There was a polite, courteous, soft-spoken, and intelligent journalist who spoke, argued, and reasoned with diligence and intelligence. However, one who was opposed to that view was adamant, loud-mouthed, arrogant, dominating, and used words that were uncivil, demeaning, filthy and obscene. The journalist objected stating that the other discussion member was using ‘unparliamentary words.’ Hearing this, that man shouted: “Is it a parliament. Just a studio. These words are my daily vocabulary. I cannot change just because you want me to.” These words used by trolls in social media, debaters in TV, talk shows, YouTube videos were unheard few years ago.
Lord Jesus said: “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) Paul also warns about kind of words that should not be used by believers. (Ephesians 5:4: Colossians 3:8)
1) No filthiness: Dirty, ugly, vile, wicked, mean, humiliating and polluting words should not be in the vocabulary of a Christian.
2) No foolish talk: Conversations that assumes ‘God does not exist’ are foolish talks.
3) No crude joking: Humiliating others by making them a butt of jokes is sin against God. Weak, vulnerable, marginalized, women, poor and handicapped are disdained and spoken against.
4) No anger or wrath: Rash words are like swords that could pierce. (Proverbs 12:18) Words spoken in anger or wrath could harm and injure a person permanently. There is Tamil saying that means: Even scars caused by fire could be healed, but not the scars of words.
5) No malice or slander: speaking with intention to harm or create ill-will or damage reputation of others breaks relationships and sin against God.
6) No obscene: Words with obscenity against opposite sex or abusive are condemned by Paul.
Instead, there should be thanksgiving, an attitude of gratefulness for God’s mercies, love and care. Christians should have wise tongue that brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
Do I have a wise tongue that bring healing?