So often, we hear Christians speak the truth on social media and in real life. They put it out there: This is what the Bible says, this is what is true. They remember John 8:32, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” But somehow, they’ve forgotten 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.”
But wait – speaking truth is wholesome, isn’t it?
Yes, it is. But don’t forget the rest of the verse: “…[speak] only what is helpful for building others up.” I would suggest that if we speak the truth in such a way as it does not build others up according to their needs, the truth becomes unwholesome in our mouths.
“Unwholesome” is defined as, “not characterized by or conducive to health or moral well-being.” It has nothing to do with truth and everything to do with the health (emotional, spiritual, and physical) of the listener. When we speak unwholesome things, we are speaking anything (including truth) that does not build up the speaker.
I’m not talking about being unoffensive here; people will take offense, and it’s not just non-Christians. I’m talking about not being the cause of someone’s hopelessness, hatred, or worthlessness just because we believe we have a right to speak the truth in all its harsh realities.
When we speak the truth, we must consider the outcome of our words; how our words will be taken; whether our words – truthful or not – will tear down or will build up the listener or the reader. This isn’t second-guessing ourselves or being wishy-washy. This is looking at our words before we speak or push send: Is this accusatory? Does it bring hope? Does it spread fear? Will it make your Christian friends applaud you and leave your non-Christian friends feel as though they’ve just been put down or made less-than in some way? Will it drive people away from God instead of draw them to Him?
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” We forget that we can bring life with our words, yes, but we can also produce death if we’re not careful.
We can’t afford to rob people of their hope and their purpose for the sake of spouting “truth.” The truth spoken in love – true love – will speak life over others, even as we are uncompromising about the truth.
