"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, so that it gives grace to those who hear."
Hi EACF,
This brief passage has been stewing on the stove of my mind for quite a while, and I apologize that I'm only finally getting around to sharing some thoughts.
In this brief passage, we can see a progressively escalating standard for the kind of speech meant to characterize God's people, almost like rungs of a ladder that take you from the bottom to the top. Let me just take things phrase by phrase.
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths..."
When I first started reciting this passage to memorize it, my eyes immediately fixated on the word "corrupting". The meaning of the original Greek word is "rotten" or "putrid". It is the same word used when Jesus compares the fruit derived from a good tree versus the "bad" (rotten) fruit from a diseased tree (Matthew 7:17).
Most if not all of us have heard some version of the old English proverb, "One rotten apple can spoil the barrel/bunch". There's actually scientific truth behind that statement, since physically damaged apples release ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process of surrounding apples, which inevitably leads to premature ripening and spoilage of the rest of the bunch. We've all likely not only experienced but at some point in our lives also perpetuated the destructive power of gossip and slander.
Another (perhaps even nerdier) analogy is that of prion diseases. If any of you have heard of "Mad Cow Disease"- it is caused by prions (here is a cartoon video for those who are interested). Prion diseases happen when a specific protein found on the cell surface becomes abnormally folded, and in turn starts a chain reaction by causing other normally folded versions of that protein to become misfolded. This leads to clumps of misfolded protein in the brain, resulting in memory loss, personality changes, difficulties with movement, and ultimately death. It's pretty incredible that just one copy of one misfolded prion protein can trigger such a devastatingly fatal disease. Similarly, our tongues indeed can be a fire, a world of unrighteousness (James 3:6) that not only express the rottenness inside ourselves, but in doing so spreads the rot just as an uncontrolled fire consumes swaths of a forest.
"but only such as is good for building up...." While the initial rung was to command against what our speech should not be- the next rung of the ladder shows us what our speech should be for- good for building up. In this context, the meaning of "building up" is to seek the growth of our brothers and sisters - to encourage one another towards their renewal into the image of our Creator (Colossians 3:10, Romans 8:29). Indeed, the purpose of all our gatherings and activities together as a local body of Christ is for the sake of such "building up" or "edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26).
"as fits the occasion...." If Paul had stopped at the phrase "building up"- we could potentially misinterpret the passage and walk away with a vague principle that we just need our speech to be positive in some general way. But not only are our words meant to build people up towards Christ-like maturity in general- they are to literally be "according to the need". We shouldn't flippantly spout off spiritual platitudes to one another (no matter how much biblical truth they hold). Instead, our words must be informed through paying close attention to the need of the other person in that particular moment or situation. This requires a posture of humility, and an intentional openness and desire to come close enough alongside someone to even help bear any burdens they may carry (Galatians 6:2). We can sometimes fixate so much on our own lives that our conversations merely consist of taking turns talking about ourselves. May the Lord grow us into intentional listening and speaking to one another in truth and love.
"so that it gives grace to those who hear...." Finally, the last rung at the top of the ladder brings us to the desired fruit of our speech towards one another. Our conversations are meant to truly benefit one another- to be gifts, expressing genuine good-will and lovingkindness, reflecting no less than God's own desire for each one of us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When you combine these descriptives- they give great weight to the worth of our words- perhaps so much so that it could even seem intimidating. Perhaps you're looking back on words you've said and realize that as Jesus himself said, "out of the overflow of the heart" our mouths have spoken in destructive ways aplenty. What then? Does this mean that a church made up largely of introverts (like EACF) should just choose to be silent? May it never be! Paul would have never written such an exhortation if it were impossible...but what is the foundation for our confidence to speak such words of grace to each other?
Brothers and sisters, let us remember that on the cross, Christ Himself received the ultimate word of condemnation that the perfect and holy law of God demanded of us, so that we would in turn receive the ultimate word of grace from Christ himself- "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do". Having received such manner of love from God the Father to become His children, we have been given His Spirit and grace which trains us to renounce ungodliness, to avoid irreverent babble, and to encourage one another and build one another up. Since we have freely received grace upon grace, may we in turn freely give of that grace to each other. May we drink so heavily in the fountains of His grace towards us that our hearts and mouths will overflow with it for one another.
Grace,
Mike
