Verbal Pollution

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)

Imagine you're walking down the street one day and someone comes up to you with a questionnaire about pollution.  You say you're against all forms of pollution and do not personally, at least knowingly, cause any form of pollution.  Then the pollster says, ``Oh, that means you never gossip, right?''

How would most of us answer that one?

Verbal pollution affects many of us on a day to day basis, whether it is us or someone else doing the polluting.  Verbal pollution can be broken down into two types, the first being foul or abusive language, and the other being negative or destructive talk that comes from your mouth.  

It is important to remember that according to the Word of God our tongues can either speak words of life or words of death.  I like how James says it in chapter 3:5-6, “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

As Christians it is important that we keep our tongues from speaking words of death.  The Word of God is quite clear on this, “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.” (Ephesians 4:29)

These verses show that God hates foul language, but what many don’t realize is that these verses also encompass the second type of verbal pollution; Negative or Destructive talk.  Negative or Destructive talk can include things like murmuring, complaining, gossiping, or belittling someone.  These types of speech are incredibly destructive, and can open the door for Satan to cause anger, quarreling, sadness, depression, and other negative effects.

We need to understand that our speech directly corresponds to what is in our hearts.  If God is in our heart, and we are striving to do His will, meditate on His Word, and have a strong, deep relationship with Him, then our hearts should be producing fruit that is consistent with the nature of God.  However, if God is not in our lives, or God is in our lives, but we fail to make Him the focus, then we allow the world to have an open door to contaminate our hearts, and we begin to produce worldly fruit, rather than spiritual fruit.  

We see in the Word of God that His desire is that, “...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)    

  

I believe corrupt speech stains our hearts.  Each time we insult someone, gossip, tell a dirty joke, or use off-color speech there is a hardening, or callousing of the heart.  When we are careless with our words we grieve God, and it becomes more difficult to hear His voice.  We also can be transformed.  When we are careful about our words we please God, and are transformed by Him to reflect Him better.

I would like to leave you with one last thought from the scriptures, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. . . 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...Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  (Ephesians 4:25, 29-32)

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