies. Remember the part when he denies knowing Jesus three times?
“Hey, you aren’t one of this man’s disciples, too, are you?” Peter: “I am not.”
“Didn’t I see you in the garden with him? Peter: “Nope.”
And finally, “I don’t know this man you’re taking about.”
In honing down the notion that words matter, it’s important to remember that last words matter. That’s why when I leave for work, I always tell my husband “I love you.” I want that to be the last thing he hears if I never come back.
What are some famous last words?
How about Julius Caesar? You know it. “Et tu, Brute?”
How about Todd Beamer, one of the citizen heroes on Flight 93 during the 9-11 terrorist attack? “Let’s roll.”
Marie Antoinette at the guillotine: “Pardon me, sir. I did not mean to do it.”
Looking at the Bible, let’s run through a few famous last words that will be familiar to you:
Joshua: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
King David: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.”
The last words in the Bible: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.”
Jesus realized the power of last words, too. Dying on the cross, he said, “It is finished.” In other words, the debt of sin had been paid. And “into your hands I commit my spirit.” His sacrifice was a willing one. Powerful.
And the risen Jesus’ last words: “Go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teachingthem to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with youalways, to the very end of the age.” Reassurance.
By grace, we can be given strong last words to pass on. I remember when my mother was dying of cancer in the hospital, way before her time at the age of 70. My son, Travis, her number one grandchild, came to see her. Right before he left, she said to him, “Travis, thank you for your love.” He remembers those words to this day. That was 21 years ago.
When my sister passed away at the age of 51, taking her own life just weeks after a shocking diagnosis of bipolar disorder, one of my best friends came with me to the chapel the night before the funeral. The church had draped her casket in a beautiful tapestry I had never seen before. I told my friend, “Look. That almost seems royal.” He said, “Well, of course. She is the daughter of the King.” Now that’s solace.
Ecclesiastes tells us that there is time to speak and a time to keep silent.
It’s important to note that sometimes silence is better than words. Remember when your mom used to instruct you, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?”
Sometimes there is just no space for words. Like when people are grieving or shocked or seriously ill. Sometimes it’s best to just hold their hand or let them cry on your shoulder.
Sometimes, silence is a mystery, though.
In his final days when Jesus is being brought before the authorities, he often chooses not to use his words. Why?
Jesus did not defend himself before Pilate because, as some scholars write, “The issue at stake was not his innocence, but our guilt. He was willing to be defenseless for the greater good of the salvation of humanity.”
We should claim some of the rich words we find in our Holy Bible. Words we use all the time, but we may not think about what they mean each time. Here are some quick cheats to inspire you the next time we use these words.
Shalom – often translated as “peace.” But Shalom is a much richer word than that. It means completeness, soundness, harmony, tranquility and interestingly…”the way things ought to be.”
How about Hallelujah? Not just praise, but more. “Halal” means to praise, to worship, even to act foolish. “Jah” is God. So, Hallelujah means to praise God, make Him shine, boast in Him, or even go crazy worshiping Him!
The name Jesus comes from “Yeshua,” which means salvation…to deliver…or rescue. Wow. That word matters.
And finally…Amen! I once had a preacher who explained it in modern terms. Amen means “true dat!”
So, let us all cut through the noise of our modern world with its instant, sloppy communication by using well-chosen words. It’s not just an act of conscience. It’s an act of faith. It is “tove.” As it should be.
Amen.
Originally Published: