The Challenge of Christian Conversation

“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. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

One of the greatest checklists for how we use our language skills is found in Psalm 15:1-3: “O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue...”

You can tell a lot about a person when you listen to them talk. Could this be what Jesus had in mind when He said, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart” (Luke 6:45)?

The Apostle Paul admonished us to “let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6).

Of course, the Proverbs are rich with entries aimed to show the distinction between the foolish and the wise. “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles” (21:23).

Watch your conversation. Is it reflecting the light of Christ within? Listen to the words you speak; then see how they line up with the instruction from The Word.