The Word of God and the Words of Prayer

By Father Angelo Artemas

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29

Language can be quite subtle. Most people do not give much thought to minor variations in words or expressions. Yet even the most benign changes in vocabulary can have far reaching effects. For example, those who have been following arguments in the assisted suicide battle may have noticed the use of a new vocabulary. Advocates of assisted suicide do not claim that they are assisting suicide, but that they are hastening death, or providing dignity for the dying. It is interesting how the expression hastening death somehow seems much more positive than the expression assisting suicide. Apparently certain doctors have been quietly assisting suicide for years, without penalty. In New York State, the last time a physician was prosecuted for assisting a suicide was in 1919. But this new vocabulary will quite possibly give birth to more legislation legitimizing what once was underground activity. A simple change in vocabulary has challenged long standing norms and morality.

This is nothing new. Remember when pro-choice advocates were referred to as pro-abortion activists? It is interesting how 23 years of legalized abortion and 30 million aborted babies (sorry, masses of tissue) simply amount to freedom of choice. Remember when the artistic genre of erotica used to be called pornography? Now the United States boasts more pornography outlets that McDonald’s restaurants, and alarming rape and molestation statistics are being overlooked in the name of freedom of artistic expression.

Remember when bad words were called foul language? Now many bad words are simply referred to as slang. Filthy language is being heard in music, on network television, in advertisements, as sporting events, in PG-13 movies, in business meetings, at school, and in the classroom - from teachers! Foul language inevitably leads to incivility and violence, but growing violence is overlooked in the interests of freedom of speech. Remember when Americans used to say please and thank you, and when a service and manners in the work place seemed more conscientious? Remember when your parents insisted that their children call next door neighbors Mister or Miss, and when children didn’t call their teachers by their first names? Is it any surprise that children don’t seem to respect their elders as much - coincidence?

In a effort to sound more sophisticated, to fuel opinions, or to blatantly deceive, many Americans have become entangled in verbal warfare. So far the victims have been American civility and morality, not to mention future generations. Perhaps it is time to be direct. Certain words and expressions are evil, others are deceiving, and yet others are not edifying. America’s current vocabulary is in dire need of honesty, good manners, edification, and especially grace.

A poem by an anonymous author reads, “Be careful of your words, for they become your thoughts. Be careful of your thoughts, for they become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for they become your character. Be careful of your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Thoughts, actions, character, and destiny begin with words. In Genesis and in the creation of the world, God spoke and it was done. Through His Word life was created. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1). The Word of God - Jesus Christ - redeemed creation and opened the Gates of Heaven for all time. The Word is God.

Human words also take on a life of their own. Negative words can harm others and have long-lasting results. Positive words can edify others and also have long-lasting results. Abraham Maslow once said that it takes 8 to 12 positive words to undo the effects of one negative word. But people today seem to have that ratio backwards, uttering 12 negative words for every positive word.

Saint John Chrysostom of the 4th Century urged the faithful not to say the words “Our Father...” in one instance and use foul language in another; for it is with the same mouth and tongue that God is glorified and the devil praised. He urged faithful not to use vile expressions in one instance and then receive the body and blood of Christ in another; for one cannot use the same tongue and lips for such contradictory purposes.

Words are meant to glorify, praise and worship the Creator and His creation. Words are insignificant. They go a long way in determining our character and behavior, and our relationship with the Word of God. Let every word we utter be to the edification of our brothers and sisters, and to the glorification of God.