Post by Cindy on Sept 28, 2016 11:57:17 GMT -5
I've been memorizing and studying Colossians 3:12–17. I've come to realize that these verses alone should change us all dramatically! Even the last verse alone should do so. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) This verse could stand alone and it would be difficult to misinterpret it. (although I'm sure some false teacher somewhere has done so). Everything we say and everything we do, all of our motives, words, and actions should be related to God through Christ. As believers, and children of God, we do not live for ourselves, we live for the Lord. Everything we say and do is a reflection of either our old self or of the new life we have in Christ. Our old self wants to keep us slaves to sin and comes up with all kinds of excuses as to why it's ok to use bad language or do the things we used to do that are connected with our earthly nature. If you read Colossians 3:1–17 you'll see that Paul lists some of those things for us and then tells us what to replace them with.
I've noticed since I joined facebook that a large number of Christians use bad language, even though we're told any number of times, in a number of different ways, that the Lord commands us not to do so. These verses I just quoted also tell us that it's wrong, unless of course you think it would be just fine to swear or use foul language when speaking to God. I know I sure wouldn't! I remember when I was a child, there were a couple of sayings that I thought every child on earth had heard a number of times in regards to using bad language: "Would you kiss your mother with that mouth?" or for the younger children, "Would you speak to your mother that way?" The correct and expected answer was a strong and horrified, "No!" Things have changed now days, that's for sure. Today, children do and say things in front of their parents, that would have earned them a trip to the woodshed in my day, but parents today seem to think there's nothing wrong with it, as they do it as well, even in front of their children. Some of my own adult children swear now, although they knew better than to do so when they lived with me, and they allow their children to use those same words. I just don't understand it. When I was a child, even people who were not Christians, would never have used bad language in front of women or children. And if a woman or child used bad language, it would have horrified everyone around them, non Christians as well as Christians.
When I was 20 years old, my Mother was dying, and my daughter was turning a year old. I was going to have a small birthday party for her at my Mother's house so she could be part of it. One of my friends said something that really upset me and I was brooding about it, so my Dad took me for a drive so we could talk. In telling him why I was upset, I made the huge mistake of using the word "damn," but at the time felt the circumstances called for it. Well, my Dad didn't think so and immediately pulled the car over to the curb, which instantly reminded me that I should never ever, use any kind of bad language in front of my parents! Once the car was stopped, my Father lectured me on using that kind of language, reminding me that ladies did not let that kind of trash come out of their mouths, unless they wanted to be viewed as trash themselves. Needless to say, he got my sincere apology and promise not to do it again.
Apparently the Lord thinks it's just as important as my earthly father did, for Paul says the same thing again a short time later in a slightly different way: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” (Colossians 3:23) We know that when God has something repeated in His Word, it's to make us pay attention to it as it's something very important. This is apparently very important as it's repeated quite a few times in slightly different ways: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11) There are actually more scriptures where the same thing is conveyed in different words, but I would think that these four alone should be enough to let us know that the Lord isn't joking when He tells us this, and that He intends for us to reflect on it and obey Him. Does using bad language glorify or honor God? No, there's no way that it does or ever can. We're told that specifically any number of times all though His Word.
I have a few more questions to ask, although I'm honestly afraid of the answers. Do you use bad language at church or in front of your pastor? Does your pastor use bad language? Does he allow you to use it without telling you that it's a sin and asking you to repent? Although it wouldn't surprise me these days if the answer to all of the questions was "yes", I have to say that if that's true, you need to repent and then run as far away from that church as you can. You need to find a church where the Word of God is preached and lived and where sin is called sin and people are asked to confess it and repent. We are living in the last days, and soon the Lord will return. I'm afraid that when He does, there will be a lot of people, especially those described in 2 Timothy 3:1–7 who will be told, "I never knew you, away from me you evildoers!" (see Matthew 7:22–23) Do you think I'm exaggerating and the words you use can't be all that important? Judge for yourselves, this is what Jesus says about it: “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matthew 12:36–37)
I've noticed since I joined facebook that a large number of Christians use bad language, even though we're told any number of times, in a number of different ways, that the Lord commands us not to do so. These verses I just quoted also tell us that it's wrong, unless of course you think it would be just fine to swear or use foul language when speaking to God. I know I sure wouldn't! I remember when I was a child, there were a couple of sayings that I thought every child on earth had heard a number of times in regards to using bad language: "Would you kiss your mother with that mouth?" or for the younger children, "Would you speak to your mother that way?" The correct and expected answer was a strong and horrified, "No!" Things have changed now days, that's for sure. Today, children do and say things in front of their parents, that would have earned them a trip to the woodshed in my day, but parents today seem to think there's nothing wrong with it, as they do it as well, even in front of their children. Some of my own adult children swear now, although they knew better than to do so when they lived with me, and they allow their children to use those same words. I just don't understand it. When I was a child, even people who were not Christians, would never have used bad language in front of women or children. And if a woman or child used bad language, it would have horrified everyone around them, non Christians as well as Christians.
When I was 20 years old, my Mother was dying, and my daughter was turning a year old. I was going to have a small birthday party for her at my Mother's house so she could be part of it. One of my friends said something that really upset me and I was brooding about it, so my Dad took me for a drive so we could talk. In telling him why I was upset, I made the huge mistake of using the word "damn," but at the time felt the circumstances called for it. Well, my Dad didn't think so and immediately pulled the car over to the curb, which instantly reminded me that I should never ever, use any kind of bad language in front of my parents! Once the car was stopped, my Father lectured me on using that kind of language, reminding me that ladies did not let that kind of trash come out of their mouths, unless they wanted to be viewed as trash themselves. Needless to say, he got my sincere apology and promise not to do it again.
Apparently the Lord thinks it's just as important as my earthly father did, for Paul says the same thing again a short time later in a slightly different way: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” (Colossians 3:23) We know that when God has something repeated in His Word, it's to make us pay attention to it as it's something very important. This is apparently very important as it's repeated quite a few times in slightly different ways: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11) There are actually more scriptures where the same thing is conveyed in different words, but I would think that these four alone should be enough to let us know that the Lord isn't joking when He tells us this, and that He intends for us to reflect on it and obey Him. Does using bad language glorify or honor God? No, there's no way that it does or ever can. We're told that specifically any number of times all though His Word.
I have a few more questions to ask, although I'm honestly afraid of the answers. Do you use bad language at church or in front of your pastor? Does your pastor use bad language? Does he allow you to use it without telling you that it's a sin and asking you to repent? Although it wouldn't surprise me these days if the answer to all of the questions was "yes", I have to say that if that's true, you need to repent and then run as far away from that church as you can. You need to find a church where the Word of God is preached and lived and where sin is called sin and people are asked to confess it and repent. We are living in the last days, and soon the Lord will return. I'm afraid that when He does, there will be a lot of people, especially those described in 2 Timothy 3:1–7 who will be told, "I never knew you, away from me you evildoers!" (see Matthew 7:22–23) Do you think I'm exaggerating and the words you use can't be all that important? Judge for yourselves, this is what Jesus says about it: “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matthew 12:36–37)