Words have the ability to build up and tear down. They can inspire and demoralize. They can turn away wrath and also incite the most visceral responses. Words are just one of the many things that separate humanity from animals. They give us the ability to think and express our thoughts; to imagine and create; to expand our understanding; and to direct our sensibilities. They give shape to ideas, fire to our souls, and unction to our actions. Consider the impactful oratory of great statesmen, the poetry of great bards, and the sermons of great preachers. Printed or spoken words carry weight, force, and impact, so they should be chosen carefully with the knowledge that they will carry consequences. Words are organic to our humanity and to the faith of Christians who believe God “spoke” the world into existence (see Genesis 1–2). The Bible is replete with teachings, exhortations, and examples of the power of words. The book of Proverbs alone contains approximately 45 verses speaking to the power of words. In that book, words are inextricably tied to wisdom and understanding. The New Testament book of James refers to the tongue as a fire. The Bible itself is called the “Word of God.” And Jesus is presented as the “Word made flesh” in John’s gospel.
The tone of our language matters a great deal, but I think there is a need for us to consider the technical meaning of words as well. Words are only powerful because they carry meaning—meanings that we agree to as a culture and meanings that make language efficient and effective. We catalog these meanings, learn vocabulary, and use words skillfully. At least, we used to. Today, there is a general sloppiness around language. And it is not simply a matter of becoming less formal. It is dangerous. Dictionaries, which unfortunately have fallen out of favor, have been supplanted by subjectivism and relativism even when it comes to the definitions of terms. This is dangerous. And not so simply because it undoes conformity to a standard, but because it unleashes irresponsibility. I remember learning in school that words carry denotation and connotation. The former refers to the technical definition of a word. The latter is associated with the cultural significance of a given word and the feelings evoked. This is part of the beauty of words. But it means using words on purpose—with a knowledge of what they actually mean and the effect they have.
Consider the looseness with which people are throwing around the word “fascist.” This is a technical term, associated with a particular political philosophy, but also one with historical associations with those who killed millions of Jews, in the most horrific of conditions, simply because they were Jewish. If we allow ourselves to use that term to refer to those we disagree with because it effectively associates them with some of the starkest manifestations of brutality in modern history, we should consider the potential impact of that choice. The term has a very efficient denotation and a very effective connotation. The entire free world decided that those forces of fascism spreading like darkness across the globe in the middle of the last century needed to be stopped at all costs for the good of humanity and the preservation of civilization. Even theologians and pastors found themselves involved in the assassination plots of that time. Consider also the degree to which the word “hate” has overtaken our social, political, and cultural rhetoric today. We refer to people we disagree with as “haters”, those who spread hate and incite hate crimes. At the same time, we hate those we consider hateful. It is not difficult to see that irresponsibility with language is evidence of irresponsibility with our thoughts and emotions.
Finally, consider the word “virulent.” This word adequately describes much of our world today. Technically, this word refers to a dangerous and destructive disease, injury, or poison. It also refers to hateful and violent opposition. The irony here is that the second definition refers to something that has the figurative effect of the first. What we are experiencing as a society today is hateful and violent opposition to those with whom we disagree. This has an injurious impact. A free society requires disagreement without the threat of harm. It requires citizens to act responsibly, both in terms of their actions and their words. Opinion, passion, and conviction should be tempered and used to strengthen a good and free society. This is wisdom, and wisdom is inextricably tied to words. So, we should choose them wisely.
