The new Alexa voice is sassy. Suddenly this appliance with which we have grown so comfortable has now become a petulant teenager who rolls her eyes, stamps her foot and exhales an exasperated “Got it!” in place of her former soothing “Okay.” A month or so ago we were pestered by old Alexa to try her new version, Alexa Plus, but we resisted. Alexa, you were fine just the way you were. Leave us alone. But somehow, without bidding, her tone has changed and now we get flippant Alexa whenever we politely ask her to turn on the lights. Got it! For real, Alexa?

Tone is everything isn’t it?

Having survived the nuclear winter that is raising teenage girls, I stand battered and bruised but still breathing in full assurance that tone is everything. When your once sweet little girl suddenly becomes Satan’s spawn and a simple inquiry about her breakfast preferences results in a scorched-earth reply, you realize that both your tone and her tone are important. Fortunately teenagers eventually grow out of their recalcitrant phase and parents eventually grow back their singed eyebrows. But inflection, timing, and word choice still matter.

Paul knew something about this.

Colossians 4:6 (Common English Bible)

⁶ Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person.

In his letter to the church in Colosse, Paul addressed the issue of public witness and the impact the church was making on non-believers. There was an issue of internal heresy going around the church and Paul was trying to address that while also reminding them that everything they said and did on the street was a direct reflection of their Christian walk. The community was watching and the witness of the gospel was suffering. He reminded them that their speech must be both grace-filled as people who have received the grace of God and gracious as people who have been sent forth to tell of that grace.

Christian conversation must be both filled with charm and sprinkled with wit so that it might be winsome to those who don’t believe. Sanctimonious declarations that sound dull and preachy will not convert the world. Neither will Christians who engage in hate speech or blatantly support hate groups and hate agendas. One of the greatest challenges of this generation of witnesses is to be careful not to post or proclaim anything that contradicts the teachings of our gentle Savior. People are watching! Jesus is watching.

How are you revealing the risen Christ in your conversations? Does your tone reflect his unconditional love for everyone? Are your posts something Jesus would be proud of ? Will they know you are Christian by your love?

Words matter. Tone matters. Intention matters. Your witness matters. If you can’t say something nice, maybe shut up.

Got it?

Morning Conversation