by Martha Spong | published on Sep 23, 2024
[Jesus said,] “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:45 (NRSV)
During election seasons, it’s common for airtime to be given to the question of whether particular words are allowable when critiquing public figures. Whether scanning social media or reading an actual, old-fashioned newspaper, everyone has opinions about which words we use. Some words are deemed permissible; some words and images are never acceptable. And some words seem more or less offensive depending on whether we agree with the political position of the person using those words.
I try not to have a double standard, expecting one kind of language when I agree with a person and another when I do not. I want to think the measure I use would be pleasing to Jesus, but maybe I’m really just following the rule laid down by Thumper’s mother in the Disney classic, Bambi: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Nice words are important.
Yet there are times for hard words, too—times when injustice, cruelty, racism, and other bigotry must be named by people of good faith using challenging, even confrontational words. Otherwise “bad” words can serve a good purpose; their strength can shock us into rethinking our assumptions.
Does a word illuminate a situation or accelerate a fight for the sake of disagreement? Are we righteously angry, or simply angry? Are our hard words a product of a “good treasure of the heart?”
Sometimes, yes.
Prayer
Holy Jesus, help me to find good, strong words when they are needed. Amen.
Discussion Questions
When have you put a “bad” word to good use? Have you ever put a “good” word to not-so-good use?
What are your expectations for how people—including how you yourself—critique public figures?
Share a story of when someone’s hard, challenging words prompted you to shift your thinking.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Martha Spong is a UCC pastor, a clergy coach, and editor of The Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle, from The Pilgrim Press. This reflection was originally posted on the United Church of Christ’s website as a Daily Devotional from the StillSpeaking Writers’ Group: https://www.ucc.org/daily-devotional/ and accessed on September 25, 2024. Used with permission.