Speech, speech!

This post is addressed to professing Christians.  It is also addressed to me.  For future reference you may assume that any of my posts that smack of admonishment, rebuke, condemnation or correction apply equally to myself as to others.

That said, the subject of Christian speech is a vast one.  But I just want to touch on one aspect of it today.  As Christians our public testimony is something to be guarded.  It is of paramount importance that we use "salty" language!  No, I don't mean that we should talk like merchant marines.  Rather, I mean salty as in the context of Col. 4:6, "Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt . . . ." 

Salt, in the appropriate quantity, makes food savory (think potato chips) and irresistable.  Lays chips used to use the ad line, "You can't eat just one."  When you speak do you leave people wanting more?  Are they drawn to you because of your speech?  Do you build up or tear down the credibility of your Christian testimony with your speech?  Salt also preserves.  Likewise, our speech should preserve our testimony as well as preserve the souls of those around us by sharing the Gospel with them.

Scripture has LOTS to say about our speech, the tongue, words, lips, our mouth and so on, but a quick look at just two verses is adequate to make the point today.

Col 3:8, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

The word used for "filthy" here is the Greek work aischrologia (don't ask me to pronouce it; I just put it here to prove to you that I looked it up).  Literally interpreted that means foul speaking or low and obscene speech.  You would think that the Colossian Christians wouldn't need to be told not to use obscene speech.  But, then again, you would think that Christians today wouldn't need to be admonished not to use obscene speech.  I can tell you from personal observation, however, that we do need just such a reminder -- some of us more often than others.

Eph 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."

The translation "unwholesome" here is really rather mild.  Perhaps too mild to reflect God's intention in this verse.  The literal translation of the Greek word sapros used here is rotten or putrid.  That's much stronger than unwholesome.  The Ephesians were told not to let rotten, putrid talk come out of their mouths!  Hey, that's not just directed at the Ephesians though.  Does rotten, putrid language come out of your mouth too?  Obscene words, riske' stories and double-entendre'?

Brothers and sisters, let's resolve to redouble our efforts to rein in our tongues and instead use "salty" language in the spirit of Col. 4:6.