Let No Corrupt Communication Proceed Out Of Your Mouth

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

How many times have you read this divinely inspired verse?

I’m sure we all lost track.

Yet, we still do it.

We still allow “corrupt” which is “rotten” and “worthless” language to come from our mouths. Sometimes it’s out of anger, that happens to the best of us. After our anger has subsided, then we realize we messed up, again.

However, this verse applies to all sorts of scenarios in life.

It speaks of when we’re angry, it speaks of gossip, it speaks of any speech that does not “edify.” This verse speaks of any speech that does not build up the hearer. If the speech tears down, well then, it can be considered corrupt speech.

At the same time, don’t get to preachy here either…

Remember, Jesus really reamed the Pharisees, over and over again. He even flipped over tables. However, what Jesus said and His actions were not “corrupt.” No, I’m not just saying that because He is “Jesus.”

Think about those scenarios…

The Pharisees were spiritually corrupt and they were trying to destroy Jesus. So, Christ was teaching against that, and their tradition that was well established in the region. Essentially, Jesus was teaching those around Him. So they would understand how to handle business while He was away.

Hey, Jesus never spoke to non-believers and good Christians in that manner. He never flipped over the tables of good people either. So keep all that in mind.

Now, to me, the biggest and most direct example of this verse concerns Christians themselves. This verse speaks of how Christians should treat each other and their neighbors. Just bounce up to verse 25 to grab that nugget.

However, in my experiences, Christians can treat other Christians pretty badly. To be honest, I’ve been pretty appalled by it over the years. They’ll call you horrible and rotten names, they’ll even tell you that you’re working for the Devil himself.

Why?

You don’t believe as they do.

Isn’t that something?

If you don’t believe as they do, well then, you’re clearly an idiot.

It’s actually pretty astounding.

Those same Christians have read the same verse we’re discussing dozens of times, but they never apply it to their life.

Nope.

They never see their actions as being “corrupt,” just your actions.

Instead, they want to play Holy Joe Christian.

Yep, that’s a Christian who knows more than everyone else, and they ensure that you know it. Even to the point of spreading corrupt communication to get their point across. Why some of these “Christian” folk are even your buddies. They’ll give you high fives all day, that is, until you disagree with them.

Then…

They throw a tantrum, then you’re cast from the circle of friendship, and you’re called all sorts of unmentionables. All because you don’t see a particular Biblical topic the same way as they do.

Yes, sirree Bob, Christians do that, day in and day out.

It sort of lets you know who really applies Christianity to their life. I’ve seen this for years. For people to accept Jesus, and say they place their faith on the Book, and then act like that, it almost makes you question their sanity.

I’m reminded of this as it just happened to me the other day.

This time, it was in the form of a nastygram.

A reader disagreed about something I said in an article. They thought I believed one way, when I clearly said I didn’t in the article in question. They couldn’t even follow the subject and then they got upset at me. That’s when they dropped the “deceiver” bit on me, and called me the name of a tribe of people in the Bible.

It’s not an endearing one in “that belief.”

I say that belief, as this specific group believes in something that’s actually untrue. This individual believes in false doctrine and thinks everyone is out to get them. It’s truly sad actually. How one can be so brainwashed that it makes them turn on their Christian brothers and sisters.

To the point, of using insults against another brother in Christ.

I responded to the individual politely and posed a question to them…

“If you’re a Christian, why are you so hostile?”

I haven’t received a response and probably won’t.

I can tell you this though, I’ve asked this and similar questions to people in the past, and it did make them stop, reflect, and then apologize.

That’s a win.

Hey, they used corrupt communication, but at least they recognized it.

So today’s message is all about self reflection. It’s about “practicing what you preach.” As I always say, there’s thousands of denominations out there. Wake up folks, millions of Christians believe different that little ol you. That doesn’t mean they’re “deceivers,” “false prophets,” and whatever else.

If you can’t talk to someone else respectfully, especially a Christian, how on earth are you going to convince someone else to join our faith? Who would want to be a Christian if that’s how they treat other people.

My friends, don’t just read the Bible.

Apply it to your life.