God is God of language (September 13, 2009)
By Rev. Steve Bagnall

God is a God of language. He creates by speaking. He calls us to faith by His Word. God is a God who speaks. So when He created Adam and Eve in His own image, He created them to speak. God spoke to His newly created children and they spoke back to Him.

The human voice is a gift from God. And in our epistle James reminds us of the power of the human voice. He compares it to the tiny rudder that steers an enormous ocean liner; our voices may be small, but they are mighty. Think of the powerful effect the kind and encouraging words of a teacher or coach; how a child’s whole day – sometimes their whole lives – can be changed by a parent’s simple words, “I love you no matter what.”

Think how much more bearable our troubles can be when a friend speaks – “I’m sorry you’re having such a hard day, but don’t think that you’re alone – I care.” And how often is disaster avoided when a mother calls to her son as he’s about to run into the street? That’s the power our words can have.

But as with every good gift from our Lord, our tongues can be used for good or for evil. We can use our voices to lift up or to tear down; to extend love and truth or to further division and untruth.

I’m sure that with very little effort each one of us can recall a list of times when we’ve been hurt by the words of other people. We remember cruel name-calling from grade school and lies from young adulthood. We remember times when our spouse’s words cut us to the hearts.

Those words really hurt us, didn’t they? But this morning’s question isn’t about how other people use their voices. No, today God wants us to consider ourselves. How do you use your voice? Is your tongue always in the business of building up and reconciling or is it often involved in tearing down and making divisions larger?

And before you answer, remember that God doesn’t deal in loopholes and self-justifications. There’s no such thing as a “sort-of” sin.

We’re to use our tongues to tell the truth. Do you? Do you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Do you give all the information, or just the part that supports your goals? Do you knowingly leave people with a false impression if it’s to your advantage? Then you’re misusing the gift of language. And you‘re sinning.

Do you make ugly accusations against people instead of seeking reconciliation? Do you use God’s gift of your voice to expose the failings of other people, rather than building them up; rather than trying to cover over their mistakes or to help them in their weaknesses?

Do you raise your voice in anger, bullying with volume and force instead of persuading with reasonable words?

Do you tease others either to their faces, or behind their backs? Do you use your voice to call people names, to mock them? Do you use your words to belittle, to hurt someone’s feelings? Or maybe you think it’s ok as long as you’re among like-minded people – telling jokes and using insulting names for those “other” people – people of other political parties or religions, people of other races or whose sinful sexual persuasion is different from your own. It’s not ok – it’s sin.

And remember that just because something you say is true doesn’t mean that you aren’t sinning when you speak it. It isn’t your place to tell a friend that someone else’s husband is lazy – it may be true, but there’s no constructive and loving purpose for it. The motivation is evil, to exult in someone else’s trouble. That’s why God singles out gossip as a sin.

“With [our tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Our sin taints our praise to God, our sin removes the image of God – our most profound gift of creation. We were made to reflect God, uttering beautiful and life-giving words. Instead we make our voices weapons and our ears – created to hear the voice of God— block out the loving Father’s voice.

In our spirit we become like the boy from our gospel. Though our physical voices and ears work fine, the voice and ears of our hearts are broken, blocked by the demon sin within our hearts. What can overcome the power of this misuse of our voices? No weapon and no threat can do it. Only words are that strong.

The only answer is the words, “I repent.” The only answer is the words, “I forgive.” We come to Christ on our knees; liars, verbal abusers, gossips – all of us sinners. We come to Him because we have hurt others and because others have hurt us. “Forgive us, dear Savior. Pour the forgiveness of the cross upon us. Remove our sins and restore our souls.” And the Lord Savior lifts His hand, marked by the nails of the cross where He bore your sin and mine, His hand now glorified in resurrection and He speaks, “I forgive you.”

And we’re restored. Our hearts dance and our voices ring with pure and holy praise for our blessed God. And we turn to one another – and we see that our separation is still there. But now we know how to overcome it. Now we have the words of power. Our divisions, our hurts, our fights, our past sins, all the damage we have done with our words can only be erased with more powerful words. To one another we speak God’s words, we once again reflect God’s image of mercy and forgiveness and love. “I’m sorry.” I forgive you.” And our hearts dance and our voices sing.

But what about when that doesn’t happen. What about when I repent and the other doesn’t forgive. What about when I forgive and the other doesn’t repent? Well, then, my friends, again you are like God, God Who has forgiven the world, Who reaches out to reconcile with the world, a world that will not repent and receive Him. So be like your holy Father. Continue to forgive. Continue to love.

But what about when you don’t reconcile, when you sin again? Then, return to the source, return to Jesus and repent – “Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief.” Christ will again drive this sin from your hearts and open your voice to love.

May God bless our voices to reflect His love and mercy.
Amen.