you said. It’s how you said it.”
My father’s favorite phrase rings hollow in an age of outrage.
In recent weeks, vulgarity has poured out of press conferences, protests, and political rallies alike. A mayor tells federal agents to “get the f--- out” of his city. Protesters scream obscenities at police officers and worshippers. And the president himself publicly uses gestures and language that would have once ended a political career.
F--- has become the go-to word of many politicians trying to show how tough they are. Crass and cruel speech is how we have become accustomed to talking to – and about – those who disagree with us.
The media thinks it makes them sound edgy. Politicians think it makes them sound tough. Protesters believe it is justified in the face of evil.
But there is no justification for it – whether spoken by protesters or our president. The Apostle Paul encourages us to build each other up by “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).
It’s not enough to speak the truth. It’s not enough to be right. God wants us to speak the truth in love – to speak the truth to help and heal, to lovingly confront and correct. And God tells us that those who have been given positions of authority have a higher responsibility.
Even children’s comics understand that. As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “With much power comes much responsibility.”
We need to expect more from our leaders – on both sides of the aisle. We need to expect more from ourselves.
Passion is no excuse for cruelty or cursing. Especially as Christians, we follow the example of our Savior, who stood silently as they spat on him, who blessed when he was cursed, who forgave those who pounded nails into his hands.
Last week, we as a nation remembered Martin Luther King Jr. Though his legacy is complex, Martin Luther King Jr. taught nonviolent protest. He advocated treating others with dignity and respect – even those with whom we disagree. Many today claim to follow in his footsteps but dishonor his memory.
From our president on down, Americans have become accustomed to being rude and disrespectful. We aren’t taking the time to think about what we post on social media. We are forgetting that wisdom is often shown in silence. We aren’t measuring our tone or response.
This has to stop, and it starts with us.
As Christians, crass and cruel words should never come out of our mouths. Our children are watching. The world is watching. We need to hold ourselves and our leaders to a higher standard.
It’s not enough to be right.
Speak the truth in love.
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon. com.
