Words Matter
January 16, 2024
Dear CPC Family,
Have you ever noticed that, for all of their undeniable benefits, easy access to our digital tools (smartphones, social media, etc.) can cause us to become the opposite of James 1:19? The original (and God inspired) verse says this: “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” But our digital world often makes us slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to anger.
Not only does this influence our digital communication, these sinful traits can easily bleed over into all of our communication. Wise Christian communication should be characterized the way the Bible characterizes all godly wisdom: “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
Perhaps you’ve encountered some of the various vocal groups of “very online” pastors and Christian influencers who often seem to operate on the assumption that if you’re not inflammatory, you’re not faithful and you may even be “compromised.”
Many justify this behavior based on perceived threats in the culture or downgrade in the church. I’ve encountered examples of pastors who excuses foolish, harsh, or otherwise offensive speech because they “understand what time it is.” By this they mean that the cultural situation has deteriorated so much that the times require sharp-tongued truth-tellers.
We should seek to understand the cultural crisis of our day but any response must be guided by God’s infallible Word. Here are some of God’s “standing orders” for his servants and the way they communicate:
1 Peter 3:15: “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
2 Timothy 2:24: “And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.”
1 Timothy 3:3: An overseer must be “not violent but gentle.”
Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Notice that all of these were originally written in times of great opposition to the gospel. None of them include any qualifications or conditions based on the cultural climate. Paul Tripp helpfully points out that our words always reveal our hearts. Here’s how he puts it:
“When ruling your heart, the truths of the word of God will never produce cruel mockery, angry accusations, or a willingness to judge motives or assail another’s character. Using words to harm is not the fruit of good theology. Theology that does not produce love is simply bad, God-dishonoring, and unbiblical theology.”
We should hold ourselves—and especially our leaders—to high standard for communication that is bold and faithful and, at the same time, kind and gentle. We do this because our hearts are captured by the glorious and gracious God we serve. Here’s Paul Tripp again:
“If you find pleasure in the battle and you love the kill, it’s probably not God’s glory that’s driving you, because he is slow to anger and lavish in love. If tenderness, gentleness, kindness, patience, and love seem like weakness to you, it’s doubtful that the glory of God is shaping how you act, react, and respond.”
Let’s pray that our words will point our hearers to the glory of God and the love of Jesus Christ!
In the Father’s Love,
Pastor Andrew