NOTE: This one is a bit long because I felt it important to include the full text of the scriptures I referenced. I hope you find the included Bible verses helpful.
The scriptures tell us that words are serious business.
Read what Jesus has to say about the words we speak, “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 12:36–37 (ESV)) But it’s not just judgment. Words are serious in how
beautiful and valuable they can be. The scriptures tell us that, “A word fitly
spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11 (ESV))
As we examine the scriptures, you might notice that there
is no prescription for a Christian to litter their speech with Christian-sounding
phrases such as, “Praise the Lord!” The only place I can find where words are
prescribed is when Jesus taught his disciples to pray with the words of the
Lord’s Prayer. But there are many descriptions of how the people of God speak,
both positive and negative.
LET’S START WITH THE POSITIVE:
Christians speak with praise to God. (Psalm 34:1 (ESV) I
will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.)
Christians speak graciously. The roots from which the
Greek word for “gracious” is derived include concepts of giving and joy. (Colossians 4:6 (ESV) Let your speech always
be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer
each person.)
Christians speak words of blessing. (Romans 12:14 (ESV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.)
Christians speak gently. (Proverbs 15:1 (ESV) A soft
answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:4 (ESV) A
gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.)
Christians speak encouragingly. (1 Thessalonians 4:18
(ESV) Therefore encourage one another with these words.)
Christians speak with patience and kindness. (1
Corinthians 13:4–5 (ESV) Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful;)
AND NOW THE NEGATIVE:
Christians do not speak dishonestly. (Proverbs 6:16–19
(ESV) There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination
to him: …a lying tongue, …a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who
sows discord among brothers.) Note that the phrase, “there are six… seven,” is
a way to highlight something. It’s like texting in ALL CAPS WITH MULTIPLE
EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!
Christians do not speak deceptively or manipulatively.
Christians are straight talkers. (Proverbs 4:24 (ESV) Put away from you crooked
speech, and put devious talk far from you.)
Christians don’t need to go on and on when they are
speaking. (Proverbs 10:19 (ESV) When words are many, transgression is not
lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.)
Christians do not speak crudely. (Ephesians 5:4 (ESV) Let
there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of
place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Colossians 3:8 (ESV) But now you
must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from
your mouth.)
Christians do not speak boastfully, arrogantly, rudely,
irritably, or resentfully. (1 Corinthians 13:4–5 (ESV) Love is patient and
kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not
insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;)
It’s not simply the words themselves that are important.
Words can be empty. Matthew 6:7 (ESV) “And when you pray, do not heap up empty
phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their
many words.
The intention of the speech is just as important as the
words used. The Bible tells us that people can utter the right words without
their heart being in the right place. (Matthew 7:21 (ESV) “Not everyone who
says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who
does the will of my Father who is in heaven.) People use words to hide their
true motives and manipulate situations. (Psalm 55:20 – 21 (ESV) My companion
stretched out his hand against his friends; violated his covenant. His speech
was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.)
It turns out that our words are not the real problem. The
way we speak is really a diagnostic tool to discern the deeper condition of our
hearts, like a thermometer helps to discern the inner temperature of a body.
Jesus teaches us that if our words are problematic, the
words are not the real problem. If you have a speech problem, you really have a
heart problem because your words flow out of your inner life. (Matthew 15:17–20
(ESV) Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach
and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and
this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder,
adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what
defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”) (See
also Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45)
Honestly, it’s not really a question of if you have a speech problem, but when you have a speech problem. When you
have a speech problem, your heart is not in the right place. So your heart is
where the treatment needs to start.
The Bible gives us a very clear course of treatment for
spiritual heart problems.
Step one is confession. When we run from or conceal our
sin, we are blocking the cleansing and renewal God wants to give us. (1 John
1:8–9 (ESV) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.)
Step two is repent. The Greek root for “repentance”
indicates that we turn our thinking around. We let go of our selfish thoughts
and embrace God’s thoughts. Jesus called it losing your life for his sake. (Luke
24:45–47 (ESV) Then [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the
third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins
should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.)
Step three is live in faith. Faith trusts God’s promise
that forgiveness is complete in Jesus, that we are God’s children and live in
God’s love. (John 3:16 (ESV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.) It
is this forgiveness and love from God toward us that will empower us to speak
like a Christian as a natural consequence of what’s going on inside of us.
For all those who want to really speak like a Christian
instead of simply adopt Christian-sounding phrases, here are four steps for
speaking like a Christian.
One, consider the person before you speak. Often our
speech degenerates when our view of the other person degenerates. As much as
you may not like or feel hurt by (or whatever) the person to whom or about whom
you are speaking, pause to remember that the other person is dearly loved by
God… as dearly as you are. (1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV) [God] desires all people to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.) Reflect on God’s kindness
toward you as you consider the other person. (Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) Be kind to
one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave
you.) Picture that person as dearly loved by God in whatever way helps you.
Imagine a little glow around them. See a shaft of light piercing the heavens
and landing on their head. Picture them at the foot of the cross.
Two, listen first. The scriptures tell us that it is
quite foolish to answer before you have all the information. (Proverbs 18:13
(ESV) If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. Proverbs
29:20 (ESV) Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for
a fool than for him.) James tells us that Christians are “quick to hear, slow
to speak, slow to anger.” (James 1:19)
Three, consider your words before you speak. This may
seem obvious, but the Bible tells us to think about the words we are about to
say and then choose, based on scriptural teaching, wisdom, love and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, whether we should actually utter the words we are
considering. (Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) 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. Proverbs 15:28 (ESV) The heart of the
righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil
things. Proverbs 12:18 (ESV) There is one whose rash words are like sword
thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.) James goes so far as to
tell us that controlling our tongue is a core part of new life in Christ. (James
1:26 (ESV) If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.)
Four, speak with restraint. The scriptures tell us that
it is wisdom not to overflow with words. (Proverbs 17:27 (ESV) Whoever
restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of
understanding. Proverbs 10:19 (ESV) When words are many, transgression is not
lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.)
The idea of speaking like a Christian does include the
words you use, but it has nothing to do with adopting Christian-sounding, pious
phrases. It has everything to do with a repentant and grateful heart that rests
in God and seeks to spread the love of Christ to all people in all situations.
No comments:
Post a Comment