“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”

Some times we get used to the idea that the things we or other people say are just words, nothing to get hung up on or too concerned with. This is not a teaching from God, however, and Christians should be concerned with their speech as much as their conduct.

Here’s a harsh truth: for the one who follows Christ, there is no free speech. In fact, every word we speak has a cost. There is a consequence to our self-expression. Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of being demon-possessed because of His casting out of demons. He castigated them for their blasphemy of God’s holy power and then about their manner of speaking more broadly.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:33-37

The words we speak are meaningful. Let us not abuse the Grace we have been given by giving a voice to our sinful nature. Bring out a good treasure to those around you.

Ethan Kirl

Originally Published June 2, 2020