“…and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
(Psalm 19:14 NRSV)
Words. Vocabulary.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones; but words
will never hurt me.” Really? Ask that 14-year-old girl at the junior high camp I
directed—the one who clawed her face until it bled because she was teased about
her freckles. Ask me about how I felt when I was called a queer (1957-58--before enlightenment) because I was
smaller and less athletic than most of the boys in my class—and because I was a musician.
In my preaching professor’s office were two
shelves of books about words. One reason his preaching was so effective was
that he carefully chose each word, crafting each sentence and transition. He
taught that words have gender, and texture, and color, and temperature.
Effective public speakers know how to choose
specific words to encourage, to challenge, to inspire, and unfortunately, even
to incite to violence. Words carelessly tossed into the wind can do more harm
than ever intended.
The problem is that in today's house-divided-America
some people (too many), either by intention, or by denial, or simply out of
oblivion, are choosing words precisely that divide and trigger anger, and in
this house divided, in which tensions and anger and partisan animosity already are
overpowering, anger all too quickly erupts into verbal, and/or physical
violence.
Words can be correct and still be manipulated to
mislead and to distort the truth. Some media analysts and wannabe pundits on social
media have become specialists at such strategies of misdirection, denial, and the
exploitation of ignorance. And the further one moves toward the extremes, left
or right, of the political and ideological spectrum, the more intense is the application
of those strategies.
Words can heal. Words can reconcile. Words can
unite. Words can be essential parts of a solution to most human problems. Words
also can be—and too often intentionally are—weaponized and therefore are
precisely a part of any problem of human relationships and interaction.
The words are not the problem. They simply are tools.
The problem is a spiritual one. And at this point, I specifically will be
addressing Christians; although, if any others find my remarks helpful, I am
grateful. Here is the spiritual problem for the Christian: There cannot be
found anywhere in Judeo/Christian Scripture any justification for any behavior—ANY
BEHAVIOR—that results in division and alienation.
Every word of Christian Scripture is focused upon
God’s saving action in Jesus Christ, whose purpose, in his own words, was, “I came that they
may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10 NRSV) How is dropping the “F”
bomb on everyone who holds a different perspective even remotely consistent
with that purpose?
“…in Christ God was reconciling the world
to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the
message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Corinthians 5:19 NRSV) How does calling
liberals “snowflakes” or “libtards”, or calling conservatives “idiots” or “wackos”
promote reconciliation?
“…he has made known
to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth
in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on
earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10 NRSV) The intention is clear[1]: God’s will, God’s plan
for all creation, is unity, harmony, reconciliation. How does the use of derogatory labels promote God’s
will, God’s plan for people who are different in any way from each other?
Words. Vocabulary. Labels. Stereotypes. Choose
yours carefully, because “I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to
give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you
will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 12:36-37 NRSV).
That’s the way it looks through the Flawed Glass
that is my world view.
Together in the Walk,
Jim
[1] In the original language, the underlined
words are one word, ανακεφαλαιωσασθαι (which is a tongue-twister pronounced “ah-nah-keh-fah-lie-oh-sas-thigh”)
which means to recapitulate or to sum up, as in a column of numbers. It also
refers to justifying or reconciling two sets of numbers, as in reconciling one’s
checkbook with the bank statement. I found one secular application to music,
when two or more performers are singing and/or playing different notes or
melodies at the same time—what we would call today, “harmony.” The King James Version
says, “gather together in one,” the RSV says, “to unite all things,” the NIV
says, “to bring unity to all things,” The ERV says, “be joined together…” The
intent becomes clear: unity, reconciliation, harmony describe God’s will and
God’s plan.
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