RESPONSE TO A QUESTION
We are commanded by God to give answer to any man that asks us about the reason for our hope (I Peter 3:15). A common practice of mine is to respond to all such efforts either verbally or in writing. I had a question arise about my answer to a question in our January the 20th bulletin. I spoke with the person involved and gave my response verbally. Sometime later the individual requested a meeting in my office whereupon we discussed the same matter with my reply being the same. The person believed I needed to write a retraction or use different wording. I chose to do neither.
This past week I received in our bulletin question box a follow up with the idea being “demanded” that I answer. Below is the question turned in.
“How do you reconcile your comment on Colossians 3:8 regarding bad words under anger or stress with Ephesians 4:26, 29”?
The use of the word “reconcile” implies that this person has found me in a contradiction between what I taught in the Colossian passage with what the Bible states in the Ephesian passage. Allow me then to attempt to speak more clearly so that no one misunderstands my understanding of Colossians and of Ephesians, as well.
When one arises from the grave of baptism, they are to seek the things which are above (Colossians 3:1). Such seeking is tied to the truth that Jesus revealed that we are to seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Putting the kingdom of God first is connected to living a righteous life. The Christian embarks on his spiritual journey toward eternity with God by adopting to himself, righteous conduct. The righteous conduct reflects the desire to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). The righteous person wants to influence others for the cause of Jesus the Christ.
The influence that the Christian uses to bring others to an awareness of Jesus the Christ causes him to limit his appetite of things of this world. The lust of the flesh, of the eyes and the pride of life are avenues that Satan strives to reach the child of God. The Christian, being aware of the devices of Satan, watches the whole of his soul to insure that he does nothing to injure his influence with those of the world and of those of the church (II Corinthians 2:11). He guards his thoughts (II Corinthians 10:5). He guards his words (Colossians 4:6). He guards his actions (I Timothy 4:12), always desiring to use his life that others may see Christ living in him.
We are before the world to bear the image of Christ (II Corinthians 3:18). If anyone asks or wonders about the content of our faith, the answer is Christ is our life (Colossians 3:4). The next verse is a listing of sins that the world was involved in on a daily basis. Paul uses the language that these Christians had at one time, “...lived in them”. Now, however, they were new creatures in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17). The seeking of those things which are above meant a change in their lifestyle. In verses 8 and 9, Paul shows them about changing their life in order that they might be righteous people who are seeking first the kingdom of God.
They were to put away anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and lying. The concern of the individual who turned in the question was about my contradicting the truth. I used the words of “anger” or “stress” to point out that we may under such conditions utter bad words. Such utterances, because the words are bad, can NEVER BE RIGHT TO USE. The question is, is that what Paul meant by filthy communication out of your mouth. When Peter cursed the night our Lord was on trial, did he do wrong by the use of such language. The answer is “yes”. Now, is what Peter did around the fire under the pressure of the moment that which characterized the whole of his life. My answer is “no”. Paul was addressing not the fact that we at times fail our Lord by thoughts, words or action but rather that we do not LIVE IN THEM.
If anyone who reads our bulletin came away with the idea that brother Blair believes it is alright to curse, you misunderstood my words. It is not right to use bad words. Neither is it right to assume that the Christian does not sin. We cannot have fellowship with God and walk in darkness (I John 1:6). We are righteous people.
The passage in Colossians, likewise, teaches husbands to love their wives and be not bitter against them (Colossians 3:19). Is there a difference between a man who gets angry with his wife and says something cruel and unkind as opposed to a man who starts every day by cursing his wife, children, fellow workers and the world in general? Both are wrong things but the latter is what Paul is addressing in terms of what the Christian puts away from himself. If I condemned the second case does that mean I am okaying the first case?
The Ephesians passage (4:26) speaks about not being angry. Does it require a good use of the Scripture to define what is meant by anger here? Jesus contrasted the law of Moses with His law which was to come into effect after His death. Jesus speaks about being angry with your brother, “…without a cause” (Matthew 5:22). If there is, therefore anger without a cause would there not also be anger with a cause? What word would you use to speak about the actions of Jesus when He on two occasions cleansed the temple? Some come up with the wording of “righteous indignation”. Mark says about our Lord, that He looked round about on them with “anger” (Mark 3:5).
The word “anger” there is the same word used in Colossians 3 and Ephesians 4:31. It is not saying that the Christian does not get angry but rather that the Christian does not allow the sun to go down on his wrath (Ephesians 4:26). It is another way of saying that the Christians does not live in anger. I affirm there is no contradiction in what I taught in the January 20th article and that which I am saying now. Filthy communication can also be gossip, backbiting, and using words to destroy the influence of another Christian. May none of us under anger, stress, or a desire to harm others allow our words, thoughts or actions to be less than the conduct of righteous people.