"I hate you!"
"You're such an idiot!"
"Go to hell!"
Our words cause damage. Once spoken they
can never ever be taken back. I've posted about this before but I didn't
realize how hard that can be in our culture to live out!
I've recently started working in a secular
work setting and let me tell you, it’s rough. The cussing – whether the speaker
meant to use the word or if it was a simple slip – is enough to drive me nuts! Every
time someone at work cusses, I have to ask God to take it out of my head so I’m
not tempted to use those awful, vulgar words.
Now, I know some ‘Christians’ who have no problem with cussing.
But let me ask you … is swearing and other vulgar language biblical? Does the
Bible even speak about our words?
I’m glad you asked! J
In church this Sunday, the pastor was talking about the fact that we are
royalty! And as such, the things we speak need to reflect that that we are
royalty. God is our King and he has set over us a royal law.
Ephesians 4:29 “Let NO
corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building
up, as fits he occasion, that it may give GRACE to those who hear.” (Emphasis added)
Now, some of you may be arguing with me, “Well, sometimes a swear
word gets my point across better than another word.”
Oh really? But does it give
grace to those who hear it? NO! NO, NO, NO! It doesn’t!
In Romans 12:2 it says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern
what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Dictionary.com’s definition of conformed
is “to act in accordance or harmony; comply”. So the Bible says that we are
to not be in harmony with this world. We are, however, to be transformed. The definition of transformed is “to change in form,
appearance, or structure; metamorphose.” We are to be changed into the image of
God.
So in short what this verse is saying is that God’s thoughts
should become our own. We are to think about what is good, acceptable and perfect. What is perfect in this world? NOTHING! N-O-T-H-I-N-G! The only good,
acceptable and perfect thing is God and his words.
Another verse in the Bible that deals with our words and action is
another verse from Ephesians. Ephesians 4:31-32 reads “Let all bitterness and wrath be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.” (Emphasis
added)
So … if we are claiming to be Christians, our mindset should be
that of Christ’s. If we are thinking the way he thought, then our reactions to
rude, uncaring people won’t be to cuss them out, or say rude, hasty things. Instead
it’ll be to show them love. Jesus’ love.
Proverbs 15:1- 2 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word
stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commands knowledge, but the mouths of
fools pour out folly.”
Let our actions and words speak of our royal heritage. That we
are, in fact, sons and daughters of the King of Kings!
