Day 36

I've been noticing that we as a culture are becoming numb to hate-filled speech. This came to mind in reading many blogs and reports regarding Travon Martin. I'm not here to talk about the ins and outs of that complex and heart-wrenching case (on both sides). I'm just using it as a recent example of how I've noticed people throw hate-filled speech around without even seeming to notice. In fact, many times people believe it's their duty to correct others and won't stop until the deed is done. Most of where I notice this is on on-line forums, and I wonder if that's part of it . . . the distance that's associated with typing your thoughts out rather than talking face-to-face with someone. I think if faced with another human right in front of you, many words would be held back and the adage of "biting your tongue" would hold more weight.

This is seriously concerning to me. The more it goes on, the more I do find it leaking into face-to-face conversations where people slam others opinions, thoughts, character, and person with very little regard to the damage they're doing, whether in the relationship or emotionally to the other person. Honestly, I think we have become so immune to hate-filled speech (through movies, tv, news, new cultural norms), that we don't even recognize it when it happens and then rationalize it away if someone brings it up. The saddest thing of all to me, is that so often, it's Christians that I find doing this, usually about political issues. It makes me sick. It makes me not want to share an opinion, an emotion, an idea, or offer a different perspective on anything around certain people because of the backlash of hate that will spew from their mouths. And so, therefore, I don't.

I wonder how people who do this and hold firm to the Word of God reconcile the verse "Do not let any unwholesome (rotten, unfit for use, poor quality) talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building (making suitable for God) others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" Ephesians 4:29. Another version states it this way: "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them". If people want to be heard, they need to earn the right to be heard, and they need to get their point across without degrading and slamming the person whom they're trying to communicate with. Too often, though, we're becoming a people hold on to their pride, stay bent on "being right", and ruin either a relationship or an opportunity to be used by God. Please let's not become people like this! Help me steward this area of life well!