Watch Your Language!

Ephesians 4:29
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.

Ephesians 5:4
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
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

There are many things that I could say about today's Christians' conversation and speech - such as taking the Lord's name in vain, minced oaths, gossiping, lying by exaggeration, inappropriate use of words such as awesome..., but time and space will not allow for that at present.

What is on my mind at present is the crudeness with which so many of us choose to speak. It seems as though what is commonplace for the world, too often is commonplace for the children of God as well. Speech that is common, vulgar, or insulting does not belong to the person who is controlled by the Spirit of God. Included in this list are junior curse words, which mean the same thing as the grown-up versions. The notion of cleaning up one's vocabulary seems foreign or wholly unnecessary to the average Christian, but I suggest that we could each stand to step outside of ourselves (self included) and review our speech.

When someone pulls out in front of you traffic, what do you say? When you drop and egg on your newly mopped floor, what's the first word that comes to your mind? When you feel that you have received unfair treatment, what do you think?

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.