Notes on “Defining Words”

Introduction

This week we begin our new worship series “The Power of Words.”

This Sunday we will discuss the importance of clear definitions as the foundation of any successful conversation, and the importance of curiosity in the pursuit of true connection and belonging.

Illustration Video 1

Here is a video by Dr. Donald Hoffman, Professor of Cognitive Science at the University of California, Irvine. In this video he tells us why clear definitions are so important to conversations – especially conversations with abstract concepts.

Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV)

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

This text from Ephesians is the foundational text for the “The Power of Words” worship series. Right away, this short text requires us to ask some clarifying questions! Let’s ask for a simple definition and see how it changes our approach to the scripture.

Question:

1. What does “evil” mean in this scripture?
   • When we define “evil” today, we assign it a moral value. We assume it to be a quality that is essentially immoral – it was never good, and never can be good. We may disagree on what is moral or immoral, good or bad. Those terms are too abstract for us to be in complete agreement.
   • None of us would define ourselves as “evil”, so we are not likely to believe anything that comes from us, including our words, is likely to be evil. We may be tempted to assume this text does not apply to us because we’re “not that bad (i.e. evil)!”
   • The original Greek word used in this text comes from “sapros”, meaning “rotten, putrefied, corrupted, no longer good for use, worthless. The definition of “sapros” implies the object of this adjective was once ripe, uncorrupted, and useful. This definition makes it clear that our words can be fruitful and beneficial, or they can turn bitter and deadly. That is something we can all agree on. We are much more likely to apply this text to our lives when we clearly define what we mean by “evil” in this scripture.

Illustration Video 2

After we define our terms, we must seek understanding through the power of curiosity. Check out this video by the consulting group C12:

Let’s ask one more simple question about this text and determine how the answer changes our understanding of the scripture:

Question:

1. Why did the Apostle Paul write these words to the church in Ephesus?
   • The church in Ephesus was one of many churches with brand new Jesus followers trying to learn how to live and serve in community.
   • Many people in this church came from competitive cultures based on honor and shame. They were accustomed to defending their honor through verbal and physical violence.
   • As a wordsmith himself, Paul understood the power of words. He had once used words to condemn Jesus followers to death. He had also used his words to spread the Gospel of Jesus.
   • Paul wrote this letter from prison. Words had recently been used to strip him of his liberty and freedom.
2. The four answers to the simple “why” question above provide us with important insights. Based on the answers, is it reasonable to conclude that Paul considered words to be the arbiters of life and death?

Weekly Action

As we prepare for this worship series, I encourage you to ask yourselves the following questions:

1. Define: What do you consider to be rotten, corrupt, or useless words? What about tone of voice? Can tone change the definition of a word?
2. Define: How would you define a community that uses words to build each other up?
3. Curiosity: Why is our church taking part in this worship series?
4. Curiosity: How may this worship series bring me closer to God and my community?