CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 965

 “Feedback”

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matthew 5:37)

Feedback. It is a word of multiple meaning in our society today. Originating in the electronics industry the term ‘feedback’ described beneficial circuitry that brought stability and control. The word has been adopted by industry to describe everything from customer surveys, employee appraisals, and product performance. We have all experienced the effect of acoustic feedback – that piercing squeal of ever increasing volume that occurs when a microphone gets too close to its amplified output.

I have seen dysfunction in a variety of families and workplaces and they have at least one thing in common: negative, destructive talk. Such talk is a feedback mechanism of sorts. Spoken words are heard not only by others but also by the speaker. Have you ever noticed how someone speaking a tirade of negativism seems to escalate in volume and passion – much like the annoying, piercing squeal of acoustic feedback?

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit … For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks … I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:33-37)

How do we heal the ‘forest’ making the trees and their fruit good? We start by healing the environment of toxicity that contributes to dysfunction. The first step is to remove the audience that provides reinforcing feedback to the speaker of negativism and they will turn it off. It is as simple as walking away. A second method is to nurture the environment with positive talk about what is good and beneficial. This feedback brings stability to the environment. To paraphrase our reference Scripture: If you have nothing good to say, keep your mouth shut.

Ultimately, the Lord will hold us all accountable for our careless words. In the work place we too, need to hold the purveyor of negativism accountable for their destructive influence in creating a hostile work environment. This also works to heal the ‘forest’ allowing good fruit to be borne.

It is equally true that a poorly structured, led and managed work environment (the soil of the forest) is a ‘root cause’ (no pun intended) of diseased trees and bad fruit. Leadership would do well to follow Jesus’ example of servant leadership and create an environment that empowers and nurtures the well-being of those under their authority. How? Listen to their feedback. Get to the root causes and correct them. Repeat.

I confess that it is far too easy to get caught up in negative feedback frenzy. Our own words can affect our minds, spirits and attitudes as well as our physical well-being and the well-being of others. As Christians in a secular world we would do well to adhere to Ephesians 4:29-32: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.