From Chapter 5—No More Hypocrites: How Immorality Undermines Our Message

Key Areas of Failure:

Language: Many Christians lose their witness because of the way they talk. Instead of demonstrating a changed life, they act (and sound) like everybody else. Common curse words, harsh criticism, sexually suggestive talk—these are the besetting sins of many of our people. But it should not be so. Let me remind you that God requires his people to have clean, pure language. In his letter to the Ephesian believers, Paul addressed this subject not once but twice.

First, he writes, “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 4:29). The strength of the words doesn’t come through in translation. The word unwholesome means “rotten, worthless, or corrupt.” Visualize banana peels, eggs, and raw chicken in the bottom of a hot, dirty garbage can in mid-July; breathe in the smell as you open the can and bat away the flies. When your gag reflex kicks in, then you’re starting to understand this word. Spoiled, rotten, putrid language is in mind here.