The Significance of Language: Why Christians Should Be Mindful Of What They Say
“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” These words, spoken by Ralph Waldo Emerson, reveal the importance of the topic today. If you haven’t guessed yet, the topic is speech or language. When most pastors, Sunday school teachers, or devotionals talk about what we as Christians say, their focus is typically on lying, evil thoughts, encouraging words, and James 3. What I would like to present to you is not a lesson on what we say or how we speak, but rather language itself and how we should be mindful of it.
One reason we should be mindful of language is that God created it. Oliver Wendall Holmes once said, “Language is the blood of the soul, into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.” Now we know from the Bible that blood is life (Levi. 17:11), so Holmes here essentially says that the life of the soul is language. Language, or speech, is something that makes us human. It is something that separates us from animals (along with reason, emotion, etc.). Christians should have a particular reverence and consideration for language because it was created by God. The Bible begins with “And God Said…” (Gen. 1:3), God spoke into existence the universe, including language. I don’t know if God audibly spoke before that time, or if He only internally spoke, but what I do know is that God spoke and it was.
Another reason we should be mindful of language is that God is language. Speaking is action, when you speak it is acting upon what you are thinking. Philosopher and historian Noam Chomsky said, “Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even the interpretation and use of words involves a process of free creation.” John 1:1 tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God is language, just as God is time, love, and power. All these metaphysical constructs that God created during that creation week; He is. Because God is language, we must take special care to use it in an appropriate manner that is honoring to Him.
A third reason we should be mindful of language is that God tells us to be. 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Whatever we do, we are to bring glory to God! I’ve heard many people say to bring glory to God in work, music, watching shows, etc., etc., and that is all good to do, but people don’t often mention bringing glory to God in what we say (outside of cussing, lying, and provocative language). Now, when I would write a paper in college, I would sit at my laptop struggling to figure out what is the correct phrase or even what is the correct word that should be used here. I would take great care in what words I used so that I could receive a better grade. If Christians had that same mindset of thinking about what words we use to receive a better grade from God (having God say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant…”), I think a lot of church splits, family disagreements, shouting matches and just people getting angry would be gone. But often, Christians do not take the time to think about what they are saying and will say whatever is on their mind.
The final reason we should be mindful of language is that God will judge us based on what we say. Matthew 12:36 says, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement.” When we die, it doesn’t matter if we are saved or unsaved, we will give an account for every idle word spoken in our lifetime. The word “idle” in this verse is the Greek word “argos” which means inactive, useless, and leisurely. These are words that we use in everyday conversation or discourse, words that may seem so insignificant. If God did not care how we used language, He would not hold us accountable in such a way. An example of an idle word being judged in current history is the word “a”. In April 2021, the Supreme Court decided a case involving immigration because an individual was given two separate documents regarding a hearing, but the law states that “…served a notice to appear”. The court sided with the plaintiff because the word “a” indicates a single notice, not multiple. While “a” may seem a very technical and insignificant word, God will judge us for every single word, just as He will judge us for every single action (Eccl. 12:14).
Because God created language, because God is language, because God told us to, and because God will judge us, we should be mindful of language. A popular phrase taken from the Spider-Man films applies here. “With great power comes great responsibility.” We have already discussed how language is power because it separates us from the rest of creation, and it gives us the capability the create and act. God has given us the great ability and responsibility to speak, let us not abuse the freedom and power we are given with that ability.