Angry Words

Ok, guys how many of you have heard of or have played the game called Angry Birds? It is a simple game based on a story- a group of pigs steals the eggs from a group of birds. In the game your job is to help the birds strike back at the pigs. Often our words become very similar to the birds in the game. Some words can hurt just a little which is like the red bird. Some words can cut which is like the yellow bird.  Some words can hurt a group of people which is like the blue bird.  And other words hurt a lot and they hurt everyone around us which is like the black bird.

Let me tell you a little about bullies. Back in the old days, bullies were usually big kids who picked on little kids, pushing them around, calling them names, and making life miserable. Ask your mom or dad or grandparents, my guess is all of them have a story about a bully in their past.

But thankfully, we live in a better time when there are no bullies, no one being called names, right? Wrong! In fact, bullying is a bigger problem than ever. It used to be kids were bullied face to face in school and on the playground. But now, the same devices that brought you Angry Birds and other games have given kids unlimited access to bully one another.

When you’re not face to face with someone, people tend to be much meaner than they would ever be in person. And just like angry birds flying into a pig barricade, the angry words you say can do a lot of damage. But the Bible has something to say about the way we use our words.

The Book of James has some powerful words for us today about the tongue – the instrument that we use to make those angry words. Let’s take a look at what James has to say about the tongue

Read James 3:3-10

Here James uses all sorts of different images to describe our tongues. He mentions the steering on a boat, the bit of a horse, taming animals, and a spark in a forest. Have you ever thought about your tongue being a fire? The tongue is a sensitive part of the body that tells us when food is sweet, bitter, salty, or spicy. But the tongue is also our primary instrument for our words, and as such, James is warning us that we need to keep our tongues in line.

Most of the time when we say things we regret, we say them without thinking. Someone does something that offends us, and what do we do? We yell. We call names. We want to defend ourselves,  but in doing so, we throw out terrible words that most of the time, we don’t really mean.

The problem is, we can’t take those mean words back. We can’t erase them. Even online or on the phone, we can’t clear the words that our fingers type or say. While we can delete a text or an email, but once it’s been read by someone else, we can never erase the hurt we put on someone.

That’s why James urges us to tame and control our words. If we learn to be people who think before we speak, we can stop the arguments and hurt feelings and broken friendships. We can stop bullying and stop the depression and pain that comes from being bullied. Can you imagine how different the hallways at school and at homes would be like? So how can we stamp out angry words? Well King Solomon, the writer of Proverbs has the answer for us.

Read Proverbs 15:1

According to Solomon, if we answer angry words with more angry words, we’re just going to create more anger, hurt feelings, and problems. Instead, Solomon says we should answer harsh words with gentleness. In fact, in Proverbs 25:22, Solomon says if we answer angry words with love, it’s like dumping burning coals on our enemy’s head.

Is Solomon saying that revenge, hurting someone is the answer? No! He is saying that love is stronger than hate, and if we answer angry words with love, love will win. It won’t erase the angry words. It may not stop them right away. But love is the only way to overcome hate.

What did we learn?

Angry Birds is a fun game, but Angry Words aren’t fun for anyone. They’re certainly not anything that followers of Christ should play with. We need to tame our tongues, think before we speak, and learn to overcome angry words with love. If we can set an example for others by overcoming evil with good, we can put an end to bullies, and an end to the pain caused by angry words.

Will you exchange your angry words with kind words?

By a show of hands again how many of you have played the game? I love this game. You may not realize this; But Angry Birds is a puzzle game. In each level, the pigs are arranged in a different pattern with different obstacle to protect them. You are given a certain number of birds, which you don’t get to choose, and you have only those birds to use in breaking down the obstacles and make the pigs disappear.  The makers of the game designed each level like a puzzle. They’ve given you just the right number and combination of birds to take down the pigs. Sometimes you can luck out and do it with less, but every level can be defeated with the birds you are given. If you have ever played the game you know the importance of not wasting a shot. If you accidentally overshoot or undershoot the pigs...  You may well ruin your chances of defeating that level.

But this is why I love this game. There’s a replay button that lets you start over. If you waste a bird, you can pause, hit replay, and try again. You can do it over and over and over until you get the shot you want. Wouldn’t it be nice if words worked the same way? I wish it did, but it doesn’t. When that word flies out of your mouth it is gone forever- and its impact can last a life time. For example you call a friend a name, say the wrong thing to a teacher, say something mean to mom and dad, you can’t it back. You can’t hit the replay button. We know time can heal all wounds, and time can the damage done by careless words. But those words can never truly be taken back or forgotten. That’s why it is so important we learn to control our words. Don’t let emotion and anger get the best of you. Stop. Think. Pray. Then remember what Bible says angry words: if someone says something cruel to you, answer them love, and will heap burning coals on their head.