What Does Trash Talk Have To Do With My Recovery?

In present day society we hear so much profanity in music, in movies, on the street, and in print that it almost seems the normal way to talk. A great deal of swearing includes references to bodily functions or ugly labels of body parts.  All of these are used as a slur and are intended to bring filth and negativity on a person.  Movie producers have often rationalized the presence of profanity in movies as being a more realistic expression of what people say or do in the scenes they are portraying.  Their observation of human interaction may be accurate but God’s commandment is that we abstain from such talk.   

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.  (Ephesians 5:4 NLT)

We also need to ask ourselves if we honour God with the content of our speech.  Stories and jokes may celebrate and honour a person or they may speak against and demean a person’s race, or their ethnic background.  Traditional roles such as that of a mother-in-law have been the focus of many jokes that demean a beautiful relationship that God has established in families.  The source of many stories in the comedy routine of a stand-up comic have sexual undertones and are demeaning to females or males, or treat God’s gift of sexual intercourse for marriage partners casually and with dishonour.  It may draw lots of laughter but the Bible clearly encourages us to have no part of this kind of talk.

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. (Colossians 3:8 NLT)

Moments of anger, disappointment, and frustration are filled with temptation to speak dishonourably.  People act unfairly or carelessly in ways that harm others.  It is so easy to think and speak in ways that dishonour and curse a person in reaction to what they have said or done.  This is not God’s way of speaking when dealing with problems.  God wants us to sort out our problems and misunderstandings.  God wants us to forgive and to bless.  God wants us to encourage and uplift others when we speak.  It's time to sort out the flow that comes from our mouth.

And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  (James 3:10 NLT)

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