What
Do Your Words Reveal?
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 4:29
One of the most
interesting things about all the political talk is watching people justify
their words and their opinions. It would be comical if it wasn’t so sad.
One woman, someone who
sees herself as a fine Christian, was taken aback by a friend who responded to
yet another hateful post on Facebook. The friend said something I’ve thought
many times: She called the post hateful and mean and questioned this woman for
writing it.
Naturally, it produced
a defensive response. It’s “my opinion,” she insisted. “I have the right to express
my opinion.” “It’s not hateful. I don’t use curse words.” “I’ve got a lot at
stake in this debate.” And, here’s the clincher, “Christians have been silent
too long.”
It took a great deal of
self-control to keep from responding to that.
Jesus has no part in this hatred that has spread over our land. He’s just the
excuse some folks use for speaking from their own self-interests.
Let’s try something
here. “He’s so stupid! Did you hear what he said? He’s nothing but a liar and a
thief. Those people should be prosecuted. How dare they condemn a good man! I
know he’s good. I don’t need to meet him. He’s good and those others are just
awful people. I heard they stole money. Did you hear that? I know it’s true. I
can tell. Can’t you? Yes! They need to go to jail. How dare they say something
bad about such a good person when they’ve done so much evil!”
If you read or heard
those words would you think the person was being hateful or mean? There are no curse
words in there. A little gossip. A lot of commentary about something the writer
would know nothing about. Slander. Lots of opinions. Words that are designed to
fuel anger and spread hurt.
I made that up. You
know that. But I could have copied and pasted those words from any number of Facebook
posts from this woman or dozens more. Sure, they’re entitled to their “opinions.”
I’ve big on the First Amendment and our right to free speech. What makes me
angry is justifying this ugliness by claiming to defend Jesus.
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his
heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Luke 6:45
This is what Jesus said
about evil words. Jesus isn’t in this ugliness. Unfortunately, those who don’t
know Him, don’t know that God is love, turn away from the One who loves them
most because of these lies.
What’s also unfortunate
is what the ugly words reveal about the person saying them. The woman who got
called out for her ugliness is someone I’ve known a long time. I always
considered her to be a strong woman of faith, someone who is a prayer warrior.
I’m starting to question that. I don’t know how someone who truly has the love
of Jesus inside of them can be so consistently ugly with their words and opinions.
It’s makes me consider
her heart. It makes me remember the ugly comments I’ve heard her make about the
poor or about immigration. I’d excused those remarks. I’d given her a pass because
she’s led such a sheltered life, without ever having to support herself or do
without anything. I’d extended grace, the same grace she refuses to extend to
anyone who disagrees with her opinions.
Jesus said our words
reflect our hearts. What do your words reveal about you?
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