Watch Your Mouth

Last Tuesday was election day in America. Now that all of the votes have been counted, it is clear that Americans clearly voted for change. Frustrated by an unwanted and unnecessary war and trade policies that led to higher prices on everything from groceries to gas, the country made a decisive break with the the reigning political party and its policies. In races across the country, history was made. In one particularly instructive race, 43 year old Scott Colom was elected the first African American senator from the state of Mississippi since the Reconstruction era.

Among the lessons that can be learned from Colom’s victory is the importance of watching your mouth. His competitor, incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde Smith, held what is considered in politics as an “untouchable seat.” She was a republican in an overwhelmingly republican state. Many were so sure of her victory that the “experts” ridiculed and dismissed Mr. Colom’s campaign. However, Senator Smith made a critical mistake that many believed turned the tide in Mr. Colom’s favor.

During the campaign, an interviewer asked the Senator what she thought about the rising cost of beef. She advised her constituents to simply “pick another protein.” Mr. Colom’s staff immediately pounced on her words.  They enlisted the services of their campaign’s staff’s 27 year old content creator Ryan Sayles to create a commercial capturing the reaction of Mississippians to their Senator’s counsel. The commercial is absolutely hilarious. If you haven’t seen it, you can watch it here:

While I do not condone the profanity in the commercial, the message of the commercial is absolutely brilliant. Advised to pick another protein, the people of Mississippi followed Colom’s advice, and decided to pick another Senator. That commercial is being hailed as the best commercial of the entire election season, and perhaps one of the best of all time. And the sad part is that the punchline came directly from Senator Smith’s mouth. Words that came from her own mouth cost her the election.

So here’s my question for you today: what have your words cost you?

In Matthew 12:37, Jesus reminds us of a powerful truth:

“Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”

Words cost.

The wrong words cost Senator Smith her job. The wrong words can cost you opportunity, relationships, and influence.

So we all need to watch our mouths.