The challenge of growing up with the correct use of the language

I have always admired people who express themselves well and who are delicate and prudent when it comes to expressing any opinion and giving some judgment.

I met Pastor Lesdia Núñez one morning in March 2005 and the first thing that caught my attention was her lilting and sweet way of speaking. As Lesdia was a humble servant of God from a very young age and was already around 70 years old, it was not surprising to me how docile, and at the same time convincing, with which she handled her eloquence. We always talked about the same topic: Christ, in all his fullness. From Lesdia, already in the presence of the Lord, I keep some of his ideals and thoughts, but there is one that does him honor and that seems to have come from one of Spurgeon's preaching: “The children of the King should always speak the language of the cut". It is not beautiful? Isn't it a beautiful exhortation to the body of Christ to treat each other with edifying words and to avoid uttering arguments and murmurings that destroy it?

Backbiting and irresponsibility in speaking in church (and outside of it) have caused much suffering, division, and bitterness among God's people. Human emotions cheat us, they deceive us; Wanting to avoid the wildness of the language, we let go of the reins and passions are unleashed to the point of sullying the honor and integrity of a brother, damaging his testimony for no apparent reason and the saddest thing: we also outrage ours by hiding ourselves in an inconsistent religiosity and hiding ourselves of the presence of God with one hand on the heart and the other on the apron made of fig leaves. As if He was not able to see our spiritual nakedness because of rampant sin!

And it is that the language, the same that blesses and consoles, that exhorts for good and that imparts joys and hopes, gets out of the lane where God's grace travels victoriously, and by not putting the brake on its time, it collapses supposed intentions noble of heart and turns the Christian into a pinky with no motivation for growth. “The mouth of the fool is his undoing; his lips are a deadly trap for him ”(Pr 18: 7).

The apostle James destroys all hope for those who seek to escape God's good judgment: "If someone thinks he is religious but does not stop his tongue, he is deceiving himself, and his religion is useless" (James 1: 26). Thanks Santiago, for the reminder!

The language of the court (which is the people of God, body and bride of Christ), must be seasoned with the grace of God and be consistent with the convictions that we defend in our daily lives. It is very sad when we realize that there are brothers or sisters whose words are not the true reflection of their practical life. They say one thing and do another. They warn against backbiting and the misuse of the tongue, and are the first willing to provoke fights because of the immature promptness of their mouths. “The lips of a fool are the cause of strife; his mouth incites to quarrel ”(Pr 18: 6)

Jesus has left us a tremendous passage in the Gospel that we should treasure regarding the subject we are dealing with. Addressing the Pharisees in one of those enclosures that they tried to do to the Master, he said: “You brood of vipers, how can you who are bad say something good? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks ”Mt 12:34, emphasis added). It is like to tremble when we reflect on these last words. The next two verses are not wasted in this context; The Lord says that on the day of judgment each one of us will have to give an account of every idle word that is badly spoken, pronounced according to the flesh to do evil and not good. Is there anything more idle than gossip and gossip?

Now the coin has two sides, thank God. Our language, our speech must be a torrent of peace and harmony with men (Christian or not), our speech must distill the delicious nectar of God's grace in our lives. Does He not abound in our hearts?

The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians "May your conversation always be pleasant and in good taste" (Col 4.6a). In the RV 60 version: "Let your word always be graceful, seasoned with salt."

We often face difficulties with language problems even in our churches (none are perfect). The most comfortable thing is to always blame the evil one for our own weaknesses and continue hiding like Adam in the Garden of Eden. The response to the call of our Lord, to obedience to his word of truth, is the foundation that makes us grow. The challenge of growing up by restraining our language from speaking evil and what destroys and does not build is great. Only the Spirit can help us in this internal struggle. Let us ask the Lord to help us and give us victory against this widespread evil. Let's say like the psalmist: “With my tongue I will proclaim your righteousness, and all day long I will praise you” (Psalm 35:28).

God bless you!