Edward Bulwer-Lytton was an English play writer in the early 19th century. In 1839, he wrote a play that you have probably never heard of, except for one line. With that one phrase he accomplished what every writer strives to achieve. He penned a statement that will likely live for centuries. Act II, scene II, has these words – “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
The obvious and true meaning of these words is that what is written is more powerful than a military assault. Since the invention of the printing press, this statement has proven true numerous times. Even on a personal level, most of us will recover more quickly from a punch in the eye than from the malicious attack of a critic armed with a pen.
The power of the pen has been enhanced to the point of extreme danger in this day and age that we could appropriately call the communication era. With the advent and growth of the Internet and the abundance of blogs, it seems that virtually every person has been armed with the powerful weapon of words.
In times past, whenever there was a church fight, the only ones involved were the church members, those with the most vested interest. Even though a church split was uncomfortable and typically very destructive, the only ones involved were church members. In their desire not to harm the church, members usually kept such disputes close to the vest.
Along came the Internet and the apparent reality that every person in the country has their own website (probably a slight exaggeration). Not only do people have their own door to the Internet, they like to use it. The result is that often when there is a church fight, church members representing all sides of an issue, race to their computer to post an accusation, description, evaluation, or slanderous comment about others within the church.
First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida, and Two Rivers Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee, have provided some of the most notable examples of how a church dispute becomes a public fiasco. Two good churches have suffered irreparable harm because unhappy members took to the offensive and church leaders had no idea how to respond. It is true that disgruntled people have always offered written critiques. In fact, the American Revolution probably would not have happened without the writings of patriots.
However, because today’s “pens” are so much sharper and powerful, we have a greater responsibility in how we use them. When I post this article, it will have more readers than Ben Franklin ever had with one of his newspapers. My writings will circle the globe in a matter of minutes. That is not because I am such a great writer but because my “pen” is so much more powerful.
Since we have such a powerful weapon at our disposal, we also have a tremendous responsibility to use it carefully. It is easy to tear down. It takes no imagination, integrity, or creativity to destroy a person with our words. It takes courage, compassion, and strong character to use our words to strengthen and support a fellow struggler.
As we read God’s standard for our speech, it is clear that we cannot excuse our harmful words by claiming that we were simply standing for what is right, or defending the defenseless. We have not been called to launch a verbal assault on any person, but instead, to speak in such a way as to “give grace to those who hear.”
Great message! May we be faithful to use our pens to further the Kingdom rather than to tear it down.
Posted by: Richard "Dick" Blair | May 21, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Good article Terry. However, there is another side to this issue. Too often pastors use the term "harming unity" as a weapon itself, one to hide behind when they do not, or cannot defend their actions. The open business of the church environment has been lost, as church staff no longer wish to reveal the inner decisionmaking of the church, especially in regards to compensation. I myself have led many an open budget meeting where every expenditure and salary was laid bare and open for questions. Sure I had to deal with questions, but I never was a critic of those asking the tough questions...just the ones that wanted to silence their speech. I'll never forget one night after being thoroughly grilled by an elderly lady, who was possibly a bit touched in the head, an old deacon came up to me and said "Somebody just needs to shut that blabbermouth up!" I will never forget that. Is that what we prefer to have our church to be like?
Honesty can always stand up to the light, and dishonesty loves the darkness. Yes, people are quick to shoot off sharp written words, as even you and I have had our disagreements. The most unfortunate part of that is not that we disagreed, it is that it is difficult to truly show one's caring and emotion in a written message. I am sure there were many that were terribly offended by the Apostle Paul's criticism of their churches. But aren't we glad he wrote what he did?
Posted by: Steve | May 23, 2009 at 12:16 PM