Ending the Vitriol

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

In this world of incivility, anger and curses, we, as children of God Most High, must learn to speak in the opposite spirit.  We must choose to speak life and blessing and hope and joy and peace and love even in the current political climate.

Proverbs 18:21 declares that both death and life are in the power of the tongue.

We are cautioned many times in scripture to guard our tongues. Throughout the ages, we seem to have forgotten the power of our words. We have forgotten the power of our words because we have not regarded the source of that power.

In the beginning, the power of the spoken word was evident when the Lord spoke

into the formless void and created. We are created in His image and in that image is the power to create through the words we choose to speak.

We live in a world where incivility abounds. As children we often chanted, “Sticks

and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” We chanted to hide the fact that words spoken to us had crushed us emotionally. In truth, broken bones heal more quickly than damaged emotions.

The Spirit of God is grieved when our words create pain and anguish for others

and, therefore, for ourselves. Ephesians 4:30-32 directs, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (NKJV)

Proverbs 10:11 reminds us that the “mouth of the righteous is a well of life.” Our

words can heal. (Proverbs 12:18) Our words can bring joy and gladness. (Proverbs

12:25) Our words can impart grace to others. (Ephesians 4:29) Our words allow us to stand in the presence of God. (Psalm 15:3) By our words, we will either be justified or condemned. (Matthew 12:36-37.) Simply put, God is pleased when we choose to create life with our words.

We are encouraged to speak the word of God over ourselves and others so that

we can more fully walk in His image. We can choose to begin each day with the words of the psalmist, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (In spite of what is happening in the world around us.)