A Matter of Life and Death
Something awful happened today.
As I scrolled through email over breakfast, a post on a familiar “neighborhood” app caught my eye. It recounted news of an armed robbery which had occurred the day before - just a mile from my home. To my dismay, the address listed was the home of a very dear friend. I immediately texted her to make sure she and her family were okay.
While I waited to hear back, I scrolled through the growing number of responses to the post. While he had not started the post, my friend’s husband decided to try and dispel some of the baseless speculation being bandied about. He described how, while taking a nap on a sunny Sunday afternoon, he was woken by two young men brandishing a gun in his face. Fortunately, my friend and her son had just left the house and he was alone. His calm response to the situation meant no-one was harmed, although the thieves absconded with some electronics and other valuables.
While the news of the robbery was distressing, what I found even more disturbing was the barrage of hateful, dismissive, disdainful and insensitive remarks on the thread. As the day wore on, the posts grew more and more acrimonious. People threw verbal mud at each other, including at my friend’s husband – who, bear in mind, had just had his home invaded and been threatened with a Glock. I was shocked and disgusted at the lack of sensitivity of these strangers who got caught up in their own agendas and perspectives they apparently felt compelled to share. Would they feel the same if it had been their home and personal safety which had just been violated?
“In recent years the weapon of choice has become words. ”
Which gets me to my point. In recent years the weapon of choice has become words. It seems nowhere is safe. The app where this particular battle was fought is meant to foster community and neighborliness. Instead, even the most inane post can somehow become a slinging match.
As surely as a viral pandemic has ravaged our world, a much more virulent pandemic - one called “hate and strife” - has been undermining the health of our society unchecked and with almost complete disregard.
Someone once said to me, “I know words are very important to you, Mel.” At the time, I thought it was a strange comment – but now I realize she was right. Words are very important. They are a matter of life and death.
“ To God, words are sacred. ”
To God, words are sacred. “The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
In Genesis chapter 1 God literally spoke the world into being. “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (Gen 1:3 NIV)
Words are so Holy that Jesus is called the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NIV).
Proverbs 18:21 says “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (NIV)
Words create atmospheres; and can destroy lives and reputations. They can be legally binding and establish lasting covenants. Words lift up and encourage, or they can tear down and demolish. Words can cause enormous pain or bring untold joy.
We have watched as people use words to wage war against people they don’t know because they share different philosophical, religious or political views. Conversely, we recently celebrated as a young poet used words to poignantly capture the turmoil of the time and the hope of a nation.
In the heat of an argument, words that wound can come too easily. And when we most need to speak words of healing it seems so hard to do.
“Fortunately, unlike COVID-19, there is a cure for this virus. It is called love. ”
There is a scripture so well-known almost everyone has probably heard it at least once. 1 Corinthians 13 is the “love” chapter. It’s been read at countless weddings and is held as the gold standard of what love should be.
““Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” ”
The love described here is more than the gold standard. It is the God standard. We cannot achieve it without knowing and being imbued with His love.
So, I end my day with a prayer. That every person who reads this will ponder these verses and allow the power of the Word of God to change their life, so we can exemplify the type of love described in 1 Corinthians 13. That love would inform our words. And when the temptation comes to throw words away carelessly, or aim them as arrows, we will hit the pause button and choose life. Amen.
