Holy lips and holy legacies

Is cussing really that big of a deal? Does it matter if our humour is cruder in private than it is in public? How detrimental is an occasional sexual joke with friends, or a couple of cuss words while you’re alone in traffic?

All too often, Christians — especially young Christians — act as though their speech simply doesn’t matter to God. They allow a lack of verbal self-control to dominate their private conversations, asserting that foul language, complaining, and gossip are nothing more than marks of being “real”. They attempt to justify worldly speech — to others, to their own consciences, and to God — by claiming that it is simply part of being human and should thus be accepted and even valued.

Scripture, however, promotes a radically different conviction about our speech as believers. The way in which we use our tongues is actually the determining factor of our fruitfulness, of our representation of God before the lost, and of our very identities. Our language determines our legacies and, as such, should be regarded with reverence.

Our language determines our legacies and, as such, should be regarded with reverence

‘Oracles of God’

The words of Christians should always resemble the words of God. 1 Peter 4:11 says that those who identify as God’s people are to speak as God’s oracles. Oracles never speak of their own will but surrender their mouths as vessels for the speech of the One whom they represent. Their words originate with their Master, they are shaped by their Master, and they please their Master, thereby fulfilling His purpose through them. Thus, according to Peter, if God wouldn’t say something, neither should we.

As God’s oracles, our speech should produce the outcomes of God’s speech, as though God were speaking directly. What effect does God’s speech have when it is issued? In the creation account, we observe that His speech grants life to that which receives it, increasing beauty, perfection, and wholeness with every utterance. Is this true of our speech? If we are God’s oracle, it should be. Psalm 107:20 articulates the liberating effect of God’s speech; the Psalmist recounts that when God’s people were enslaved by their sin, He sent forth His word to set them free. In Psalm 119:104, we learn that it is the speech of God which enlightens the heart to know good from evil and enables His hearers to hate every false way. Does our speech serve as a freeing moral example for others?

The extent to which our speech resembles that of God’s directly affects the extent to which His power is observable in our lives. To be conduits of God’s power and activity is the highest calling of the Christian. Paul, in 2 Timothy 2, outlines the difference between vessels set aside for honourable use and those left for common use: the determining factors are whether holiness is taken seriously or not and how fervently they pursue purity in all aspects of life. In surrendering our identities to Christ’s mercy, we surrender our faculties for His purposes. Our mouths are by no means exempt from this calling, which is to demonstrate holiness before our Saviour. That mantle endures regardless of the time, audience, or social setting. When we forfeit holiness through unclean speech, we are ultimately forfeiting our ability to be useful in the hands of God. Does our speech reflect a desire to be associated with the power and working of Christ?

The extent to which our speech resembles that of God’s directly affects the extent to which His power is observable in our lives

Make or break your legacy

Ultimately, a choice in words is a choice of destiny. James, in the third chapter of his epistle, says that our tongues are like a rudder, determining the entire course of our lives. Take a moment and meditate on the gravity of that claim: James is asserting that our identities and futures are not only influenced by our language but are determined by it. Do we speak like we believe that to be true? Where is our speech taking our future? Do we sound like the kind of person that we want to be? Our language will surely determine our legacy and will shape how we are remembered by all who know us.

Proverbs 15:2 says that the tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing. Christians should desire to be known as sources of wisdom, understanding and peace — being easily identifiable with God, the declarer of all truth. If we wish for people to come to us when they are seeking the words of God, then we need to make a practice of putting God’s words in our mouths.

The next time we are tempted to speak carelessly, let us remember what is at stake — our role as God’s mouthpiece. Consider also that our language, as written by James, is establishing a pattern for our future self in all aspects of life. Let us decide what course we want our lives to follow — one of blessing, or of emptiness; of healing, or of regret; one of honour, or of hypocrisy — and offer our words to God as acts of worship. May our lips be vessels of honour, purified and set apart for holy use. May they produce fruit, character and reputations that please God. Make no mistake: our language will determine our legacy.