Nelson Searcy’s New Book: Do Words Really Still Matter in a Social Media Saturated World?

Do your words really matter in this social media obsessed world or can they just be thrown around willy-nilly without any real consequences?  Nelson Searcy tries to answer this question in his new book “Tongue Pierced.”

I was a little apprehensive about reading this book.  My tongue is super sharp, and I wasn’t looking forward to being chastised about it.  (I mean who really wants to have their toes stepped on?)  But Searcy does a good job of explaining that our thoughts and spoken words really do shape who we are and can help to change our attitudes and our lives… if we let them.

A few chapters on positive thinking were particularly helpful.  As a cynic by nature, I automatically gravitate towards the “what ifs” without even realizing it most of the time.  Searcy gently reminds us that we need to be more present and to be choosy not only with the words we say to others but the words we think to ourselves.  This book helped me to see I’m not helping myself by being the one person that is constantly putting myself down – if I want to feel better, I have to start being more selective with the words I speak to (and about) me.

When Searcy wrote about prayer, the otherwise helpful book began to border on the “prosperity gospel” fad.   He seemed to be saying that if we simply ask God for what we want with a good attitude, He will give it to us.  After All, God always wants what is best for us, right?  Searcy fails to go into detail about this: much of the time what we want may not always be what is best for us.  Though we always need the discipline God offers, we rarely want it.  Searcy gives the impression that if you are suffering (or don’t have what you think you need), then all you have to do is get a good attitude and ask more faithfully.  Since the Bible is clear that faith doesn’t work that way, I found these chapters a little off-putting and unhelpful.  Should we go to God with a good attitude? Definitely, but as our Heavenly Father figure, He also wants us to come to Him when our attitude isn’t necessarily the best and let Him change it.

Two of the other chapters, however were spot on.  One chapter dealt with gratitude – we all need more reminders to be grateful than we care to admit most days.  Personally, I forget to be thankful for my every day blessings, and I plan to implement Searcy’s suggestion on keeping a gratitude journal and I look forward to seeing how it can change my perspective.   The other chapter that really hit home was the chapter on conflict.  It had some of the best advice I’ve read on dealing with – and resolving conflict.   It was hard to read because I wanted to argue about why I was right (to want to step into most conflicts).

All in all, this topic is worthy of reflection, if you can work it in between the tweets and posts and status updates that dominate the rhythm of modern life.

To read an excerpt from tongue pierced and more conversation on Tongue Pierced, visit the Patheos Book Club here.

Review by Addie Talley, your typical suburban goth girl.  She is 36 years old, a wife (of almost 13 years!) and a mother of 4 (two bio, two adopted).  She works 2 jobs – one she loves and another that pays the bills.  She’s a Christian but also unchurched.  She’s trying to find the courage to forgive and ease back into it, but admittedly falls short a lot of times.  She loves family and sweet tea, but otherwise is not a stereotypical Southerner.

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