Richard Hollerman

Has it ever occurred to you, as it does me, that we find many expressions today that are evil and wicked when surely God wants words that are kind, blessed, and gentle.

Listen to the speech around you. Listen to the words and how they come to you. Are they sweet and kind—or are they evil and unkind? Some people habitually use words that are belligerent and wicked.  They seem to want to pull the other person down! But then there are also words that are thoughtful, caring, sympathetic, and kind and compassionate. It might depend on what is in their heart. Don’t you think?

 

This is one reason why we read in Scripture that we are to give words that are “good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). Paul the apostle then presents further instructions for our help: “Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” He then writes, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (v. 31-32).

We know that there is much there and each word requires some thought. We therefore must ask, Do we use “bitter” speech? Do you have trouble with wrathful, angry, clamorous, and slanderous speech? Are we prone to be involved in slanderous speech? On the other hand, are we careful to engage in kind speech? Are we “tender-hearted” in our approach? Do we have a forgiving spirit? Are we seeking to be like Jesus in all ways?

As the ESV has it: “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 4:28). This says much doesn’t it! Our speech or the words that we speak are to build up the other, they are to be appropriate, and they are to convey grace to others. Is your speech like this?

We know that some of this pertains to our personalities, our demeanor, our age, or our language abilities. You may come from a culture in which harsh or unkind words are more common. They shouldn’t be but this is the way it is. Yet, we know that God, through the Holy Spirit, can work in us (even our vocal cords) and convey speech that is more acceptable and helpful. Whether it be the way we speak, the manner of expression, the words we use, or the expressions we use, do we really have words that are positive and good?

One dictionary defines speech in this way: “the expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds.” Another source tells us that the word for speech may be parlance, parley, conversation, communication. It goes on to say that terms may give these thoughts: observation, assertion, asseveration, comment, and mention, talk. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/speech). Speech can be pleasant or unkind, sweet or harsh, unkind or gentle.

Some people, of course, can speak in a more pleasant manner while we know that others don’t have this ability. We encourage you to do all you can to develop the ability to convey thoughts that are Christ-like and Biblical in content and in the manner of speaking.

I should also mention that we need to practice good manners. We should use courtesy in all we do. For instance, do you frequently say “Thank you” in your conversation? Or do you use “excuse me” or “I’m sorry” when you make a mistake? Good speech will have these terms in our conversation. They not only are a blessing to people but they will make our speech more agreeable. We remember that we are to “give grace to others” who hear us (Ephesians 4:29).

What about you? What is your speech like and how can it be improved? What can you do now to speak in both a forceful manner as well as a kind manner? Do you do what you can to use a caring, benevolent, compassionate, gentle, and sympathetic approach? Do you seek to have an agreeable, friendly, peaceful, and cooperative way of speaking. Or (on the other hand), do you have a mean, mean-spirited, cantankerous, hot-tempered, pugnacious, or truculent approach? Which is it?

How do you speak? Is it the speech that would glorify God? Or, on the other hand, speech that conveys an evil heart? Which is it?