When my mouth would get me in trouble, my mother used to say to me, “We don’t talk that way.” I had to remember that when I disagreed with someone, that I still represented Jesus Christ to the world. So I had to watch my words and my tone.
People know you are a follower of Jesus – and that fact alone should overshadow everything you say and do. It should guide your behavior and your speech.
So when you are expressing your opinion regarding this current Covid climate or vaccinations or masks, be mindful of how you come across both in-person and online.
The Bible is full of verses on how we ought to speak using wholesome speech, and with grace, and with peacefulness without any tinge of anger. Here are just a couple of examples.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
We read in Colossians 4:6:
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
And finally, Colossians 3:8
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Colossians 3:8
The other trend that is bothersome is the neglect of respecting those in authority over us. I see this modeled more and more for our young people. Our culture is slowly witnessing the erosion of authority of those over us such as teachers, policemen, parents, public officials, the president, even God. It’s troublesome. But we, adults, parents, grandparents, citizens, must maintain respect for those in authority over us. If we don’t, we run the risk of very grave consequences.
Titus 3:1-2 reads this way:
Remind them (Christians) to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.
Finally, in Hebrews 13:1-2:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Hebrews 13:1,2
Now I understand that if that authority we disagree with conflicts with the commands of God, we must stand with God (Acts 5:29). We must obey God rather than man. Many times we feel as if we are standing on God’s side. So of course we should take a stand and not compromise. However, as far as I can see, that protest to authority is always done passively. It’s a quiet resistance. Peaceful protest.