Your Voice

Words have power: Tips for using them well

By Pastor David L. Chancey
davidchancey.com

The Bible warns the tongue “is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire … with it we bless our God and Father, and with it, we curse men …” (James 3:5–10).

This muscle in our mouth has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart, crush a spirit or slander a reputation. Once a word is spoken, it can never be retrieved. That’s why James wrote, “… let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

That’s also why we have to be so very careful with our words — spoken, posted or tweeted. Words either tear down or build up. Wouldn’t we rather be someone who builds people up? Or soothes troubled souls?

Words can bring order to chaos. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Franklin Roosevelt’s steady encouragement during the Depression and World War II. Ronald Reagan speaking after the 1986 Challenger disaster. These speakers built unity during a trying moment and brought people together.

Words may be the most powerful tool available to mankind. How we use our words says a lot about our life. Whether or not our tongue and posts are disciplined says a lot about our spiritual maturity.

Here are some things to think about as we consider using our words:

• Think before you speak or post. If possible, have someone read through your post or tweet and get feedback on your tone or wording. Ask, “Is this post worth losing a friend (or a job) over?”
• We have to learn how to disagree without being angry and hateful. Surely, we can disagree without being disagreeable.
• What comes out of our mouth is determined by what comes into our mind — what are you thinking?
• Holding our tongue until anger passes leads to less regrets.
• Complaining shows lack of gratitude and is totally unproductive.
• Words of encouragement give people the boost they need to overcome obstacles and accomplish their tasks. They fuel confidence. Saying “I believe in you!” and “You can do it!” go a long way towards revitalizing someone.

I recently received a note from a friend who thanked me for sending him a copy of my newest book. He wrote, “Keep your good writing active. You have a good gift for the art.” That made my day!

How can your words make someone’s day today?

EDITOR’S NOTE — David L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia.

There is no point in changing that which does not need to be changed. However, it is a sin not to change or drop methods or traditions that are using up valuable resources, time and money. Practices, methodologies and traditions that are not leading us to accomplish the Great Commission need to be evaluated for transition or relinquishment.

The preservation of anything we consider normal, be it a tradition, methodology or regular practice, can easily become a sin factor in our individual lives and in the church.

Too often in the church and in our daily lives, we choose habit and repetition over biblical principles. Therefore, without realizing it we are turning our backs on God and His guidelines for us. All for the comfort of what’s familiar.

Would we not do well by evaluating between good and God’s best? If every church would honestly evaluate every ministry annually, how much more of God’s best Kingdom-centered ministry could be
accomplished. Is it possible that most churches do not evaluate ministries due to the fear of offending ministry leaders or certain financial givers?

Many of our traditions and regular practices are not necessarily evil. They are simply outdated or they have run their course.

George Yates
Church health strategist
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions

The importance of gathering

I haven’t been to church in over a year. I watch every week, and sometimes I’ll watch two or three services.

But apart from one or two times of going to church when I went to see my parents, I stopped going to church when the pandemic started, and I haven’t started going again.

At first, it was mandatory. Churches weren’t meeting in person. I was watching online and doing what everyone else was doing.

Then, as churches were starting to meet again, I assumed the older generation would be the ones showing up. And I didn’t want to put them in
danger.

While I was cautious, I was still out and about and interacting with others in general. I told myself these outings could put others around me at risk, but the reality was I was more comfortable watching church on TV (or Facebook Live).

And then it just started to be more convenient. I could watch church on any day. It freed up my Sunday morning.

Recently, I went to Knoxville to visit my brother along with my parents.

We went to my brother’s church that Sunday morning and afterwards my dad stressed how important he believes going to church in person really is. And he’s right.

The Bible stresses the importance of gathering with other believers, and where better to do that than at church, worshipping together each week.

While I do think there are a lot of benefits to online church services, I think it caused a hindrance to me when it came to worshipping with others. I felt a disconnect. So I’m ready to get back to going to church with the body of Christ.

Hannah Muñoz
theropetab.com

EDITOR’S NOTE — Read more posts by and for young adults at theropetab.com.

