Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9 15 2025
Speaking Life in a Culture of Division
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” — Proverbs 18:21
The Problem We Face
The tragic death of Charlie Kirk has brought a painful awareness to the way America speaks today.
We all knew it, but this brought home the harshness of the effect.
Beyond political division, our words themselves have become weapons.
We live in a culture where people no longer feel accountable for the language they use.
Instead of words that bring truth and clarity, we hear venom, insults, and labels.
Research confirms this trend: politically charged terms are often used not to discuss ideas, but to discredit people. Terms like extremist, fascist, racist, socialist, woke, and nazi are thrown around to shut down conversation and vilify the other side. Dehumanizing labels—like calling opponents “vermin” or comparing immigrants to disease—normalize hostility and even justify violence.
Social media has amplified this “moral outrage,” rewarding the most emotional and controversial content. The result?
- Erosion of empathy: people feel less compassion for those they disagree with.
- Negative mental health: hate speech increases anxiety, depression, and isolation.
- Increased violence: words of hatred are linked to real-world acts of harm.
What happens in society soon enters our homes. Inflammatory language in families—name-calling, condescending words, unresolved anger—erodes trust and leaves wounds.
The Bible reminds us that “reckless words pierce like a sword” (Proverbs 12:18).
The Biblical Call
Jesus taught us that words are not neutral. He said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). Our speech reveals the state of our hearts. Bitter, hateful, or divisive words expose brokenness. Healing, gracious, and peaceful words reveal Christ alive within us.
The apostle Paul urged: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up… that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). God’s call is clear: we are to use words not as weapons, but as instruments of healing, encouragement, and peace.
The Path to Healing
How do we move from venomous rhetoric to words that heal?
- Guard your tongue. James warns that the tongue is “a fire” that can corrupt the whole person (James 3:6). We must discipline our speech.
- Speak with grace. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).
- Listen to understand. As Proverbs 18:13 says, “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” Listening first opens doors that anger slams shut.
- Bring Christ into the home. Peaceful rhetoric begins with family. Parents who model respect and gentleness teach their children how to de-escalate, not inflame.
- Choose life-giving words. Every word plants a seed: of peace or of strife, of hope or of despair. Choose words that align with Christ, who is our Prince of Peace.
The Hope of Christ
Jesus changes families and societies by first transforming hearts. When He rules within us, our words change. Peace replaces venom. Forgiveness replaces condemnation. Dialogue replaces division.
In a culture where hateful words are eroding mental health, trust, and community, the church has an opportunity to model something different. We can demonstrate how words—anchored in Christ’s love—bring healing, unity, and hope.
Let us remember the charge of Proverbs 15:1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” May we be people whose words reflect the grace of Jesus, sow peace in our families, and shine as a light in a divided world.
Prayer:
Lord, guard my tongue today. May my words bring life, not death; healing, not hurt. Fill my heart with Your Spirit so that my speech reflects Your love. Help me to build peace in my home, my community, and my nation through words that honor You. Amen.
I will be hosting an Online Discovering Jesus 5-week class starting on Tuesday nights
through Sept. 29th, at 7pm ONLINE for people of all ages. This week, we talk about the two baptisms. If you have a big screen at home, you can create a time to invite friends or neighbors who would like to join you in a Home Group for 5 weeks. Let’s get creative. Here is your link to join us on Tuesday. If you desire to invite someone send them this email and just have them join us.
https://meet.google.com/cfm-udos-iks
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http://eepurl.com/gKlklD To browse the complete devotional library, visit: https://fearlesslycourageous.com
TobyMac Speak Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rK6O0YtBRY
