The Lord God Has Given Me a Well-Trained Tongue, That I Might Know How to Speak to The

“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.” (Isaiah 50:4)

The ability to speak—to communicate the thoughts of our hearts in speech—is a wondrous gift. It is the primary vehicle of social interaction, the means by which we enter into communion with other people and they with us.

Human beings are spiritual creatures who yearn for spiritual companionship. But man is not just a spiritual being. He is also a material being who expresses his spiritual nature in a material way through his body. The chief way we do this is through language. “For it is through speech that wisdom becomes known, and knowledge through the tongue’s rejoinder.”(Sirach 4:24) Thus, language is meant to serve spiritual communion.

Unfortunately, man can use his speech for purposes that do not accord with the will of God. In doing so, he not only harms himself but also can bring serious harm to others by lying about them, judging them, damaging their reputation, or humiliating them. St. James describes an abusive tongue in vivid terms: “It exists among our members as a whole universe of malice. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. We use it to say, ‘Praised be the Lord and Father’; then we use it to curse men, though they are made in the likeness of God.” (James 3:6, 8-9)

Scripture instructs us on the proper use of speech. “Let your speech be always gracious and in good taste, and strive to respond properly to all who address you.” (Colossians 4:6) “Say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them.” (Ephesians 4:29) “Let your speech be consistent with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1) On the other hand, “Cursed be gossips and the double-tongued, for they destroy the peace of many.” (Sirach 28:13)

In her teaching, based on Scripture, the Church has identified a number of sins that a man commits through the misuse of speech.

He lies who speaks a falsehood with the intention of deceiving. Jesus condemns lying as the work of the devil: “The father you spring from is the devil, and willingly you carry out his wishes. He brought death to man from the beginning, and has never based himself on truth. Lying speech is his native tongue; he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

He judges rashly with his tongue when he declares the guilt of another based on insufficient evidence. Jesus condemns this behavior when he says, “Stop judging that you may not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)

He commits the sin of detraction when he damages a person’s reputation without the victim’s knowledge, what we commonly call “talking behind one’s back.” This sin becomes one of calumny and libel when the person is also lying. Detraction is especially detestable when its aim is to destroy friendships and trust between people. St. Paul describes detractors in the harshest terms, “One sees in them men without conscience, without loyalty, without affection, without pity.” (Romans 1:31) He commits the sin of contumely when he speaks of a person’s faults or defects in their presence when there is no proportionate reason for doing so, but simply to humiliate the person. Jesus condemns this behavior when he says, “Whoever says to his brother ‘Raqa’ (‘imbecile’) will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” (Matthew 5:22)

He blasphemes who speaks ill of God or misuses His name. In so doing he presents God in a contemptible light thus misleading others about the true nature of God and making it harder for them to believe in Him. Jesus condemns this behavior when he says, “Scandals will inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come. He would be better off thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than giving scandal to one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:1-2)

All of these are sins that should be carefully avoided, for they offend both against justice and charity. They sow seeds of discord rather than harmony. They wound the Body of Christ rather than build it up in love.

What we say—or don’t say—has a profound effect on others and also on ourselves. That is why it is important to be mindful of our speech at all times. God desires of us a well- trained tongue that will rouse the weary and give them hope. He desires us to speak the truth in love, to safeguard the reputation of others, to say the good things that others need to hear, those things that will truly benefit them. At times, He asks us to speak hard truths, especially when we are required to correct someone who is erring, but always with the goal of bringing that person closer to God and the communion of His saints.

And when we have offended with our tongue through any of the sins described above, it is important to acknowledge our offense, to repent of it, to confess it, and to make up for the damage we have done by our careless or vicious speech. In this way, we will be able to fulfill the apostle’s command, “Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

Have a great week!

Father Tappe