James 3:1-12
Today James is warning us not to be eager to take a leadership role in the community. Leaders, he suggests, are held to higher standards of truth and accuracy and those standards are hard to meet. Then he goes on to remind us how important truthful speech and kind speech are for everyone. I suspect that like me you heard this advice as a child, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Sometimes nice isn’t honest. Then “Silence is golden.”
I suspect every one of us can remember words we wish we hadn’t spoken, and words spoken to us that hurt like a whip. James is realistic about how often that happens, yet still insistent that we need to be careful what we say and how we say it. We might add, why we say it as well. Those who follow Jesus use words to encourage people, to strengthen our connections and community, and to support those marginalized by power. We care careful about how we phrase our opinions so as to show respect to others, even those we think are quite wrong about stuff. Words matter.
This passage is a good reminder to us to be careful in our own lives. We can refrain from gossip and call out those who want to engage us in hearing untruths about others. We can, in this new time, think twice before we share information on social media, being sure our sources are reliable and we aren’t amplifying false rumors. When we need to confront a wrong or injustice in our family, an organization we belong to, or in government, we can do so kindly. Some actions or policies demand a strong reaction, but kindness is stronger than belittling or cruelty.
A lot has been written and spoken about the way we talk to and about each other in our country right now. We aren’t living up to Jesus’ standards much of the time. We aren’t working to find ways to communicate lovingly across differences, or to reach compromises, or to be truthful. It’s easy to point fingers at “others” who get this wrong, and important to make sure we’re doing our best to engage in careful and thoughtful speech ourselves.
This week the ELCA Council of Bishops confronted the need for honesty in political and other national speech. What they wrote aligns with what James is asking of us and I want to share it with you.
In a perfect garden, created by God for the sake of humanity, evil entered in the form of deception and lies. Christians refer to this story, found in the biblical book of Genesis, as the fall of humanity. This foray into human sin began when Adam and Eve, the first humans created in the image of God, were deceived. Humans have contended with the powers of deception ever since.
Yet we are a people who know and proclaim the power of God at work in the world. We proclaim the power of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, the one who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). We know that the power of truth is greater than the power of deceit.
We, the members of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, speak with one voice to condemn the hateful, deceptive, violent speech that has too readily
found a place in our national discourse. We lament the ways this language has led to hate- fueled action.
We refuse to accept the ongoing normalization of lies and deceit.
We recommit ourselves to speaking the truth and pointing to the one who is truth. We find courage in our collegiality and implore the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well as our partners and friends, to join us as we:
Pledge to be vigilant guardians of truth, refusing to perpetuate lies or half-truths that further corrode the fabric of our society.
Commit to rigorous fact-checking, honoring God’s command to “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Reject the use of humor that normalizes falsehood, remembering that our speech should “always be gracious” (Colossians 4:6).
Boldly advocate for the marginalized and oppressed, emulating Christ’s love for the least among us.
Courageously interrupt hate speech, standing firm in the knowledge that all are created in God’s image.
Lean in with curiosity, engage with those who think differently and “put the best construction on our neighbor’s action” (Luther’s explanation of the Eighth Commandment).
Amplify voices of truth.
Emboldened by the Holy Spirit, may we resist deception and lift up the truth that all members of humanity are created in the image of God.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all as we respond to the Spirit’s invitation into this intentional commitment against deception and for truth.
In Christ,
The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The bishops have outlined several ways in which we can be careful about our speech. We can be careful to speak the best about everyone, even when we are criticizing policies or actions which are hurtful to others. We can condemn a behavior without condemning a person. We can hold politicians and those who advocate for particular candidates to accuracy as they campaign. We can speak truth when someone shares information we know to be false or misleading. We can stand up for immigrants, people of color, those who experience poverty, those who are ill, those who are incarcerated or anyone who can be marginalized by refusing to accept or repeat stereotypes which dehumanize anyone. We can be honest AND kind.
Sometimes the advice that comes from Jesus or the biblical witness seems removed from daily life. This time it applies every day in this moment in history. We can be a force for change, just by being careful about what we say or what we allow others to say without challenge. This one we can put into practice right now. If we work together and support each other, we can do it.