Remember, John Bunyan addressed the gateways of sin in The Holy War, which includes MOUTH GATE. It is OBVIOUSLY SINFUL to lie, speak abusively, use corrupt communication, joke in a manner that is not fitting for the followers of Christ, speak "foolishness" (in the Bible, fool and foolish indicate moral failure, not just lack of wisdom), gossip, curse, use crude (perverse, prurient, profane) language.
BUT, BEWARE...
There is also a danger to self when we focus on, and verbalize negativity. There are plenty of negative things all around us, but when our conversation is inordinately occupied with the negative, it will POISON OUR OWN SELF. It will make us more prone to criticism and negativity and less sensitive, compassionate, understanding, tolerant towards other people. It will lead us into a critical, fault finding, nasty disposition. Our tone, our demeanor, our relationships will suffer and our friends and loved ones will become the dumping ground of our unhappiness and the target of our venomous attitudes and actions. Actually, the negative impact of evil speech is fraught with disaster. The more you speak negativity and negatively, the more your own life will be devalued and suffer.
You cannot stop all of the negative thoughts that come to your mind, but you can (by the enabling grace of God) stop speaking those negative things. In fact, thinking about (dwelling on) negative things is a form of speaking them to yourself, because you are having to put words to your thoughts. Therefore do not focus on the negative, even in your thoughts.
As a preacher and teacher of the word of God, I am constantly having to address wickedness, whether in the individual or on a worldwide scale. So, yes, we must be aware of negativity. However, as a man of God, I must not allow the darkness to obscure the glorious light God wants me to experience.
As Christians, we are to bring light, joy, peace, love, hope, sensitivity, courteousness, gentleness, kindness, goodness, patience, self control and the life of faith to other people.
Allow God to set a guard at your mouth and rule over your heart. Be a voice of grace, even when you have to speak against evil.
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