Words that bring life

As I've already discussed on this blog, I believe one of the greatest mysteries to comprehend is the fact that we have been created in the image and likeness of God. Much has been written throughout history as to what the language of 'image and likeness' points to (and there isn't time for that here), but the fact that the same language is used of Adam and his son Seth in Genesis 5:3 (When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.) means that we can at least say that family resemblance is part of the equation.

Such a profound thought can be taken in all sorts of directions, but consider for a moment the fact that we are made in the image of a God who creates the heavens and the earth simply with the words 'Let there be...' It is an understatement to say that the words of God carry enormous weight. His words contain within themselves the very power of life and death.

Not only is this evident at creation, it is also evident in the life of Jesus (and in his ministry of re-creation). Jesus, the 'word made flesh', arrives on the scene speaking the very words of God (Jn 14:24). With a word storms are stilled, people are healed, the oppressed are set free and the dead come to life. As Jesus himself said, 'The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life'. Yet with the same mouth Jesus can curse the fig tree causing it to wither and die. Jesus is never careless with his speech because he knows the weight of his words. As a good Jew he would have known Proverbs 18:21 - The tongue has the power of life and death.

But as the true 'image of God', Jesus doesn't just show us what God is like. He also reveals what true humanity is meant to look like. Our words too carry weight: they can bring life and they can bring death. It's a very scary thought.

Aware of the reality of the power of the tongue, James takes some time out to remind his readers of the desperate need to 'tame the tongue'. He states: 'With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness' (James 3:9). The logic of this statement reminds me of Genesis 9:6 in which killing someone made in the image of God is considered like killing God himself (deicide). Similarly, James seems to suggest that cursing (or bad-mouthing) those made in God's likeness is the same as bad-mouthing God. With the same tongue, we both praise God and we curse him. As people created to reflect God to the world, we therefore either magnify him (and by making him big, enable others to see him more clearly) or we shrink him and make him harder for the world to see.

So words bring life or death. With our words we either bless or curse. I have experienced both. I've had people take me aside to encourage me, and their words have fed my soul. They have enabled to grow in confidence and courage. They have literally brought life. However, I have also experienced people speak words over me that have crushed me in a way that felt like life was taken from me. Even more sadly, I have spoken those words over others.

It's therefore a valid question to ask why God would allow our words to have such power. But I consider that part of the mystery of being made in his image. Though that image has been corrupted and distorted by our sin and independence, we still somehow reflect our maker (though in a significantly diminished way). The world's great need (and hope) is for people to rediscover their true identities as God's image bearers in the world and to start living (and speaking) in such a way that brings life: something that can only happen through dependence on Christ - the one who restores in us God's image.

So as someone in the process of restoration, I've felt challenged to take seriously the pursuit of taming my tongue. I'd rather lay aside bad habits of putting others down to make myself feel temporarily great. I want to start bigging others up. Instead of cursing, I want to start blessing and speaking words of life, because whenever I've encountered God, that's what he's done to me. And after all, I am at least a bit like him!