Bible Thoughts

August 8, 1999

While the Lord was being tried before the scribes and the elders, the apostle Peter was "sitting without in the court." A maid accused him of being a part of those who followed "Jesus the Galilaean." At that point, Peter denied any relationship with Jesus Christ. They rebuffed his statement by saying, "Thy speech maketh thee known."

The association that Peter had with the Lord and the rest of the apostles had an effect on his whole life, including his speech. There was something about the words and manners of Peter that identified him with the Lord's company. He could not successfully deny this relationship, in spite of his cursing and swearing. When he came to himself, he went out and "wept bitterly."

Speech is an important means of identifying a person. It can tell another the country in which one has citizenship. In our country, it can identify the section in which one lives or comes from. Often, it can relay to another the level of education of the speaker. When one speaks, it can be in anger, joy, happiness, or disgust as well as a host of other emotions. What one says can reflect what one believes as well.

A person does not have to be a "polished" public speaker in order to be effective in teaching the truth. Even the apostle Paul stated, "And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God"(I Corinthians 2:4). If all of the teaching were left only to those who had the gift of a few, little teaching would be done. Effective speech is the product of a faith dedicated to the spread of the truth into all of the hearts of men.

Speech is one of the most effective of all communications. What one believes about the word of God, the paths of righteousness, the church of the Lord, and one's attitude toward others will eventually come out in the speech of the individual. It was preaching(speaking) that revealed the truth to the world in the days of the apostles; it is such teaching that will make known the truth to those living at present. Writing, setting an example and influence, as well as other means of communication can be effective, but preaching(teaching) has been the most effective in converting the alien and strengthening the saint. Jesus said it, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation"(Mark 16:15). There is no substitute for preaching/teaching; it has worked for 2000 years and it will be effective today when one speaks the truth in love.

One has only to listen to the speech of a person to know if he/she is a Christian. While one may fool another for a time, eventually one's speech "maketh thee known." The Christian will not imitate the speech of the world but will talk in words that promote righteousness and eschews evil. Such speech will not approve the language of the ungodly, but will reflect the mind of a child of God. As Paul told Titus to be "an ensample of good works," such would include, "sound speech, that cannot be condemned"(Titus 2:8).

The speech of this world is filled with profanity. In the movies, on the television, on the internet, in books and magazines, as well as in almost all public places, the worldly profane God's name and show contempt for the Almighty. One needs to be aware that the use of profanity is absolutely unnecessary and, in fact, adds nothing of value to one's speech. One may think it enforces the strength of one's speech, but, in reality, it only reflects on the person's inability to use decent speech to convey one's thoughts. And, it is a sin against God.

Peter was angry and frustrated when he cursed and swore. Such did not make him right. It did not improve the situation; it only reflected on his own lack of maturity as a disciple. The speech of a person is a reflection of the integrity of that individual. If one has control over what he/she says, a great victory has been won and proper respect of one's self is enhanced.

"Let you speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one"(Colossians 4:6). It takes proper thinking in order to give the right answer to others. Salt has a savoring quality; speech should also be "seasoned with salt." When a person thinks before speaking, there is less danger of saying the wrong thing in the wrong way. Sometimes it is better not to speak(Matthew 27:14).

"Thy speech maketh thee known" is true in the moral realm; it is also true in the area of religion. The language peculiar of the denominational world is not the language of the Bible. They speak not "as the oracles of God"(I Peter 4:11). Within each denomination there is a language that identifies that group. While they may say they have much in common, the words, phrases, and doctrines of one group differs from all others. Christians are made known by their using Bible terms to express Bible truths, unmixed with the terms and ideas of denominationalism. In fact, one of the specific identifying characteristics of each separate denomination is their speech while the language of scripture identifies the church we read about in the New Testament. The phrase "We speak where the Bible speaks; we are silent where the Bible is silent" will still be appropriate in the twenty-first century.

It is a spiritual tragedy to observe some churches of Christ(?) embrace the language of denominationalism(as well as some of their practices). When a congregation drifts away from the teachings of the New Testament, they must adjust their language to convey their teachings and positions. It is increasingly difficult for faithful disciples of Christ to understand the language that has developed among churches not following the New Testament pattern since World War II. It is a reality that their "speech maketh thee known."

It is fitting that this article close with words from the apostle whose speech made him known. "But sanctify Christ in your hearts as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear"(I Peter 3:15).