I’ve seen this post multiple times, and can’t express how profoundly these words offend me. The purpose, often put up by people whom I know love Jesus, attempt to justify bad and offensive language by leaders and ourselves, and this can be from both political persuasions. However, this Unconventional rant is NOT political—but spiritual. The question: do Churchill’s words represent or oppose how Jesus and the Bible view words?
Good words flow from a good and godly heart. Evil words flow from an evil heart. Or, our words reveal where we stand. Good words bring healing discussions—evil words bring damage. And on Judgement Day, God will examine our words, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37, emphasis added). Words are behavior.
Words reveal the reality of our faith, our relationship with Jesus. Yes, we can fake it, and many do, often. But the content of evil and careless and hateful words reveals the heart underneath. The heart underneath that God judges. Yes, we all miss the boat on this, and as people with flaws our words often don’t match our hearts. But let’s evaluate the general style of our words. Do they express love and respect, or a lack of love and respect for those God created? That distinction matters.
Jesus’ brother James said it well, “no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?” (James 3:8-11, NLT).
Do we all use words that hurt? Yes. Can we be forgiven? Yes. Should we continually be improving the grace of our words? Yes. Should we automatically excuse bad language in others or ourselves? No.
Maybe, rather than talking about damaging language, we should focus on God’s design for healthy words, “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…Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:29, 31-32, NLT).
Let’s follow God’s word, not Winston’s here, OK? I think our world will be the better for it.
Kick Starting the Application
Think some about your own words. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best, where would you rank your overall use of words in between bitter and abusive and angry to kind and tender and uplifting? How happy would God be with them? Have you ever thought that words really don’t matter, just behavior? Do you still think that way? For all of us, what are one or two practical steps we can take to make our words more godly?