This has been a big year in Wisconsin politics. Many, many people have many, many beliefs, opinions and thoughts on what happens in our state and our world. Everyone is impacted and yes, everyone should have a voice. You will never hear me question the right of anyone to speak – only their responsibility to guard the manner they speak in.
We are almost to election day, so here is my belief on political talk…be nice, be kind, be truthful and be helpful.
I am deeply grieved lately by the things I hear Christians saying in regards to politics. Somehow we have decided that we have to be careful in regard to our words, unless it is about a politician. If we are talking about politics we have the right to be shameful in our speech.
And that isn’t true. Ephesians 4:29 still applies. We have a responsibility to guard our words, to express our opinions with wholesome speech – words that declare our beliefs without belittling and tearing down those of the other party. We have to teach our children how to express an opinion without being ugly or mean. We have to allow God to control our tongues – and use our speech to glorify him – not to produce another zinger about the other party.
The second part of this verse says that the reason to keep our language pure is to “benefit those who listen”. I have to wonder how many people stop listening to Christians cause we talk so ugly, therefore forever taking away our opportunity to influence. There is only a few more days left – how’s your speech?
