By Rev Fr Giles Ngwa Forteh
In a lifetime, every human person who is endowed with the inestimable gift of speech speaks "tons and tons" of words, whose number and nature depend not only on whether or not those who utter them are wise, disciplined or good-willed, but on a vast array of personal and circumstantial factors also.
Whether they be in great numbers or not, what is most important and requires our attention is the fact that every word, good or bad, involves responsibility and that it enters into the register of all the things for which we shall be held accountable "when the tent that houses us on earth is folded up" ( 2 Cor 5:1).
Imagine that the sentence handed down to you at the end of your earthly dwelling depended on the quality and effects of the words that you spoke during your lifetime! The story is told of the destiny of a man who appeared before the judgement throne of God.
When all the details of his life were assembled, the Most High told him that his fate depended on the words he uttered throughout his life, whether they were edifying, soothing and helpful or were destructive, abrasive and hurtful. To the astonishment of this frightened soul, all the words he had ever spoken, aloud and in whispers, appeared before him each one clothed in its effects.
Then all the words were classified according to whether they were helpful or destructive. A hill and a little heap suddenly appeared. Then pointing to the hill, the Most High said, "Those are your wicked words. They go with you into damnation, you wicked servant. You misused my gift of speech. Eighty percent of the words you spoke were abrasive, and brought pain to all who listened to you." Our lack of charity often shows itself through our coarse language, words which hit our neighbours like bullets, and inflict deep wounds.
The Psalmist says of the wicked that they "sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like arrows" (Ps 64:3). Some persons even pride themselves as being capable of insulting others unto death. Words have effects of their own. Just as the kind word confers assurance, encouragement, security, and a sense of belonging, the abrasive and provocative word stifles and antagonises. We hear of people who commit suicide because someone has persistently said disparaging things about them or has verbally provoked them beyond ordinary endurance.
Homes and families have crumbled into ashes over irretrievable words that set them ablaze. Our tongues are potentially destructive and our bitter words are capable of poisoning our minds, our morals, our vision and dreams. In his sermon on the tongue, St James warns us that the tongue is "evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God.
Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth" (Jas 3:8-10). Aware that the use of the foul word could rob the followers of Christ of their Christian dignity and render them vile, St Paul exhorted the Ephesians to watch their language. He said to them: Do not use harmful words in talking. Use only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you… Get rid of bitterness, passion and anger. No more shouting or insults. No more hateful feelings of any sort. (Eph 4:29-31)
Considering what has gone before, we can say that the control of the tongue, so that one speaks only useful and helpful words, is one of the major battles of the Christian life. Each Christian must constantly ask himself: Why do I say what I say, and how does it bring me closer to God? If what I say to or about my neighbour were said to or about me, would I be happy? Wise people always pray for the gift of the "guarded tongue" for they know that one could hardly practise active charity without it. The reckless wagging tongue is very often a pointer to a deeper problem.
The root of the matter is the condition of the heart. Jesus made it known to his disciples that as a tree is known by its fruits, so too is the state of the human heart discernible in the words that a person utters. Make a tree sound and its fruit will be sound; make a tree rotten and its fruit will be rotten. For the tree can be told by it fruit. You brood of vipers, how can your speech be good when you are evil? For words flow out of what fills the heart. Good people draw good things from their store of goodness; bad people draw bad things from their store of badness.
So I tell you this, that for every unfounded word people utter they will answer on judgement day, since it is by your words you will be justified, and by your words condemned. (Mt 12:33-37) To have a clean speech, we must rid our hearts of all bitterness, wickedness, pride, anger, jealousy and avarice, so that our hearts may become centres of peace, praise, goodwill, and thanksgiving. This was one of the subjects of the exhortation of St Paul to the Colossians: And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together in one body. Always be thankful. Let the word of Christ in all its richness, find a home with you.
Teach each other and advise each other in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through him. (Col. 315-17) The advice of St Paul: "What ever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus" should pervade our minds as we go around speaking. Although our tongue-taming will not be achieved in one day, we need to start somewhere with resolution and practice. Our daily prayer should always be: "Lord, may I speak this day in your name; guide and direct my every word."
Before we utter any word, let us ask ourselves the purpose of the utterance, the good to be achieved, the effects it will have on the hearers and on those about whom it is said, and, lastly, whether it is pleasing to God to whom we are all accountable.
Lord, you touched the unclean lips of the prophet Isaiah with live coal and removed his guilt, so that he could speak yours words of mercy and love (Is 6:6-7). Touch our unclean lips, so that what we may will be pleasing to you and helpful to our brothers and sisters, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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