The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. (NIV)

“I commit to engaging in political discourse with speech that’s marked by the fruit of the Spirit," Butler challenges us. But what is speech marked by the fruit of the Spirit? It's words marked by love. It's a joyful way of talking - when was the last time your political conversations were joyful? It's peaceful and patient speech. It is kind and brings good things into the room with you. It's faithful to your God, gentle to those you're speaking to and about, and entirely self-controlled (Gal. 5:22-23).

I don't know about you, but that picture differs from most political conversations I've encountered or been a part of. And perhaps we have become so accustomed to the normal tone of political conversations - cynical, passionate, snide, and cold - that we don't realize the cost such speech has on our hearts.  

‍

Proverbs 12:18 says, "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Are our conversations as of late bringing healing or are they piercing hearts as easily as a sword might?

If the fruits of the Spirit we find in Galatians 5 are the descriptive what of this political commitment (#6 in Butler's list in The Party Crasher), then today's passage from Proverbs perhaps gives us the how. Again, the passage says, "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." Let's look at two aspects of this verse:

First, we must learn to believe that our words have weight. In an age where we can speak words easily through phones, audio messages, and video, and type them just as quickly through text, comments, and posts, how often do we forget that each key struck has the potential to fatally wound or miraculously mend? May we remember this truth as we engage in political discourse - or really any discourse.

Second, engaging in a conversation that brings healing takes time. "A lying tongue lasts only a moment," and it takes but a second for a sword to pierce a heart. Healing, on the other hand, takes a while. Sometimes our quickest words are the most harmful, while words that act as a balm to old wounds are rarely formed apart from careful listening, patient intention, and consistent prayer.  

‍

What if you slowed down your conversations this week? Who do you need to give more care in your words to? Maybe it's your kids or spouse, a friend or a parent. Maybe it IS in a political conversation, where instead of assuming you're right and they're wrong, you need to slow down and take the time to listen more and ask the real, below-the-surface questions. Look once more at the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 and ask God which one - let's start with just one - he's calling you to emphasize in your speech this week.

Heavenly Father, would you guide us into more of you today? Holy Spirit, grow these aspects of your character in us. Teach us to be people whose words carry healing rather than hurt. We want more of YOU in all of our conversations. In Jesus' name, amen.