Empty Words

Whether you understand it or not, your faith speaks aloud to those around you. There is a reason the old saying is, “Actions speak louder than words.” It rarely matters what we believe if our actions are not generated from that belief. If our words have no meaning, they are of no benefit to those who may be listening.

Brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will any one know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves; if you in a tongue utter speech that is not intelligible, how will any one know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning; but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves; since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can any one in the position of an outsider say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may give thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all; nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1^st Corinthians 14.6-19

It can sometimes feel like we ‘have’ to get our voice ‘out there’ in the marketplace of ideas. The news feed on our social media, cable news, even print newspaper (remember the daily newspaper delivered to your home?) are all examples of words. Words are consumed every day by everyone. It is natural to want to include our two cents.

The problem is, most of the time, our words are without meaning. Maybe we don’t know what we think we know. Maybe we are just regurgitating someone else’s words we heard the day before. If our words are ignored, it is more likely than not because they are empty.

Empty words are the words we speak without action. We talk about dignity but do not offer it to others. We talk about tolerance while being intolerant. We preach love with hate in our hearts. The conflict between our words and our actions cannot be hidden.

In today’s reading from Saint Paul, we are reminded that our words must be edifying to those who are listening. This goes far beyond the inside of the Church, although he is specifically speaking about worship in this passage. The concept of ‘wanting’ to be heard and thought of as wise, drives us to spend most of our time using empty words.

Next time you want to debate the truth of the Church, ask yourself if you just want to be heard. Ask yourself if you actually understand the topic. Ask yourself if your words are edifying or just adding fuel to the fire. Ask yourself if your words are followed by your actions?