Articles
Unwholesome Speech
The apostle Paul stated in Eph. 4:29: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Speech that is unwholesome is anything that stands in opposition to God and edification. Obviously obscene language would fall under this umbrella and as Christians, such language must not become the norm. Such language serves to create strife, hatred, sin and evil. God does not approve of His people using such language to make people feel less than they are or to insult one another.
Unwholesome speech is, however, not limited to obscenities. Telling dirty jokes (coarse jesting) or talking about others in a way that humiliates them is not Christian-like at all. God is angered at such speech and it must never be found to be happening among God’s people. We must never engage in these kinds of conversations and neither should we subject ourselves to listening to it. We should instead correct those who speak such things in a humble, loving way and speak only what is necessary for edification and God’s glory.
Perhaps what is no longer even being recognized as unwholesome speech, taking God’s name in vain is sinful and it is blasphemy! How many times do we hear people using God’s name in vain just to make some point or to one-up someone else or simply to come across as the loudest and most dominant person in the room? This is utterly detestable in the sight of God and we must ensure that we are not led astray by such things especially since it has become so popular and dare I say “cool” in today’s society.
Text messaging is no longer text messaging without the famous acronym, “OMG.” God does not consider that to be funny, appropriate nor convenient. He takes it as an insult of the highest order and so many Christians have become desensitized to it that they do it themselves and argue to approve it. God’s holy laws for us have never changed and taking His holy name in vain is shameful and disgraceful. We ought to correct this kind of behavior instead of encouraging it and we must ensure that we do not do it ourselves.
There are many more things that could be said on the subject of unwholesome speech but I hope what we have discussed is both a wake-up-call and a reminder of who we are and what we need to be doing. May we speak only what is profitable to God’s glory and for edification.
