Ray Ortlund: Your church can be a gospel culture. Here are four categories of speech church leaders should keep in mind at all times: 1. Wisdom Saying only Christ-honoring, life-giving things. Always asking oneself, “Do the words I feel like saying rise to the level of wisdom? If not, they have no place in my mouth. Good intentions are not enough; leaders must show good judgment. I will hold myself to a strict standard, because Christ’s honor and people’s safety are at stake.” All the words of my mouth are righteous. Proverbs 8:8 2. Indiscretion Well-intentioned, good-hearted, “loving” but unguarded words. A sincere desire to be helpful and consoling, but violating a personal boundary of information ownership. Indiscretion erodes people’s willingness to “walk in the light” with honesty about their problems (1 John 1:7). As a result, indiscretion is a spiritually dampening power. When words are many, transgression is not lacking; but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. Proverbs 10:19 3. Gossip This might
Speech
5 Things Christians Should Stop Saying
Jason Johnson: We mean well, don’t we? But sometimes our attempts to say something spiritual actually come out unbiblical, or at a minimum, not very helpful. Here’s the 5 I hear the most… 1. “It was a God thing.” We say this to give God credit for something He has done and to deflect any attention from ourselves. The problem, however, is that biblically no single event is ever a “God thing”. Rather, all things are by Him, through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:15-20). To say something was a “God thing” seems to draw lines of distinction between what God is and is not involved in that Scripture itself does not draw. I rarely hear anyone use this phrase when speaking of a particularly difficult or trying or devastating circumstance. We generally apply it only to the victories. The truth is, all of those are His things. 2. “God showed up in the end.” We say this to put the power of God on display
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