God’s Calling: Jeremiah and Words—Jeremiah 1: 1-10; II Cor. 2: 1-8
I believe we are all familiar with the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Some versions exist as early as 1830, but the exact saying was first recorded in 1862 in The Christian Recorder, a publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Even there it is called an “old” adage. And in a literal way it’s true, words will not physically break your body like someone throwing a big old rock at you. But if we are being totally and completely honest, words can hurt us in very deep and profound ways. Words have a very incredible power over our soul and spirit.
We live in a time where people are not very careful with their words, and we feel at liberty to say whatever we want under the guise of truth or speaking our minds. As I said to a friend years ago, if you give everyone a piece of your mind, eventually you’ll nothing left. It has become common place to hear words that hurt and wound to the core but have no real value.
Snowflake, Nazi, racial slurs like the principal in Fosyth County used, homophobic slurs and phrases, political hate speech from either and both sides of the spectrum, abrupt and angry responses because we’re all living right on the edge of our last nerve…all of this has become the routine of our lives, and none of it has served us for the better. Our words and our phrases—what we say—can be a powerful tool in God’s kingdom or can be vicious weapon when we are unchecked.
Part of the problem is that society believes it’s being prophetic or wise when it says hateful things to one another. But we need only look to Jeremiah, who prophesied for over 40 years to see the difference. He spoke to the Jewish people throughout a long period of time that saw them go from a place of glory to a place of disaster. Jeremiah, unlike many prophetic voices, was fluent in both priestly work and prophetic work. He understood the established order and the call for change better than anyone in Jewish society.
He spoke words of doom and suffering—harsh and bitter words for the people to hear. But there was a purpose. He was calling the people back from a place of sin and destruction to a place of repentance, grace, and proper worship of God and relationships to one another. He talks in the scripture of being too young, too inadequate and inexperienced. But the same God who called him reminds him here that God’s own holy words are placed in Jeremiah’s mouth. God tells Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you…I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations,” in verse 5.
There is the difference between the prophetic word of Jeremiah and the angry words of modern society—that difference is a purpose for the abrupt words. When we speak only to antagonize, tear down, bully, and make our point, we are not speaking the words God has put into our mouth. Any harsh word we speak on God’s behalf should be followed immediately with words that allow for grace, forgiveness, and mercy. For as I John says, if we do not know love and show love, then we certainly do not know God, for God is love. We tend to focus on the misery and doom of Jeremiah’s message, but the whole of his message was not suffering—it was a call to return and be found in God’s love and guidance. Those are the words of power which Jeremiah spoke to the people.
We see the same pattern in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. The church at Corinth had a lot of problems, and I do mean a lot. They were filled with immorality—unholy conduct, sexual behaviors, unholy worship, pagan practices, identity politics because of the church’s diversity, and hatefulness used to fight for position and power within the church structure. Sarcastically, it’s always nice to know some traditions never seem to leave us.
Paul was angry at this church, and he could have easily vented his rage to them. In fact, he alludes to the fact that he doesn’t come in person because of how ugly it would be. Instead, he sends a strongly worded letter. And here he tells them he reproves them out of love, not his anger or spite. The ancients knew that frankness could easily be abused because, as one commentary says, “People have a finite reservoir of goodwill.” And that goodwill runs out quickly when they are verbally bashed and abused.
From this short passage we see how Paul is following Christ. He was wronged. There was someone (or a group) in that church who divided it, who viciously hurt Paul and all of the church at Corinth. Paul could have truly and justifiably lost his temper and let that church have it. But that is not Christ-like. If you want to be like Christ, you have to lay down your right to justifiable rage and revenge and take up the cross of mercy and forgiveness. Our words are only meant to break others insofar as we continue to use our words and abilities to build them back up for their good and for the good of Christ in them.
Look at Paul’s words, “I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.” He goes on to say about the pain and controversy, “It is time to forgive and comfort him [the offender]. So now I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.” Paul, here, is living the Christ-like path he preaches.
You cannot hold grudges and follow Christ. You cannot speak hate speech or hateful words and follow Christ. You cannot speak harshly and without a path to mercy and grace and follow Christ. Creating sin in yourself as a response to a sin done to you is neither healthy nor holy. Jeremiah and Paul both provide the example—a prophetic word which hits hard is designed to restore, to heal, and bring the community or person back to a good relationship with God.
There is a variant on the old adage about sticks and stones. It goes like this: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will last forever.” The Word of God calls us to mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness. The words of the Gospel speak from our lives, our attitudes, and the way we live for Christ in this world. As we consider the power of our words, may the Gospel speak through us those very words of Christ, beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/3252804984935117