There was the outburst of Rep. Wilson, the congressman who shouted “you lie!” at the President in the House. There was the foul-mouthed tirade of Serena Williams at the US Open Tennis Tournament. There was Kanye West jumping on stage to take the mic from the hands of Taylor Swift as she celebrated her award to declare to the world that he thought another artist deserved it. And, there were two young guys who cursed me rudely yesterday when I spoke to them!
What’s up with this rudeness? Is it something new? No, not really, despite all the hand-wringing of the pundits. I agree with George Will, who opined yesterday, that Americans feel entitled to say whatever is on their mind without the restraints of social rules. If we think it, we believe we can and should say it. This ‘openness’ is a developing trend, but I know that contempt for others that spills over in rude, hateful, or biased words is as old as humanity!
If we want our words to change, Jesus diagnoses the real source of the problem, the place where the change starts. “You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously." (Matthew 12:34-36, The Message) When anger is boiling deep inside, angry words will inevitably spill over. If filthy fantasies are harbored and savored in the dark corners of our mind, it should not surprise us when we speak foul words. If we hang onto prejudice and hatred in our attitudes, no matter how carefully we filter our speech, eventually others will know the truth about us. Here’s the fact, disciple: We cannot change the content of our speech by putting a lock on our lips.
Got a speech problem? Are you fighting to hold back your words? Do you work hard at having two vocabularies, one for your Christian friends and one for the working world? That is a heart health issue, disciple. God desires real change. The Word demands that we become people whose words are full of healing! Take a look. "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior." (Ephesians 4:29-32, NLT)
The Spirit will change our hearts, if we allow Him full access. Will it be an easy process? Probably not. It involves honesty with ourselves and God. We must stop making excuses, acknowledge the truth about who we are, what we say, and what we do. The Word promises that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NIV) Listen to your words. Do they cut, wound, bruise, and batter? Or do they build up, encourage, and bring healing?
Here’s a word from the Word. Let’s make it our prayer and ask God to make our speech noticeably different, marked by Heaven’s accent!
"How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:12-14, NLT)
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