Words for church, Words for mission, Words about God.

Words for church, Words for mission, Words about God.

I am passionate about words. A little about words themselves, but mainly for the use of words. Probably a combination of: the in-depth study of the English language I’ve done in the past, and the consciousness and [sometimes troublesome] social awareness I feel; in that I see when words are misused, when context or tones are misjudged and I feel the pain of those words so often.

I am also deeply passionate about encouragement – words of encouragement, and affirmation. For what could be more godly than these types of words? They are words of praise, of love. Of truth. And truth cuts through - as it says in Ephesians 6, it is the sword of truth. This is not just a nice metaphor; you hear words of integrity and of God’s truth shout amongst a cacophony of worldly nonsense. God’s voice is distinctive, it is heard above the crowd – this is how it has power. It is distinctive because it is the truth.

What is it about the prayer that creates desire for an all-encompassing Amen? Because I want my prayers to be those communal acts of worship. It’s not the Marks and Sparks-esque voice of the one who leads it, it is God’s distinctive voice spoken. It is like when a child hears her mother’s voice, his ears open at the recognition of her voice.

Words have immense power, they are both a tool and a weapon.

They can be the most effortless, but significant form of building up community, and building up Godly men and women. In a troubling time, Job’s wise friend Eliphaz reminds him “Your words have comforted those who fell…” Job 4:4 – it’s two-fold: the doubting Job’s faith in himself is restored by the comforting words of Eliphaz.

Moreover, when a compliment isn’t just a compliment, it’s a revelation of character (as Eliphaz’s was) and focuses on the interior, it is no doubt what God knows and loves about that person. As the Lord tells Samuel, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart…” 1 Samuel 16:7. That’s just one of report of God’s good news!

Now, I am regularly challenged by the witness of my words. Because if we take the power of words seriously, in the achievement of good, we have to acknowledge the affect a misused word may have. Out of one phrase our whole attitude can come, equipped with the subtleties of tone, and soon the depths of the ugliness of our heart too can be revealed. Your responses to ‘dangerous discussions’ can utterly shape the way people perceive you. As Jesus says, written in Matthew 15:18, “But what people say with their mouths comes from the way they think; these are the things that make people unclean.” We cannot be perfect, but we can still aim to model Jesus.

People notice positivity. Thankfully that also means that people can notice the joy of the faith within us (even if they don’t connect the two.) Not always do people gather straight away that I’m a Christian, but fairly quickly they notice the hope in me, the joy of life, the optimism; even if they can’t identify why I’m like this. Before my flatmates even knew my fellow flatmate Dave, and I were Christians, they spoke about our ‘endless happy aura’. That I think an exaggeration! But, the subtleties of words, and how you use them to respond to people really speak volumes. Clearly I’ve been ‘happy’ considerably enough for a contrast to be seen. A negativity fast has got one of the hardest, but most rewarding things I’ve done…try it.

Secondly: honesty. How often are words used falsely? Truth shines through - Truth is godly. To be honest with people is to reflect God. To be open with people, to be frank in a way, which is humbling and not aggressive, is unexpected, refreshing, and undeniably godly.

Hear these words of encouragement, that God can give in your words, in your conversations, fleeting exchanges and deeper discussions; and know how little you need to make of words (ineloquent, but intentional), for them to have great impact.