He loves me … He loves me not

We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The fact that God loves you is irrefutable. After all, He gave His Son to die for you. But why does God love you? What is the fountain from which the waters of His healing love flow?

Some are sure God’s love flows from their behavior. If they please Him through clean living, right doctrine and involvement in church, then He loves them.

Others believe God’s love is based on their potential. They say, “God sees what I can become, and He loves me for what I will be!”  How would you feel if someone said, “I can’t love you like you are; however, I will love you because someday you will change.”

We would not rest joyfully in such love. The fountain from which God’s love flows is just one thing: His sovereignty. He can do what He wills; can declare what He pleases, and He has decided to love you. No one can do anything about this. He loves you, and that’s that! Hallelujah!

Bob Adams
Retired SBC pastor
Louisiana

There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.

Corrie ten boom

Though we are familiar enough with the image of Jesus as the Bread of Life that nourishes our dead, darkened and displaced souls, we may forget that it was a meal in a garden in Genesis 3 that set us on our course of death and depravity.

… It was the serpent sharing the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil with Eve and Adam. If they would eat, their “eyes would be opened” (Gen. 3:5). And of course, they did, and thus began our long, dark exile from the presence of God and eternal death.

When the resurrected Lord opened the eyes of Cleopas and his friend in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13–35), Jesus signaled that the long exile was over. The new creation has dawned.

Let us celebrate that in Jesus’ incarnation, His miraculous deeds, His body broken for sinners, and most gloriously in His resurrection, God has provided the healing nourishment all creation longs for.

Bobby Kelly
Professor of religion
Oklahoma Baptist University

We must stop allowing ourselves to be divided into generational and research categories. Instead, we must take the opportunity to learn about the uniqueness of each and cause it to inspire us to unity around the Great Commission. We are the church of Jesus Christ which is made of all generations! From children to students to young adults to married adults to senior adults, we need and want all generations. It will take all generations to reach the people across the globe.

Ronnie Floyd
President and CEO
SBC Executive Committee

It’s natural for us to divide our financial loyalties between what we owe in taxes and what we can keep for ourselves. But for a Christian, the Bible makes it clear everything we have is from God anyway. Our money included. The charge to us is to seek how we can do the most good with what we have been given in this world and in the world to come.

Jim Denison
Pastor, author and co-founder of Denison Forum

From the Twitterverse

@scottdawson
If we ever get over the resurrection we will get over our salvation. Live in the Hope of the resurrection; Love in the light of the resurrection; Learn in the fact of the resurrection Easter is everyday!

@phillipmholmes
Apostasy can reveal itself in more ways than just the scandalous sins. Unrepentant gossip, slander and half-truths can expose those who claim to know Jesus but truly don’t. Watch your LIFE and doctrine.

@timkellernyc
Justice is to give all human beings their due as creations of God.

@SpurgeonBooks
“We owe our conversion neither to the reasoning of logic, nor to the eloquence of the preacher, neither to our natural betterness, nor to our personal efforts; we are the children of God’s power according to the promise.” —Charles Spurgeon

@jt_english
What does it look like to be a great commission and a great commandment church? To get as many people in the kingdom as possible. And to get the kingdom in as many people as possible.

@RebeccMcLaugh
In many churches, the pastor in the pulpit is the most theologically educated member and the granny/older auntie in the pew is the most spiritually formed. Let’s be sure we’re learning from both.

@griffingulledge
“Every New Testament doctrine has an Old Testament picture.” —@DrRobertSmithJr

Such a simple rule for Bible reading and teaching, but so profound at the same time.

@trillianewbell
Been thinking about this…Our problem is we have “Jesus is my everything” in our profile and “I hate everyone” on our timelines. But we have a choice. Today. Every day. We can be light in this dark world. Let’s not forget what we proclaimed yesterday (Easter).

@brocraigc
God heals. God restores. God redeems.

@SamAllberry
Looking at Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners: Jesus did not have to affirm people to be with them. He didn’t have to exclude people to disagree with them.