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PROGRAM D-8452
I’m examining the following question: If you were on trial accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Let’s explore some of the evidence which would prove you’re a Christian.
Evidence in Your Speech
If everything you said were recorded for a day or a week, would your words be strong evidence that you are a Christ-follower, or would they sound no different than any others?
This is one of the most important ways that our lives as Christians should be differentiated from others—the words we speak and the conversations we engage in. Here is the biblical standard for our speech and words.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your 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. (Ephesians 4:25,29)
That’s a high standard, isn’t it? It would be easily recognized as different in our world today. No unwholesome talk—only speaking what will build others up and benefit them. This is the kind of evidence which would show that you are a Christ-follower.
In your normal everyday life, how do you speak about people you don’t like? Are your words always full of condemnation and criticism, or do you speak of others—even those you don’t particularly admire—in words of kindness and understanding? If your words were recorded for a week, would we hear a lot of griping and complaining, or would those recordings be full of praise to God and thankfulness?
Someone has said our words should be true, necessary, and kind. Apply those three principles to your speech. If you’re like me, you will say fewer words than usual! Jesus said, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).
Now, what do you think the verdict would be? Would you be convicted of being a Christian because of the words you say, the conversations you engage in, and the way you talk?