A Word to the Wise
by J. Ellsworth Kalas
One day over lunch James Boswell told Samuel Johnson that it would be “terrible” if he were unable to return to London as quickly as he hoped to. Dr. Johnson, who no doubt knew more about words than anyone in the eighteenth century, answered, “Don’t, sir, accustom yourself to use big words for little matters. It would not be terrible, though I were to be detained some time here.”
This is good counsel for our times, where almost everything is awesome, unique, spectacular, amazing. When something truly big comes along — like an encounter with God, for instance — we have no word to accommodate us. We’ve used up all the big words for little matters.
It’s to be expected that this is an issue in the world of advertising. When anything from the latest fast-food edition of a hamburger to a wonder drug for a hitherto minor illness is the greatest discovery known to humanity, it’s fortunate that Columbus isn’t discovering America, because we wouldn’t have a word to describe it.
The issue is greater still in political discourse. For those who condemn every tax plan or economic program as socialism, there’s no possibility for intelligent discussion. What chance is there in our present political climate for such profound biblical words as justice, mercy, and peace, when these words are used for applause punch lines in political speeches?
If Samuel Johnson’s counsel is good for our times in general, it is paramount for those of us who preach and teach the Gospel. As I like to tell my homiletics students, if it’s true — as is often said — that poets are the guardians of written language, then preachers are the guardians of spoken language. Several hundred thousand of us step into American pulpits every weekend. No other occupation asks for so many ears, at first hand, every week.
I submit that the careless use of words is a particular kind of profanity. Jesus warned, “I tell you that people will have to answer on Judgment Day for every useless word they speak. By your words you will be either judged innocent or condemned as guilty” (Matthew 12:36-37, CEB). That’s enough to drive us all to Cistercian monasteries. But perhaps that’s a copout. Speech and words are premier marks of our divine gift of speech, so the secret is not to abstain from using words but to use them wisely.
Since we deal with subjects as grave as sin, as profound as salvation, and as incomparable as God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we know something about big matters. We should know enough that we will be careful about using big words for little matters.
God created our world and siad, “It is good.” He created humankind and said, “It is very good.” Not awesome,etc. though it is
I wonder if he has any second thoughts. Thanks,Doc!
Thanks for giving us appropriate words. I have thought this for a long time but have never been that articulate. God bless!
This is a very wise and very true article and a reminder that we should save big words for big problems and big occasions. Thank you Ellsworth Kalas. I would love to send this to all my Sunday School Teachers!
Thank you Dr. Kalas.
Too many words are also a problem in prayers and homemade liturgy. I wish more of us could keep it rich, but simple.
I agree wholeheartedly. Even as pastors we use great words flippantly.
Thank you for your article. I have spent years telling the youth I work with to save “Awesome” for God alone. Nothing else merits the description. Blessings!
I was going to say you are a jewel for Asbury Seminary, Dr. Kalas, but, in light of the article, let me say it’s very good that you are at ATS. Your humble spirit is the key to your effectiveness. Thank you.
As preachers of the Gospel, we need words of wisdom from great teachers, and preachers such as Prof Kalas. Thank you so much for your wise counsel at a such time like this.
Dr. Kalas emobidies such humility, he has no need to use the word while he encourages us to humilble speech. Perhaps we shall learn in our busy times, that our words do indeed shape our lives rather than the other way around.
Now I don’t know what to say!!
Regarding the comment on socialism, I would say that the Church has relinquished its duty to deliver mercy. It has allowed that responsibility to shift to political powers, and it is no longer the Church found in the fourth chapter of Acts. Truthfully, however, if one looks back in history, the great socialists (politically) were Godless, ruthless and unscrupulous. They did the unthinkable with the excuse that it helped the “collective” or benefited the “whole.”
Dr. Kalas, I am always blessed by reading your words of wisdom. Thanks for sharing