From Our Pastor, Robert Miller: Choose Your Words Carefully

From Our Pastor, Robert Miller:
Choose Your Words Carefully
I have observed that every four years our country loses its mind. Election year divides our country like nothing else. This past year’s election was the worst I have experienced. The rhetoric on both sides was ratcheted up higher than I have ever seen it. As your pastor, I would like to remind you the way we are to speak to each other according to the Bible -- and especially the teachings of Jesus.
The people in the days of the Hebrew Bible believed that once a word left your mouth, it could never be taken back. I do believe in apologizing for uncalled-for speech, but it would be better if we were more thoughtful about our words before we said them.
Jesus warned that we will be held accountable for “every idle word” (Matthew 12:36). Paul taught, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths” (Ephesians 4:29).
I have diligently tried to keep politics out of the churches I served. It is my firm belief that Christians can agree to disagree about politics and still have fellowship with each other. The only time I allowed myself to get caught up in a political issue was thirty years ago in a suburb of Kansas City. The neighboring town was going to allow a horse racetrack to be built, but the ministerial alliance in that community fought it. So, they decided to bring it to our community. The Kansas City paper put on the front page that the ministerial alliance, nor any ministers, had spoken out about it in our community. I attended an information meeting about the racetrack later that week, and I got up and wanted to go on record as opposing it. Little did I know that would lead to me being the leader and spokesperson for those opposed to the racetrack coming to our community. Fortunately, the Methodist and Presbyterian ministers in town joined me. At one of the rallies, I spoke and made the statement, “We have to fight for our community.” After the meeting, the Methodist Minister got on to me for saying that. His words to me were, “This isn’t a war but a disagreement among neighbors and fellow community members.” I have never forgotten his words, and I have tried to be more mindful of using less divisive language ever since.
It is my prayer that our political leaders will refrain from using such incendiary language. After the past year, it is obvious that there are people on the far left and far right that would like our country to have a civil war. I am afraid if our leaders do not take their rhetoric down a notch, that it may lead to conflict like we haven’t seen since the Civil War.
As Christ followers, it is our calling to be light in darkness. We can show people the better way of faith, hope, and love. We can be examples of how to disagree agreeably. The world needs the church more than ever. We need to be influencing our world and hopefully never bring the worldly ways into the church.