Spring Cleaning—Conversation by David Jeremiah

Spring Cleaning—Conversation

March 4, 2017

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Matthew 15:11

Critics were up in arms last fall when a North Carolina television station cut out brief parts of the audio of Dave Chappelle’s performance on Saturday Night Live. The reason: There are ten words the station refuses to air, and Chappelle used two of those words a total of nine times. Rather than being lauded, however, the station was heavily criticized and accused of censoring.

Recommended Reading: James 3:9-13

According to the Bible, our language defiles us. We tolerate too much profanity and obscenity on television and in the movies, and this is a good time to do some spring cleaning and toss out some of our entertainment choices.

Sometimes we need self-censorship to clean up our own language. And it’s not always profanity. Our tongues have a stubborn way of grumbling, murmuring, complaining, gossiping, lying, and nagging. The Bible says, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality…. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4, NIV).

The world is increasingly coarse, but Jesus-followers should be like their Lord in life, in labor, and in the fruit of their lips.

Take my lips and let them be / Filled with messages from Thee.
Frances Havergal, in the hymn, “Take My Life and Let It Be”