Every January, the Christian radio station, KLove, offers a 30-challenge for listeners to listen to only Christian music for 30 days. I've been listening to KLove for the last three years or so, and know what a difference listening to Christian music can make in hearts and attitudes. So, every January, on facebook, I offer my own challenge to my facebook friends. Every day in January, to encourage them to listen, I choose a song currently playing on KLove, find a YouTube video for that song, and post the link. I usually post a corresponding thought or scripture for the song too.
This morning, when I was looking for a song to post, “Speak Life” by Toby Mac jumped out at me. You can listen here.The Bible has a ton to say about what comes out of our mouths. The first scripture that came to mind was this one: (probably because I have been trying to memorize it)
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
I really love the book of Ephesians. We'll have to spend some more time there. Oh, all my scripture references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless I indicate otherwise. Let's look at this verse. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths...” So, what is “unwholesome talk”? The King James version, says “Corrupt communication”, but that doesn't help much either. Well, lets see what else the Bible says about it.
In Ephesians 4:5, it says , “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving”.
Ok, that gives us a little better idea. Cuss words and dirty jokes should have no place in our conversations. That has been a problem for me in the past. I've been known to say things that, to quote Ed, “would peel paint off a wall.” Its something I've had to consciously work on. I do a little better now, but those words still slip out on occasion, especially if I'm startled or surprised by something, so I'll keep working on it.
What else?
“For, 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.'“ 1Pet 3:10
Keeping your tongue from evil covers all kinds of things. Taking badly about people. Saying mean or hateful things, etc. Then there is lying. God is big on telling the truth.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:19 This is number nine of the ten commandments.
Lying is one of those things that everyone does, but pretends they don't . Like all other sin, we have a tendency to downplay our own duplicity. God calls sin what it is: sin. Lying comes from Satan himself. In John, chapter 8, verse 44, Jesus says,
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Sadly, he was talking about the religious leaders of his day.
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” Proverbs 20:14
and
“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.” I Tim 5:13.
No gossip or spreading rumors. Oh that might be a little more difficult. I grew up in an environment where someone was always talking about who did what to whom, how they did it, why they did it, and what was going to happen because they did it. Riding home from church with my Grandparents, I got to hear about every little thing that was going on with everyone else in their congregation, and then I got to hear their opinion of said people It took me until just recently to realize that all that was nothing more than gossip, along with some self-righteous passing of judgment, and it is displeasing to God.
God and I have spoken about this, and I have asked him to help me know when what I am about to say is necessary, or if it is merely gossip. If it is the latter, I don't want to say it. Kind of sounds like “if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.” but God never gives us a “don't” without giving us a “do”.
So if we're aren't supposed to curse, lie, brag, gossip, tell dirty jokes, say mean or hateful things, or spread rumors, what are we supposed to do instead? Lets go back to that verse in Ephesians.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
The things that come out of our mouths should lift people up and provide good advice.
“The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.” Psalm 37:30
and
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4
Our words should offer sound advice and provide comfort and encouragement to those who need it. That would be just about everybody.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Eph 4:15
So, instead of lying, we speak the truth, in love! I know a lot of people who are really good at speaking the truth, but they leave the “in love” part out. They cause a lot of pain and damage with their “honesty”.
“My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.”Psalm 35:28 Offering worship and praise to God is the best possible thing we can do with our voices.
The book of James is also one of my favorites. James offers practical advice for every day Christian living, and has a lot to say about what comes out of our mouths. First he says,
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” James 1:26
The Common English Bible (CEB) says it this way: “If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless.”
Pretty harsh, huh? No, just important! When we get to chapter three, James has a whole lot more to say about the condition of the human tongue. This again is from the Common English Bible.
We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes
with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse,
they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses
and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want,
we can control their whole bodies. Consider ships: They are so
large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct
their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. In the same way,
even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly.
Think about this: A small flame can set a whole forest on fire.
The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us.
It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on
fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell. People can
tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish.
No one can tame the tongue, though. It is a restless evil, full of deadly
poison. With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human
beings made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come from
the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way!
Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring,
do they? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives?
Can a grapevine produce figs? Of course not, and fresh water doesn’t
flow from a saltwater spring either. James 3: 2-12
You can't get much plainer than that, can you? If you can control everything that comes out of your mouth, you have reached full maturity. I'm pretty sure that isn't going to happen in this life, but I'm going to keep on working on it, as long as I'm here.
See ya tomorrow,
Connie
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