This post is written by Mike Brooks and is published as a companion to Unit 6, Session 1 of The Gospel Project for Adults Vol. 2 (Winter 2021-22): From Captivity to the Wilderness.
Words are powerful. They can build up or tear down, liberate or stifle, comfort or damage. Words can communicate hope, healing, and restoration, or they can project displeasure, discontent, and gloom. Words can win and lose political elections, start and end wars, build careers and reputations and demolish them in one fell swoop. It is no wonder that the apostles James and Paul instructed us to “control our tongues” (James 1:26) and to “let no foul language come from our mouths” (Eph. 4:29).
The “trickle-down” effect of our words can be both positive and negative. Individuals can be encouraged and uplifted by the actions, words, and attitudes of others, or they can be disheartened. In Numbers 14:1-4, the latter is the case for the Israelites. Their leaders have returned with a pessimistic report about the promise land before them, and the people succumb to fear and worry upon hearing it. Their anxiety blossoms into full-on sin against God and the leaders he set in place over them. Further, they convince themselves that they know better than God.
The Israelites’ response is lamentable; the pessimistic spies are culpable for it. Partly because they did not wield their influence and words wisely, a whole nation turned in rebellion, away from God.
Today, we can decide how we will wield our influence and our words in the presence of others. Whether on social media, or in the office place, or at home, our words have power and they can be used for good or ill.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:29: “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” Think of Paul’s instructions in three parts, one negative and two positive: (1) no foul language (2) building others up (3) do it in such a way that your words give grace to those who hear them.
This is entirely counter-cultural in our present day and age. How differently do conversations go if both parties are adamant that the other side receives grace through the discourse? How bright are our days when we walk into situations intent on building someone up before we take our leave? What if holiness, as a characteristic of a devout Christian life, extended into our vocabulary, in addition to what we do or choose not to do?
The stakes are incredibly high. For the believer, care with one’s words goes a long way toward making the path straight for the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Ready to heed the wisdom gleaned from the Israelites’ plight and Paul’s instruction? Here are two things you can do today to begin turning the tide with your words:
(1) Read Scripture out loud.
For many people, the reason it feels awkward or a bit out of character to talk about spiritual things in public is because they rarely talk about spiritual matters in private. Begin simply by taking your regular Bible reading and reading passages aloud, letting the spoken Word of God wash over your soul as it spills from your lips.
(2) Encourage a friend within your local church community.
This is perhaps the easiest habit to set in place—all it takes is a quick phone call or text message. Think for a moment how you feel when a random word of encouragement from a friend pops up on your phone screen. The sheer thought that someone is thinking of you is enough, but the content seals the deal. Remind a friend from church of the truth of the gospel and let them know how much they encourage you in your walk with Christ.
(3) Engage in a conversation with an unchurched person.
It is easy to wall yourself off in order to remain comfortable and away from difficult conversations, but you have been called to more. Think back to when you first heard the gospel. More than likely it was because someone took a chance, whether through a sermon, class lesson, or personal conversation, to share the good news with you. Now, you are afforded every opportunity to keep the line going.
It is estimated that we speak roughly 30,000 words over the course of a given day. Imagine the effect the church could have within the culture at large if even a fraction of those words were expressly given to encouragement, building one another up, and sharing the good news that Christ came, died, was buried, and rose again.
Mike Brooks serves as associate editor of For the Church at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently a PhD student in Historical Theology at MBTS and a member at Emmaus Church. Mike and his wife, Paige, reside in Kansas City.
