Holy conversations

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:6).

People of faith are called to speak differently. We are called to speak the truth, while at the same time emphasizing love and grace. This includes "hard truths" -- things that are hard to say, but must be said. Paul's remark about how our "conversation" should be is not meant to be overly controlling, but instead it is meant to provide health parameters that allow us to bear witness to our faith, while also dealing honestly with issues that need to be addressed.

The challenge to this is obvious: We are in a culture where being grace-filled and honest at the same time is not very popular.

People on one side of the political aisle say something insensitive, racist or demeaning, and the other side responds with outrage. A short time later, the other side says something racist, demeaning or belittling, and the same people who spoke harshly before now express their outrage. It seems to be a never-ending cycle.

Free speech is good if it offends you, but not when it offends me. Mean-spirited or belittling words are fine if I like or agree with the person saying them, but if I disagree, those words are condemned.

This maddening and often hypocritical cycle is the very reason Paul and others remind people of faith to monitor what kind of speech we share and what kind of speech we applaud.

Here's another version of this admonishment from the Bible: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). Again, this is not about control, nor is it about avoiding hard things. It is about recognizing that both what we say and how we say it bear witness to what we're about and to what is in our hearts.

No one should be harmed or killed for their words. At the same time, our words have the power to cause great harm, both to others and to our own reputations as people of faith. So, we are people who are "full of grace," which means that our reason for speaking should be redemptive and grace-filled, even when we have to say something difficult or corrective.

Secondly, the phrase "seasoned with salt" does not mean "spicy" or "salty" in the common sense of the word. Remember, in ancient times, salt was a preservative. It kept things from spoiling. It prevented decay and preserved precious things (like food!).

As we speak this week, even if we are addressing injustice or harm, are the motives behind are speech to preserve, to care, to keep someone from future harm and to promote grace? If not, we should do what all good writers and speakers learn to do: Edit!