(The Texted/Emailed Word) Stirring Up Wrath?

I was a big fan of the AMC series, “Mad Men.”

It depicted the advertising world of Madison Avenue in the 1960s. Sales and persuasion were key.

That meant, the mouth was key.

Persuasion through words.

Words and the mouth. What could possibly go wrong?

Eh.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 18:21

Yep.

Words and death. Words and destruction. Words and dishonor.

“Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before (The Most High) God. For (YAH) God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore, let your words be few.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Words be few, huh? That’s a tall order, isn’t it?

How many of us run at the mouth? How many of us say too much?

How many of us have caused wreckage because of what we’ve said?

Words go beyond audible voice. They also extend to the more modern day written word of texting and emailing.

Now, how many of us, are suddenly in a wrath kind of experience?

Misunderstandings? Arguments? War?

A harsh word stirs up wrath.

I have a friend who frequently, when it comes to stuff concerning the words and the mouth, says this:

“They threw the dart.”

Also, scripturally, known as…

“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1

You know how it goes.

The conversation starts out as a conversation. “Normal.”

Normal tone. Normal volume. Normal atmosphere.

Things look “fine.”

And then…

And then…

Offense.

It is challenging enough when it is person-to-person, voice-to-voice, audibly heard.

Sometimes, yeah, yelled.

But what about other forms of communication?

You know, the more “convenient” forms of communication? Texting? Emailing?

Ah, here we go.

Now, we have no nonverbal cues. No facial expression in front of us. No body language. No voice tone.

It’s, seemingly, more sterile than that.

Black type on a white screen or page.

Someone says something. Texts something. Emails something.

It might be said (typed) out of ignorance. It may not be intentionally meant to cause harm. It was said (typed). But immediately…

Offense.

Great.

“Then He said to the disciples, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!’”

Luke 17:1

Again…

The written form of communication/conversation can never be underestimated.

For potential harm and, yeah, offense.

Eons ago, people once communicated nonverbally through writing letters.

These letters, with hearts poured out, were written and sent via Pony Express.

It maybe even took weeks for the party to receive the letter.

This was the only way people could communicate with each other.

No phone. No video chat. No email. No text.

It was inconvenient.

However, people of that time probably did not see the inconvenience, largely because this was the only way communication could happen. Important updates. Love letters. Words of wisdom. Handwritten letters.

That’s it.

People accepted that.

I think you know where I am going here.

No, in modern times, we have options. Numerous options, seemingly, for everything.

Including communication.

Email was first. The early days of AOL, dial up internet, and “You’ve Got Mail.”

You could send mail, like the old school, handwritten letters, electronically, through computers. You could send this mail, and the recipient would receive it on that same day. No weeks of waiting for a horse and its rider to deliver it to your front door.

Texting came next, especially after the explosion of Apple I-Phones.

This was even more immediate, therefore, even more convenient.

“Everyone” now has a phone.

Therefore, “everyone” can text immediate messages and information. The recipient receives it within seconds, barring no technical glitches.

This is desirable. And now, because we are spoiled by convenience and fast results, we take it for granted and expect it.

Come on now.

How many of us get impatient as we see the ellipsis, the three dots, in motion, indicating someone is currently typing a response?

How many of us are saying, “Hurry up already!”

I cannot be the only one.

I REFUSE to believe I am the only one.

Yeah, offenses and arguments can easily come from vocal, audible interaction. We are engaged with a person, person-to-person, voice-to-voice.

It may be a stretch to see how Scripture foresaw technology and its issues, centuries ago.

But it did.

Because it is about more than technological options.

It’s about communication.

Therefore, Scripture is relevant, via technology. And its wise advice, likewise, is also relevant.

Guard on mouth.

“Set a guard, O Elohim, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”

Psalm 141:3

Direct, face-to-face, voice-to-voice communication benefits from this Psalm’s advice.

Yes, stop the noise, please. Shut the literal mouth, please.

But this scripture extends to nonverbal communication as well.

This has more to do with the pause.

The Holy Pause?

The shutting of the mouth, via stopping the fingers from typing, pause.

Again, how many of us have sent an email or text, out of anger, out of a heated moment?

We send that sucker, and, as we’re sending it, we immediately regret doing so.

There’s no way to call it back, to catch it back.

We’ve been there. We make the regret face.

We know that we have blown it.

Words be few.

“Do not be rash with your mouth. And let not your heart utter anything hastily before (The Most High) God. For (The Most High) God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore, let your words be few.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2

The more we talk, the more trouble we can get into.

Hence, Ecclesiastes 5:2.

This also applies to the written form of communication.

Emailing and texting.

Look, I know I am guilty of this: composing and sending the long, epic novel of an email or a text.

And, come one, most of us groan when we receive one of these lengthy messages.

It just feels like too much work, doesn’t it?

Too much drama.

I’m sure that you have heard the etiquette lessons about this stuff.

In its distilled form, it comes down to this.

Email and texting should be about short bits of information.

Giving directions or an address to a location.

Yes or no.

A few words.

Not a diatribe.

And, as I type this, I’m convicted; I have typed many diatribes in my life.

(Abba, help me. Forgive me. Shut the mouth of my fingers).

Long, lengthy, emotional-filled communication should be done directly. Face-to-face. Person-to-person.

Again, directly.

Not removed, like modern technology affords us to be.

And yeah, that’s inconvenient, isn’t it?

We don’t like inconvenience. We like instant results. Instant gratification. Letting loose all our thoughts and opinions.

Scripture has something to say about that as well…

“A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.”
Proverbs 29:11

Venting.

Long paragraphs of texts and emails.

“Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”

Proverbs 17:28

 

Seemingly, no sense of self-control.

Ah, yes, here we are.

Self-control.

It’s listed within the “fruit of the spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Speaking of Spirit…

Like a city broken down without walls.

“Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.”

Proverbs 25:28

Everything starts from the spirit. Our condition, expressed through our words, typed or spoken, is reflected in our spirit.

What kind of walls do we have?

Again, self-control.

So, the quick primer to not stir up emailing and texting wrath?

Pause.

Don’t move. Stay put. Stop. Do nothing with our device, be it things like phone or laptop.

Pray.

ABBA, should I send or delete this? Will I regret sending this?

Allow time.

Barring intense emergency, does this really need to be sent, right here, right now?

Can it wait a few hours?

Maybe even a day?

A day is not forever, even if it feels like it with instantaneous chatting.

Pray some more.

Lather, rinse, repeat, with spiritual oomph. A little more prayer and consideration could not hurt. It might make all the difference. Maybe new insight popped up. Maybe a new warning arose.

Send.

Yes, we can send things. We can trust that we are not in control; He is.

By faith, we send messages, believing He will honor and bless it.

(Of course, send no eggplant emogis, please).

Message is sent. Communication is hopefully blessed.

Let’s pray.

ABBA-

I come to You, in The Name of Our Savior, Yahshua.

You know the words I am dealing with. Words I have sent and words I have received.

You know what they are.

Forgive me for those words that do not glorify You.

Restore peace where communication, especially through emailing and texting, has caused stress and trouble.

Help me to communicate effectively, the way that You desire.

Let there be peace between myself and any other person as we communicate.

Remove misunderstandings, harsh messages, said out of anger, and anything that attempts to derail Your Will and Plan.

Establish that now.

Thank You for your mercy, guidance, and help.

I receive it all now, in The Name of Yahshua.

Amen.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Sheryle Cruse