How do Christian's Speak?

In this article I am going to cover some instructions the bible gives us on how a follower of Jesus ought to speak. I will not be covering much about Lying and Blasphemy in this post due to the fact that I have already covered them elsewhere. Why do I think this is an important topic to study? The answer can be summed up in Mat 12:36-37, it teaches us that every idle word that we say we shall give account of it on judgment day,  so lets get started with the first point.

Vows and Oaths

Back in the Old Testament Men were permitted to make oaths as long as they kept their word and did what their mouths spoke. If a woman made a vow and her father or in the case of marriage her husband heard it and disallowed it on the day he heard it, then her vow wouldn't stand and the Lord would forgive her. Swearing oaths wasn't something to be taken lightly, as Jephthah had to offer his only daughter as a burnt offering after he won a great victory simply because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Things have changed under the New Testament though, now we are forbidden to take oaths of any sort.

(Lev 19:12, Num 30, Deu 23:21 -22, Jdg 11:30 -40, Ecc 5:4 -5, Zec 5:3, Mat 5:34 -37, Jas 5:12)

Murmuring and Complaining

The Lord also doesn't like it when we complain either, as it goes against the command to be content with what we got. When the children of Israel complained, God burnt them with fire. Paul instructs us to learn from their example so that we don't murmur ourselves.

(Num 11:1, Num 14:27-29, 1Co 10:10-11, Php 2:14, Heb 13:5,  Jud 1:16)

Cursing and Profanity

So what about cussing? Does the bible have anything to say about that? The bible has quite a bit to say about cussing actually. Let's see what truth's we can derive from scripture. The bible instructs us not to curse the ruler of our people, the deaf, our parents, or our God (Exo 22:28, Act 23:5, Lev 19:14, 20:9, Pro 20:20, Lev 24:15, Job 2:9-10). In fact if we want to be perfect like the man Job was we shouldn't even wish a curse to our enemies (Job 31:30). After all our God is a God of judgement; he will punish those that love to curse and speak perverseness (Psa 59:11-13, Psa 109:17, Psa 140:11, Isa 59:3).

Froward lips are the mark of a wicked person and we are told rather to hate and put that kind of speaking away (Pro 4:24, Pro 6:12, Pro 8:13, Pro 10:32). This is reiterated in the New Testament when we are told to not let corrupt communication come from our mouth (Eph 4:29), to avoid vain and profane babblings (1 Tim 6:20, 2 Tim 2:16), and to lay aside evil speakings / refrain our tongue from evil (1 Pet 2:1, 1 Pet 3:10). So to conclude this point I will just say that our speech should be sound as to not warrant condemnation (Tit 2:8)

(Psa 10:7, Pro 15:4, Pro 19:1, Rom 3:14, 1Co 15:33)

What about Gossip?

The bible has much to say about how we are to talk in regards to other people. For one we are not to be talebearers, that means we don't spread gossip or reveal other peoples secrets that could result in their harm (Lev 19:16, Pro 11:13, Pro 18:8, Pro 26:20). Another thing Christians should avoid doing is Back biting, which is when  someone maliciously attacks the character or reputation of another when they aren't around (Psa 15:3, Rom 1:30). I guess you could say tale-bearing and backbiting is the same thing. When we become offended or outraged by someone a Christian must be careful not to become a railer. A railer is someone who insults or scoffs at another while using opprobrious language (1Co 5:11). To sum up this point we are not to speak evil of one another (Tit 3:2, Jas 4:11). See also (Pro 11:9, Pro 16:28,  1Ti 5:13).

Is it OK for a christian to Flatter or  Jest? 

In order to answer this question allow me to ask the reader this question. According to the bible is there such a thing as a white lie? The answer is no, all lies are bad. Honesty is the only path for a Christians who wishes to travel the straight and narrow. Flattery is when you give someone false, excessive, insincere or exaggerated compliments or praise. To jest is to say something in sport or to speak something false for the sake of diversion. Therefore flattery and Jesting which some may consider "white" or "OK" lies aren't really OK at all.

(Pro 20:19, Pro 26:28, Pro 28:23, Eph 5:4)

Sometimes It's best to remain quiet.

There are many times and circumstances that it's best not to speak your mind but rather to hold it in and be temperate, long-suffering, and calm, that is because "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin" (Pro 10:19). The bible compares a fair woman who lacks discretion as a gold jewel in a snout of a pig (Pro 11:22). That's why it's important for the older women to teach the younger to be discrete (Tit 2:3-5) As Christians we really must be careful to not be too quick with our tongue, that is to say something without thinking first. That is because there is more hope of a fool than someone who is hasty in his speech (Pro 29:20). Instead of letting life's circumstances control what comes out of our mouth we should trust in God when we are in moments of stress and anxiety and bridle our tongue (Lam 3:26).

See also (Psa 39:1-2, Pro 17:27-28, Pro 29:11, Ecc 5:2 -3, 1Th 4:11, 2Th 3:12)

So what else does Scripture teach about how Christians ought to speak?

Back in the old testament the Israelite's were forbidden to even mention the names of other gods 

(Exo 23:13).  We should not sound arrogant or prideful when we talk as well (1Sa 2:3).

Wisdom and judgment is what should come out of our mouths as believers (Psa 37:30). Scripture also warns us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." (Pro 13:3, 18:21) this is all the more reason to watch what we say. 

Depending on how you answer someone you could either soothe them when they're upset or make them angry, by paying attention to what people say we should be able to discern the wise from the foolish (Pro 15:1-2). When it comes to answering foolish men we should not answer them the same way they answer us, but we should show them the error of their reasoning so they are not wise in their own conceit (Pro 26:4-5). Have you ever watched a game show where the guest sounds the buzzer before the host even reads the question this is a classic example of Pro 18:13.

Another things we should watch out for is calling your brother a fool (Mat 5:22). That is because the definition of a fool is someone who said in their heart their is no God (Psa 14:1), so you would be bearing false witness because if they are your brother in Christ then they would certainly not be a fool. Of course there may be an exception, since Paul did tell those that denied the resurrection fools (1 Cor 15:36).

It seems like nowadays all the world want's to talk about is sex, especially in the media but the book of Ephesians teaches us that it's a shame to speak of things that are done in secret (Eph 5:12). The book of James teaches us that we should be slow to speak, this will help us to bridle our tongue which is necessary because our belief in Christ will not do us any good if we can't do that (Jam 1:19, Jam 1:26). Another thing one could do to improve their speech is to add if the Lord will at the end of a sentence where you are telling someone that you are planning to do something (Jam 4:15). 

        

(Psa 17:3, Psa 39:1, Pro 12:13, Pro 18:6 -7,  Pro 21:23, Pro 26:17, Ecc 10:11, Isa 32:6, Hos 7:16, Mic 7:5, Jam 3:2-12)

In conclusion we can see that there are many things Christians ought not to speak, and that reading and meditating on God's word is the best course of action for those who wish to glorify God with their tongue.

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Bonus: verses related to how speaking related to health.

Proverbs 16:24 KJV — Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Proverbs 18:7 KJV — A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 12:18 KJV — There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 15:4 KJV — A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Proverbs 21:23 KJV — Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 18:21 KJV — Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.