Written by Pastor Mark Driskill
December 15, 2011

Read 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.”

Years ago my car developed a terrible problem. I was driving along one day and noticed smoke pouring out of the rear end. When I say smoke I’m not talking about a small trail of it. I mean there was a literal cloud dark grey exhaust leaving a trail behind me that could be seen for a block. I stopped at a traffic light and smoke literally enveloped a half dozen cars behind me. It was so bad I was certain I would be pulled over for polluting the air. This gigantic cloud followed me all through town until I reached a mechanic. All the while I drove I just kept praying that I wouldn’t cause an accident.

It was hard to imagine that this profuse cloud of poisonous exhaust came from a small crack or whole in my exhaust system or somewhere like that. This makes me think of the impact of filthy and crude humor coming out of the mouths of those who bear the name of Jesus.  Day by day many go about their business leaving a trail of poison behind them.  It is a trail of ungodly talk, gossip, slander, and crude humor that hangs in the atmosphere like a deadly cloud.  This cloud makes it hard to see the life of Jesus in the one who is speaking it.

Just like my car, ungodly talk from the mouths of believers chokes the life out of any attempt at being a good witness and makes it hard for the lost to see Jesus. How can anyone see Jesus in my actions when my words are clouding the atmosphere? How much better it is when people hear us expressing praise and thanksgiving rather than curses and filthy talk.

It is so discouraging to go on Facebook and read the posts of fellow Christians when filled with bad language.  Profanity, threats, gossip, sexual innuendo and the like are like a poisonous gas choking the life out of your witness. Some think a cleverly placed asterisk can make things better, or just using initials makes it less offensive, but that is a fallacy. Others think they are “being real” by throwing in a curse word here and there.  But you never see Jesus or the apostles trying to reach people by doing such things.  Even when confronting evil they never lower themselves to filthy or suggestive language.

Some will say, “Oh I never use bad language in front of lost people.” — Uhm well, does that mean you save it for your fellow Christian friends? If so why is it suddenly acceptable around them? And isn’t it hypocritical to talk one way with one group and another way with another? The Bible tells us it is not to be a part of our lives at all.  Jesus said that the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  So, there’s more to it than being a good example.  Jesus wants our hearts filled with better things… all the time.  If you want to know what fills your heart, take a day to pay attention to what you talk about when you aren’t trying to be good.

Friends, this is why it is so important that we stay dependent on the Holy Spirit and allow him and the word of God to fill our hearts. We cannot speak purely in this world without his help. So let us draw close to our helper and ask him to sanctify our speech so that we found giving thanks and blessing the world with our words. When I got my car to the garage I found that I needed more than a patch up job to stop the smoke. I needed a brand new part. I find now that in order to clear myself of toxic talk I need a renewed heart. God clean my heart so my words will reflect your glory.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten By the Word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten By the Word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)