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I was studying the Bible a few days ago, when I came across a couple of verses which I thought were interesting, and frightening.
Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Examining the above verse, allow me to posit some legitimate questions:
Q1. What is unwholesome talk? Is it only swearing or talking sinfully, or is it more subtle?
A1. Actually, as illustrated by "but only what is helpful for building others up...", unwholesome talk is literally anything which is not directly intended to help build others up according to their needs.
Q2. Is it alright if we just talk about unwholesome stuff a little bit? I mean, it's harmless, right?
A2. No; if what you are saying is not going to benefit the listener, if it isn't going to lead them to Christ or build up their foundation, NO. Absolutely zero: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths..." Furthermore, as I'll show you further down the page, indulging in unwholesome talk can actually destroy other's faith.
Q3. What is "helpful for building others up"? Should we ignore someone if they ask a question not related to God?
A3. If you ignore someone, are you building them up, or leading them towards Christ? Or, instead, are you breaking down lines of communication, and turning them away from Christ? Let me pose two different scenarios, one where someone is not letting any unwholesome talk come out of their mouths, and one where someone is.
Scenario #1:
While waiting for a bus...
Atheist: "Beautiful weather we're having, isn't it?"
You: "Yes, it's really nice out. Clear skies, fluffy clouds."
Atheist: "Too bad it's so cold out. I wish I was in the Bahamas."
You: *laughs* "Don't we all."
Atheist: "Oh, here comes my bus. Nice talking to you."
You: "Bye."
Scenario #2:
While waiting for a bus...
Atheist: "Beautiful weather we're having, isn't it?"
You: "Yes, it's really nice out. Clear skies, fluffy clouds. It really makes one appreciate the beauty of the universe, and it's creator."
Atheist: "Oh, you're one of those Christians. Great."
You: "Well, let me ask you a question: when you look up into those skies, what do you think about? Do you ever think about how incredible it is, that the Earth has just the perfect axial tilt? And it's just the perfect distance from the Sun? And Jupiter is just the right size to deflect most comets? And how the Earth just happens to have a solid iron core, which allows us to have a magnetic shield, which allows us to enjoy this beautiful day? Do you ever think about that?"
Atheist: "Uh, well, not really."
*gets on bus and leaves, thinking about it*
You can use simple observations, which at first seem to be "unwholesome talk", but you can use them to lead someone to Christ, or at the very least, get those brilliant gears in their mind spinning.
Titus 3:9 "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."
This is one I have a lot of trouble with, but let me tell you something:
Every single time I have engaged in one of these debates about Old Testament laws, and even though I have "proven them wrong", it was completely pointless. The people I argued with were unchanged, perhaps even hardening their hearts against God in the process.
Don't forget; God will always have a way out. Perhaps even asking the question "Why does this matter to you" might be enough to lead the conversation away from a quarrel, and potentially to an opportunity for you to evangelize.
Colossians 2:16 "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things."
I'm sure you're all very well acquainted with this verse, but it's so important that it is worth putting here. Actually, this verse is often misinterpreted, so let me pose some questions about it:
Q1. Does this mean you're not allowed/you should not think about anything on Earth? Are we not allowed to think about our children, or our jobs, or our spouse, or our parents or relatives or pets or...etc?
A1. No. You'll notice that nowhere in the above verse does it say "Think about things above, not earthly things". What it does say is "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things", which honestly, makes all the difference.
To set your mind, you are preparing your future. This is your mindset (to set your mind is to have a mindset); this is what you live for. This is who you are, for you are what you think. If you think about violence all day long, you are probably a violent person. If you think about pets all day long, you probably anthropomorphous, and love animals. Etc.
However, if you set your mind on things above (like on living for Christ), and not on earthly things (like violence or animals), then you are obeying God. Don't forget 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
In all things, make your mindset, your final goal, your objective, your action plan to Glorify God!
Don't, as we often do, work for our own personal gain.
Ephesians 5:4 "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanks-giving".
Isn't that interesting? There should be, amongst ourselves, absolutely NO:
a) Obscenity (Being lewd, indecent, vulgar, overtly or subtly sexual)
b) Foolish talk (we talked about this above)
c) Coarse joking (joking about anything related to sin. A joke related to anything even vaguely sexual, or violent, or involves gossiping, or slanders anything pure or praiseworthy).
Although that may seem obvious, the next time someone, whom does or doesn't follow Christ, cracks a joke, thank God for everything he has done for you instead of laughing at the joke, which likely relates to something coarse.
Now, one of the most important of the verses I am presenting today...
2 Timothy 2:16 "Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly."
Isn't that scary? This relates directly to you, the person reading this right now:
If you let unwholesome talk/godless chatter come out of your mouth, you will become more and more ungodly. You will become the opposite of what you and God wants.
Paul goes on to say, in verse 17,"Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, (18) who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place [please note that Paul is talking about the resurrection of the righteous and wicked, talked about in Rev 20:4-5], and they destroy the faith of some. "
So please, unless you want to become more and more ungodly, eventually destroying the faith of other people, unless you want to be eternally separated from God as Hymenaeus and Philetus were, do not indulge in godless chatter.
May the peace of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in us whom have accepted Christ, be with you forever.
