THE VULGARIZING OF OUR SPEECH

This recent past election and the frenzy of its aftermath for the past several months has reminded me of something that one would need to be deaf or blind not to notice. It is the relentless national coarsening and vulgarizing of our attitudes and speech. The new norm is displayed in a crude and nearly universal decline in decorum toward those with whom we disagree. Most obvious is an almost total disregard for propriety in the words we speak. More worrisome is the growing disregard for accuracy and fairness in our claims and a shameful distortion of basic truth in what we allege or promote.

Sadly, this contempt of propriety and the intended vileness of uttered words is not limited to the political discourse. It has spread to every aspect of our culture especially to entertainment. Neither is it limited to the uncultured, crass, or openly profane. This past week on Facebook, I was much surprised and dismayed by the vulgar and unseemly words of a person who regularly claims to be a born-again Christian. She was furious at someone whom she felt had maligned and mistreated her. But even if this perceived mistreatment be real, her words of retort were shameful and greatly dishonored the Lord. There is no way these words could ever be justified or, in any sense, pleasing to the Savior.

Another example. While standing in line to check out at a local market this past week, a couple with several children including a three or four year old little girl were in line behind me. The little girl wanted some gum and the adult lady told her, “no.” When the argument and whining ended a few minutes later…the little girl just looked at the woman [I assume her mother] and retorted, “Just f- - k it!” The saddest part of the whole episode was when both the adults and a ten or eleven year old brother…all guffawed at what the child had just said. At length, the mom, still grinning, “sweetly” admonished the child not to say that. I admit that for just a moment I wanted to whack those adults and I felt so sad for that precious little girl. But there are other crimes associated with our speech that are even more outrageous.

One of the most significant things that I have learned after over four decades of preaching and dealing with people is that we should never underestimate the significance and power of “words.” Surely “life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Words have an incredible potential for either much good or much evil. The Bible tells us that “good words” are able to bring “health to the bones.” The person is indeed destitute who has never, when in some deep valley, been comforted and lifted up by the sincere, kind, and loving words of a friend or family member. What a wonderful blessing words can be!! But there is another side of the coin.

It has often been noted that the old-time child’s slogan that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a lie or the banter of one who has never been the target of a poison tongue. The bible warns us that words can “pierce like a sword.” How true it is that, “the words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” These evil words are said to be “full of deadly poison” and are like “the bite of a viper.” What incredible pain, damage, and needless cruelty have been wrought by the words, subtle lies, and the vicious minds of gossips, talebearers, and a slanderous tongue. The purposeful savagery of a bitter and hateful trouble- maker is like unto a verbal terrorist. By the way, those who LISTEN to, and therein, ENABLE these destroyers are every bit as guilty and shameful as the ones who speak the vileness.

In the bible, the Apostle Paul said regarding these folks that “their throat is an open sepulcher, with their tongues they have used deceit [and] the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” James reminds us that the “tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity and set on fire of hell.” I have seen too often and in too many places the tears and sufferings of the targets of these vicious slanderers who have been ripped apart, or beaten and bludgeoned by the lies, cruel words, idle talk and gossip. How many careers, reputations, friendships, testimonies, and churches have been crippled or even murdered by such satanically led destroyers? Any guilty or the enablers of these horrific crimes should repent and beg God’s forgiveness.

A final thought from our Lord’s own words. “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt. 12: 36, 37.