When conducting an investigation following an officer involved shooting, peace officers are acutely aware that they are accountable for every round that leaves their firearm. The position, trajectory, impact – everything is scrutinized. To ensure the use of force was legal, there needs to be clear justification connected to the decision to squeeze the trigger, regardless of the number of rounds fired. All of the stimuli that filters through the officer’s mind at the time comes into play when analyzing whether each round fired was legally justified. What crime was being confronted? What was the suspect doing, or about to do? Were other weapons involved? What was the likely outcome without intervention? So, whether the officer fired once or a dozen times, each round needs to be accounted for and legally justified.
Can you imagine if the same standard were applied to the words that are fired from our mouths? We’d all be indicted on criminal charges, and I’d be the first! Actually, in a spiritual sense, we are!
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” said Jesus, “for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36,37).
If you wonder what is in a person’s heart, just listen to what is expelled from their mouth. A few verses earlier Jesus said, “… How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (vs. 34).
Thank God for his promise, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Otherwise, I’d be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But regardless, we need the wise counsel of King David because the things we say have consequences. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
-Jim
#wordshurt #wordsheal #verbalaccountability