in search of areté

It is a wonderfully satisfying scene.

Gandalf, having now returned as Gandalf the White, stands in the Golden Hall of King Théoden listening to the deceit and seduction of Grima, the king’s counselor and Saruman’s mouthpiece. Shortly after halting Gimli, who was advancing on Wormtongue for having referred to Galadriel as “the Sorceress of the Golden Wood,” Gandalf reflects on some verse concerning the Elven queen. We pick up the narrative as the wizard concludes his chorus of praise to Galadriel.

Thus Gandalf softly sang, and then suddenly he changed. Casting his tattered cloak aside, he stood up and leaned no longer on his staff; and he spoke in a clear cold voice.

“‘The wise speak only of what they know, Grima son of Gálmód. A witness worm have you become. Therefore be silent, and keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.’”

As usual, wisdom is heard from the lips of Gandalf. He will not spend any more time talking with one who speaks foolishly or in the service of another. He silences the “Wormtongue” and turns his attention to the one in whom he is interested: King Théoden.

Also, as usual, there is something for all bloggers to learn from the words and actions of Gandalf, the incarnate angel. One lesson might be that we would do well – or at least do better – not to engage in arguments with people that we don’t respect, for if we feel that way towards them then it is highly likely that they have a similar opinion of us.

Every day Christians argue with other Christians for whom they have little or no respect, going to great lengths to demonstrate (a) that the person is wrong, and (b) that they have little or no respect for them. They may do it through condescension, anger, arrogance, or (rarely) with feigned civility, but the tone and tenor of the argument is evident.

Edward Gibbon, the great historian of the Roman Empire, is reported to have said, “I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinion I have no respect.” It is but a small step – albeit a very significant step – from having no respect for a person’s opinion to having no respect for the person. But it is, I think, possible (maintaining respect, not taking the step); as Christians, it is not only possible but desirable and ordered for us.

It seems so difficult, however, and the reasons for the difficulty are legion, I am sure. Even though I am paid to figure out such psychological or spiritual behaviors, I claim no special insight into the causes for our failure to maintain respect for the person while vehemently disagreeing with the opinion being expressed.

Of this much, though, I am sure: we are commanded to “speak the truth in love” and allow

“no unwholesome word to proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

This must be fairly important because Paul (a) has just said as much earlier in the same letter, and (b) immediately follows this command with “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”

How many of us, I wonder, stop to consider whether or not we are about to grieve the Spirit of God before we click on the “publish” or “post” link on our blog? I, for one, know that I am usually conscious – I am tempted to stop there – that I am usually conscious of the other person who will be reading my invective, but rarely pause to think about how this is going to sound to the Holy Spirit.

I wonder if that is a discipline worth developing?

James states the obvious – but does not excuse it – in saying that it is impossible for anyone to tame their own tongue. We are quick to speak – too quick many times, it seems – and vomit forth words without regard for our audience or our Audience. The tongue, to be sure, is beyond our complete control.

I am not so sure, however, that the same statement or allowance could or should be made for the posts we publish. As we write we have time to reflect; as we proofread – you do proofread, don’t you? – we have the opportunity to hear our words and even consider how it might sound to the Holy Spirit.

Bloggers are like teachers, I am convinced, and will be held to a higher standard of judgment. Wisdom would implore us to ponder and pray before we publish.