In Jesus Christ's name, we receive God's word with thanks.
Amen.
Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Examining the above verse, allow me to posit some legitimate questions:
Q1. What is unwholesome talk? Is it only swearing or talking sinfully, or is it more subtle?
A1. Actually, as illustrated by "but only what is helpful for building others up...", unwholesome talk is literally anything which is not directly intended to help build others up according to their needs.
Q2. Is it alright if we just talk about unwholesome stuff a little bit? I mean, it's harmless, right?
A2. No; if what you are saying is not going to benefit the listener, if it isn't going to lead them to Christ or build up their foundation, NO. Absolutely zero: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths..." Furthermore, as I'll show you further down the page, indulging in unwholesome talk can actually destroy other's faith.
Q3. What is "helpful for building others up"? Should we ignore someone if they ask a question not related to God?
A3. If you ignore someone, are you building them up, or leading them towards Christ? Or, instead, are you breaking down lines of communication, and turning them away from Christ? Let me pose two different scenarios, one where someone is not letting any unwholesome talk come out of their mouths, and one where someone is.
Scenario #1:
While waiting for a bus...
Atheist: "Beautiful weather we're having, isn't it?"
You: "Yes, it's really nice out. Clear skies, fluffy clouds."
Atheist: "Too bad it's so cold out. I wish I was in the Bahamas."
You: *laughs* "Don't we all."
Atheist: "Oh, here comes my bus. Nice talking to you."
You: "Bye."
Scenario #2:
While waiting for a bus...
Atheist: "Beautiful weather we're having, isn't it?"
You: "Yes, it's really nice out. Clear skies, fluffy clouds. It really makes one appreciate the beauty of the universe, and it's creator."
Atheist: "Oh, you're one of those Christians. Great."
You: "Well, let me ask you a question: when you look up into those skies, what do you think about? Do you ever think about how incredible it is, that the Earth has just the perfect axial tilt? And it's just the perfect distance from the Sun? And Jupiter is just the right size to deflect most comets? And how the Earth just happens to have a solid iron core, which allows us to have a magnetic shield, which allows us to enjoy this beautiful day? Do you ever think about that?"
Atheist: "Uh, well, not really."
*gets on bus and leaves, thinking about it*
You can use simple observations, which at first seem to be "unwholesome talk", but you can use them to lead someone to Christ, or at the very least, get those brilliant gears in their mind spinning.
Titus 3:9 "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."
This is one I have a lot of trouble with, but let me tell you something:
Every single time I have engaged in one of these debates about Old Testament laws, and even though I have "proven them wrong", it was completely pointless. The people I argued with were unchanged, perhaps even hardening their hearts against God in the process.
Don't forget; God will always have a way out. Perhaps even asking the question "Why does this matter to you" might be enough to lead the conversation away from a quarrel, and potentially to an opportunity for you to evangelize.
Colossians 2:16 "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things."
I'm sure you're all very well acquainted with this verse, but it's so important that it is worth putting here. Actually, this verse is often misinterpreted, so let me pose some questions about it:
Q1. Does this mean you're not allowed/you should not think about anything on Earth? Are we not allowed to think about our children, or our jobs, or our spouse, or our parents or relatives or pets or...etc?
A1. No. You'll notice that nowhere in the above verse does it say "Think about things above, not earthly things". What it does say is "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things", which honestly, makes all the difference.
To set your mind, you are preparing your future. This is your mindset (to set your mind is to have a mindset); this is what you live for. This is who you are, for you are what you think. If you think about violence all day long, you are probably a violent person. If you think about pets all day long, you probably anthropomorphous, and love animals. Etc.
However, if you set your mind on things above (like on living for Christ), and not on earthly things (like violence or animals), then you are obeying God. Don't forget 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
In all things, make your mindset, your final goal, your objective, your action plan to Glorify God!
Don't, as we often do, work for our own personal gain.
Ephesians 5:4 "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanks-giving".
Isn't that interesting? There should be, amongst ourselves, absolutely NO:
a) Obscenity (Being lewd, indecent, vulgar, overtly or subtly sexual)
b) Foolish talk (we talked about this above)
c) Coarse joking (joking about anything related to sin. A joke related to anything even vaguely sexual, or violent, or involves gossiping, or slanders anything pure or praiseworthy).
Although that may seem obvious, the next time someone, whom does or doesn't follow Christ, cracks a joke, thank God for everything he has done for you instead of laughing at the joke, which likely relates to something coarse.
Now, one of the most important of the verses I am presenting today...
2 Timothy 2:16 "Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly."
Isn't that scary? This relates directly to you, the person reading this right now:
If you let unwholesome talk/godless chatter come out of your mouth, you will become more and more ungodly. You will become the opposite of what you and God wants.
Paul goes on to say, in verse 17,"Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, (18) who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place [please note that Paul is talking about the resurrection of the righteous and wicked, talked about in Rev 20:4-5], and they destroy the faith of some. "
So please, unless you want to become more and more ungodly, eventually destroying the faith of other people, unless you want to be eternally separated from God as Hymenaeus and Philetus were, do not indulge in godless chatter.
May the peace of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in us whom have accepted Christ, be with you forever.
In Jesus Christ's name, we receive God's word with thanks.
Amen.
