Your Words Can Have Eternal Consequences

Have you ever gotten stuck behind a driver who had a bumper sticker on their car that was bashing a political figure? Or maybe you've seen someone negatively rant or post degrading pictures of/about a celebrity, political figure, or someone you know personally on Facebook, Twitter, a blog, etc.? I've noticed that a lot of people get generally annoyed by these comments on a day-to-day basis. 

But let's get a little more personal. Maybe there is someone in your class, neighborhood, church, school that you particularly do not like, and choose to complain and talk negatively about them with your closest friends, family...or just everyone?

I know that girls, especially, have a tendency to talk about others. We're interested in people's lives, relationships, and we just seem to talk to and about people all the time. We don't always talk about others badly, maybe most of the time it's good. But I've noticed throughout life that this is just something ladies seem to gravitate toward in conversation.

If you are or someone else is a Christian, and you/they are talking negatively about others (regardless of whether or not the people you are talking about are Christians) I must tell you that it is not okay. Even if you're talking about others with those you are close to, or with those in your family, it is not okay.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29

Paul, the author of Ephesians, advises us to only speak that of which is good for building others up so that those who hear it will be encouraged by what you're saying and your integrity. Because Christians represent Christ, on a broader scale we should embody the the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) so that we may win more people to Christ just by our conduct.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12

This can be a struggle for all of us at times, especially if we have been wronged or hurt by someone or if they hurt someone we love. Pray to Jesus about this if you're struggling with this. Ask Him that He would help you to have this kind of mindset and heart-attitude:

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Colossians 3:12-13