Wholesome Conversation

Philippians 1:27 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or elese be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."  Romans 8:29 says that God desires for his children to be conformed to the image of Christ.  One of the ways we are to be conformed to the image of Christ is through our speech.  Verse 27 in the first chapter of Philippians says our conversation should be as it becometh the gospel.  When reading that verse, I don't think it means that every word or every sentence that's uttered out of our mouths always has to be theological or Jesus has to be mentioned in every other word.  Psalms 124:1 says that the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.  There are a host of things we can discuss in everyday conversation.  However, those that are saved and name the name of Christ should watch how they use their tongue.  The book of James mentions much about the tongue and how dangerous it is when we our tongue isn't tamed.  Our speech is very serious to the Lord.  Those that claim to be saved are to live like Christ.  We should act, talk, walk, and speak like Jesus. 

Ephesians 4:29 says that we are not to allow any corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths but only that which is good to the use of edifying, that is may minister grace to the hearers.  Our conversation on a daily basis with whomever we may come in contact with should be wholesome.  Our conversation should reveal that we are saved and love Jesus.  Our conversation should be edifying.  Our conversation should point the way to Christ towards those that are without.  Our conversation as a whole should be wholesome.  What is a wholesome conversation?  It's a conversation that's conducive to sound health or well-being.  Anytime we engage in a dialogue with someone, it should be uplifting and conducive to the well-being of someone spiritually.  Anytime we engage in a conversation with the brethren, whatever comes from our lips should be edifying to the brethren.  The Bible says we should encourage one another.  The Bible says that the brethren are to love one another.  We're to love one another both through word and deed.  Any type of conversation that destroys, tears down, or hurts someone is not wholesome conversation.  It's also not Christlike.  I want to quickly point out when I mention conversation that tears down someone, I'm making reference to destructive conversation.  There are times that as a friend you may have to rebuke or just tell them the truth, which isn't always pleasant.  There are times when it's necessary that a friend criticizes another friend.  Proverbs says that wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy.  However, our conversation shouldn't be used to destroy or hurt someone.  It should be for the purpose of building others up.  Criticism is necessary at times, but it's a constructive criticism.  Sometimes in order to help someone you have to criticize them in the direction they're headed, but that type of criticism will save someone from trouble if they'll heed to it. 

There are some types of conversation that are destructive such as gossip.  One of the places where you find gossip is in the House of God.  There are those in the church that engage in malicious gossip which does nothing but causes strife and contention.  God says in Proverbs that He hates those that sow discord among the brethren.  Discord and strife is unwholesome and dangerous.  We're not to use our tongue to destroy the brethren or the man of God.  Many times lying goes along with gossip.  Much of the gossip you hear so often in many churches today are lies.  There are those that claim to be brethren that love to stir up trouble amongst other brethren in the church.  God hates that.  There are also those that love to criticize every decision the man of God makes concerning which direction he believes the church should go.  Those types of conversations should never take place.  We're not to engage in corrupt speech.

We have a responsibility as Christians to show the world that Christ is real.  One of the ways we must do that is through our conversation.  Our lifestyle, our actions, and our speech reveals to the world who we are.  It reveals whether or not we believe what we say we believe.  There are numerous conversations we can engage in that are very constructive.  There are plenty of things we can discuss without sowing discord or speaking evil.  We could spend the rest of our lives talking about the things of God and His creation without scratching the surface.  There's no excuse for speaking about things that are unwholesome and unproductive.