The Gravity of Words

One

The False and Dangerous Devaluation of Words

In a materialistic culture, we are prone to be exclusively concerned with the body. So when we think of sins, of serious sins, we’re most likely to think of sins of the body. We might even congratulate ourselves by saying, “Look, I’m not the worst guy.  I haven’t cheated on my wife,” or “It’s not like I go around killing people.” Which is good, because obviously sexual sin and murder are really grave sins. But they aren’t the only grave sins.

In fact, when it comes to sins that will keep you out of Heaven, Scripture often includes sins of speech.

Two

The Gravity of Sins of Speech

In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul gives a list of sins that will prevent someone from entering the Kingdom of Heaven, “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, quarreling, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19ff)

Notice things like “quarreling” and “party spirit” are in there?

Party spirit means those who create divisions or factions in the family, Church, or society.

Here’s another list Paul gives, “Do not be deceived: neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Cor 6:9ff).

Notice “revilers,” which means people who mockingly speak ill of others? Revilers are those who spread gossip and dirty laundry. They use their words to tear people down.

St. Paul is putting sins like party spirit, gossip, and quarreling on the same list as sexual perversion, drunkenness, and theft. Which makes it sound like what you say can be a pretty big deal.

Our Lord Himself, in the Sermon on the Mount, says that anyone who calls his brother a fool will be liable to hellfire (Matthew 5:22).

So if Christian morality is about living rightly so as to enter the kingdom of Heaven, we should probably take a long, hard look at the words we use and the way we talk.

Three

James, Speech, and Moral Perfection

We began by saying that in our culture we identify serious sins with those sins we commit with our bodies: violence or sexual sin or drug use and drunkenness. And we often dismiss our words as being of little moral importance. But as a matter of fact, St. James tells us explicitly that the way we talk will guide what we do with our bodies.

He says, “If any one makes no mistakes in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Look at the ships also, although they are so great and driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” (James 3:2-4).

James says that our speech controls and directs our physical behavior, just like a bridle controls and directs a horse or like a rudder directs a ship. Our tongue, he says, determines our moral life. And if we can get our tongues under control, it will make us perfect.

So if you’re struggling with some sin, with envy or resentment or anger or greed or even lust, this is the first question you should ask yourself: How is my speech, how is the way I talk, contributing to this vice?

Four

Sins of Speech and Other Vices

We’ve seen the sins of speech aren’t just grave in themselves, they’re also connected to other grave sins.

So, for instance, if you have a problem with sexual sin, the first thing you should look at is how you’re speaking. How do you speak about the opposite sex? With honor and reverence and admiration? Do you use course language? Do you tell off-color jokes? Are you bringing sexual images to mind, or habituating yourself to treat the human body as something for your personal entertainment? If so, you should probably stop that.

Or what if you feel resentment or envy towards another person? Do you make fun of them or tear them down when they’re not around? Do you often correct them or argue with them when they are around? Do you tend to be reviling and quarrelsome towards that person? If so, stop doing that. 

If there’s a sin and you recognize it, and you really want to stop it, then begin by putting a bridle in your mouth. Figure out the kinds of speech that aren’t helping, and make a resolution to change the way you talk.

Five

God’s Grace and a Good Resolution

At the end of Matthew chapter twelve, Jesus makes one of the strongest statements about the need to govern our speech. He says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter. For by their words will they be justified, and by their words will they be condemned” (Mt. 12:36-37).

So let’s watch ourselves, and let’s watch what we say. When we notice things we say that we shouldn’t, let’s ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to make a good resolution to reform our speech. So that we will be justified, and not condemned, by what we say.