Written by Joseph T. Lee
Do you profess to be a Christian? If so, do you use profanity in public? What about writing acronyms that represent curse words? Does your walk match your talk?
The world is a stage and we live in it. People are watching us when we speak and the way we live out our lives. Unbelievers are watching how we talk and every action we take.
The Bible says that we should try to live holy lives, pleasing to the Lord. Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Now look at Ephesians 5:8-10, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”
The Bible also says specifically that we are not to use profanity and rough talk. Look at the following Scriptures.
Colossians 3:8, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
Matthew 12:36-37, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Ephesians 5:4, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
Matthew 15:10-11, “And he called the people to him and said to them, ‘Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.’”
James 3:6-8, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
The fact is, the tongue can destroy a person by the hateful and profane words that spew from one’s lips. Even writing those words on social media can destroy your own testimony for Christ Jesus.
I once knew a man who proclaimed to be a Christian. He was an Usher at his mega church. He greeted people and played the part of a wonderful Christian brother at church. But you see, he had two sides of him. His public face to face matched what one would think a Christian should look like and act like. The other side of him was his social media side. He was a huge supporter of a famous politician, and he would not stop at anything to make his point or put someone in their place. I saw a response he made on a News Station’s social media Facebook page where I wondered if his account had been hacked. He used terrible profanity and called the other person a “Demoncrat,” because this person was not of his political party. He used vile language in written form to attempt to make his point, all the while destroying his testimony for Christ. Perhaps this man never knew Jesus as he showed no fruits, no real evidence that he loved God with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind, and he definitely did not love his neighbor as himself.
Friends, as “true” Followers of Christ, we must allow the Holy Spirit to change us, mold us into the men and women Christ Jesus has called us to be. We must repent and turn away from our wicked ways.
If you are struggling in your sinful nature, pray and ask God to forgive you and help you with your Christian walk. Get involved with reading the Bible. The Lord will teach you as you read. This is the best way to learn how to live a life of Christ, holy and pleasing to God. Also, pray often. Jesus wants a personal relationship with you.
Copyright August 1, 2022. Marketplace Evangelism Ministries Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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