This post is a follow-up message from Pastor Chris's sermon entitled "The Art & Science of Words". [Watch video]

On Sunday, we saw Paul’s encouragement to skillfully speak words that are the right words (edifying), at the right time (for the need of the moment), spoken the right way (to impart grace).

After the service Ken Wendt, one of our elders, had a helpful insight that I would like to pass on to you all for this week’s Afterthought.

Ken pointed out that there is a large part of our communication that was not addressed in the message because it doesn’t actually involve any words. That area, as you have likely surmised, is body language.

Language, from a technical point of view, is simply a collection of symbols that a group of people understand point to referents. So, in English, when I see the symbol “dog,” I immediately know that whoever wrote that word is referring to a particular kind of mammal – one that likes to bark.

Body language, as the name implies, is a collection of non-verbal symbols that also represent meaning. A wrinkled brow when hearing someone’s new idea can express incredulity or reservation. Folded arms with hunched shoulders communicates fear, insecurity, or subordination (or, “I’m cold”). Folded arms with an open posture communicates power, disagreement, or even hostility. A condescending snort, a roll of the eyes, shuffling feet and glances towards the nearest door, leaning casually against a nearby wall, extending a friendly hand for a shake, or a hug, looking someone in the eyes, giving a thumbs up, clenching a fist, biting a lip, winking, putting your hands in your pockets – these are just a few of the many ways we communicate with people on a daily basis, without ever uttering a word.

Spoken or not, we should apply the same biblical standards to our body language as we do to our spoken language. We can undermine, or even invert the meaning of our actual words by the body language we use when we deliver it. “I love you, Honey!” means something very different when spoken tenderly, looking into your loved one’s eyes, compared to a hasty sentence thrown out to the person standing behind you as you continue to stare at the screen of your phone (not that I would ever do such a thing…).

So then, brothers and sisters, let us not let any unwholesome gesture, posture, tone or touch proceed from our bodies, but only such as will complement our words in honoring Jesus Christ and edifying one another.

Yep, this is going to take a lot of practice…