God forgives people for huge sins, right? If God can forgive the worst of humanity, surely He is not worried about the small things? There’s grace—and He can handle words. Of course He can. Language is one of the ‘small’ issues, right? It’s not like adultery or being an alcoholic or deserting your family or gambling away your paycheck when your children are at home without food.
But language comes up in the Bible anyway, “small” as it is. Not just language, but dirty jokes, inappropriate comedy, and all the rest.
“And there must be no filthy talk, or obscenity or crude joking, which are not fitting [for a believer], but rather giving of thanks” Ephesians 5:4.
Paul says clean up your mouth, and when you want to be angry and mock someone, find things to be thankful for.
Put down your bad language and dirty jokes and take up gratitude. A thankful heart will change your life.
But surely words are not that big a deal, right? People will say anything now, and in public settings, in front of women and children Believe it or not, there was a time when a man wouldn’t dare to cuss in front of a lady–“disturbing the peace by swearing” has long been a criminal offense across the country and remains a crime in Louisiana (see footnote).
Actually, words may be a bigger deal than we think. Ephesians 5:4 directly follows a discussion of sexual immorality. In fact, it is all one sentence. Paul seems to equate obscene acts and obscene language. The context reads like this:
“But among you [believers] there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are not proper for God’s people; and there must be no filthy talk, or obscenity or crude joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” Ephesians 5:3-4.
God takes our words seriously. We are his witnesses, shining his light in the darkness. How will the lost find Christ if they can’t find a Christ-follower? Your words will help them recognize that you are different. They notice. They will tease you now and then, but when their world falls apart, you will be the person they come to for help.
And why not? When life is hard, we all look for someone who can offer words of hope and thankfulness—someone who can look on the bright side and be an encourager, not someone who is foul-mouthed and as miserable as we are.
God, teach us to watch our language, to avoid obscenity and dirty jokes, and to practice THANKULNESS. Help us use our speech, our words, to bring you glory. Help us fill our minds and hearts with good things. Make us thankful. Fill us with gratitude–the “healthiest of all emotions,” as one writer put it.
ΑΩ
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4416982/Louisiana-man-arrested-cursing-woman.html
Household Words: 