Watch Your Mouth

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 4:29

Back when I was a police officer, I had the privilege of being an instructor in our police academy. When I had a new batch of recruits, I would go over some rules, and one rule I had was that I did not tolerate any foul language. If I heard them using four-letter words, I would give them reason to use such words through extreme physical activity. The reason I did not tolerate it was that when they wore the same uniform that I did and had a potty mouth, people would get the impression that all officers talked like that, including me. Having a potty mouth was a poor representation not only of other officers, but it also diminished the dignity of the office we represented.

As confessing believers, we are ambassadors for Christ, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20, meaning we represent Christ and all that He is. Our actions and our words should reflect that. Having a potty mouth and confessing to be a Christian is a poor representation of Christ. But when Paul says let no corrupting talk come out of our mouths, it goes beyond not using four-letter words. Paul is saying we need to consider all of our talk. Corrupting talk could be slander, gossip, over-criticism of others, crude joking, and the like. And the truth is, we all are guilty of that at times.

Here are some things to consider so that we represent Christianity well with our speech.

• Encourage twice as much as we criticize. When good criticism is needed, it is received because love and trust were established through encouragement. 
• Before you speak, consider if your words build up or tear down. My dad used to tell me that if I couldn’t say anything good, I shouldn’t say anything at all. Wonder where he got that from. 
• Consider whether the things you say and the conversations you engage in represent Jesus and other believers well. It is ok to walk away from unhealthy conversations. 
• Let the four-letter words die with the old you. I heard a friend say that if you have to use four-letter words to be interesting, you are not that interesting. 

As believers, we have so much good to share with a broken world that needs it, and Jesus has given us a new lifetime to do just that. Let's not waste it on empty or corrupting talk.