One day, you hear another person talking crudely as if it was a normal conversation. Using all kinds of foul words to express his ideas and feelings. This person seems to enjoy his/her conversation, maybe even with a laugh or chuckle or two.
Does hearing this lead you to feel good or not? Do those type of foul or crude words present a good impression in sound, mind and heart?
The Lord said in John 6:63, that the words he speaks, they are spirit and they are life. Do you not think that the words you speak will also affect your own spirit and life? The quality of the word is important to your state of mind, heart and spirit. A person does not have to know fancy or difficult words, all that is needed are good words. To avoid crude, foul or inappropriate words is important, even if you are angry.
One day I saw my neighbours teenage boy. He had a darkened countenance and when he spoke, he sounded dull and empty. I immediately knew why he was like this. So many times I heard him speak out foul words as if it was normal. He had done this for a long time and as a result, he developed a darkened countenance.
In the scriptures, there has been mentioned a few times the “countenance” of a person (see Luke 9:29 for an example). The lightened, peaceful countenance of these spiritually enlightened people is from the nature of their words, which come by thoughts and feelings. A person with a good countenance will bear witness of him/herself in a good way, always. Even in anger or upset, they choose good words to present their feelings and thoughts. When reproving, the words can be strong, but not foul or crude.
The value of the word is very important to develop your own higher spiritual state and set a good example to others. Within the word of God, he tells us that what we sow, so shall we reap. This simple truth applies to all that we do, not just words, and what a person chooses in his/her life (sowing), they will reap. Just like my neighbours son, a person can deteriorate their appearance and take upon themselves a foul spirit. This is the darkness and with such a spirit within the heart, mind and tongue of a person, nothing of the light, of God, will reside within him or her.
Another example is when I watched a mother gesture a middle finger toward her adult daughter. This was in a public place and the nature of this appearance was certainly not good at all. I could see the hurt in the daughters face when the mother gave a foul gesture. There was no need for it, irrespective of what may have happened between them prior to being in that public place.
Jesus had said, that what defiles a person does not come from without them, it comes from within them. This involves all types of foul, crude or inappropriate words. Especially when normal words are used to express hate, degradation, or express a foul thought and desire. Such as calling someone a homosexual to be vindictive, or falsely accusing them based on foul beliefs or assumptions, these words can turn afoul upon those who speak them.
To speak with good purpose, choosing good and appropriate words to express the ideas and thoughts, will gradually develop a person’s countenance into the very nature of the chosen words. This includes well chosen words toward those who you had to be stern with, or expressed anger at. Avoiding all forms and manners of foul, crude and inappropriate words.
For some who are converted to this Church, having grown up in the ways of the world, can find it is a struggle to change their vocabulary, especially when all their friends, before joining this Church, spoke with lower quality words ( I say this with all due respect in order to make a point). This change is part of the conversion, but a person must do their part to be mindful of how they speak and express themselves. These converts may find, in time after some change in their lives, that they must leave behind all those who remain foul in their thoughts and words. At such a time, allow things to slip away and with grace, be well versed in any explanation, keeping it simple.
A change will take time and during this process Satan will do his best to push you to return to the bad habits. Tempting you to speak and think afoul, as this will be one of those weaknesses from the world. Faith can never be true when melded with foul, crude or inappropriate words. A spiritual state will be as foul as the words used, or as good as the words used, the choice will be yours.
As a last note, to those who are parents, and seem to use foul, crude or inappropriate words. Stop! Please, never speak in a foul or inappropriate manner, not even with gestures of the same calibre. Whether this is to your children (no matter their age) or to anyone in their presence. If you remember the scriptures that the children will bear the burden of their parents sins for 3 to 4 generations. Please do not give them a foul legacy, give to them a good one and with that they are blessed.
Amen
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