Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers—Ephesians 4:29

“THE DEPTH OF EVERYDAY WORDS”

Ten thousand…give or take a few. That’s how many words the average speaker utters each day. And according to James, those ten thousand are no mere sounds. Every word is a rudder or a flame (Jam. 3:4, 6), a blessing or a curse (Jam. 3:9), wondrous water or stinging salt (Jam. 3:11), a fig or an olive or a grape (Jam. 3:12). Every word has substance, flavor, direction, power. Every word is alive and active for a time, though only the words of God are always living and active in the high and holy sense (Heb. 4:12). Our words have a God-given vitality and depth that often goes unnoticed. What might happen if we paused to notice?1

Above is the thought-provoking introduction to Pierce Taylor Hibbs’ article in Tabletalk. How many of our 10,000 words come off our tongues without a thought? How often do our words do damage that we never consider? Have we utilized the opportunity to use our words profitably, for the edification of our neighbors?

The main thrust of Hibbs’ article is that we should consider the “depth” of our words. Not just their meaning, but their direction, their effect, their power, and their purpose. This depth of our words follows from the truth that words and human language are gifts from God, rather than a natural evolutionary instinct.

Origins are tied to purpose. If words just “happen to be,” then that gives us free reign to make them whatever we want them to be, to change their meaning, or even to tear them away from reality…. In contrast, God tells us that words come from Him. With mystery and beauty, He determines their meaning, use, and effect. He is the Lord of language. And His words are upholding, guiding, and directing whatever words fall from our lips.2

Hibbs goes on to expound on the depth and dimensions of ordinary words and phrases that we use every day. Sometimes Hibbs’ theological reasoning is difficult to follow (for me, at least), but still, his article is stimulating and edifying. Consider the depth, the direction, the impact, and the weight of your words. We will have to account even for our idle words in the day of judgment (Matt. 12:36).

“WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE”

Perhaps the most obvious abuse of words is also very common: cursing, swearing, and all kinds of bad words are heard everywhere today, including (sadly) among Christians. We should know better, and we ought to do better.

Pastor Matthew Capone wrote on this subject in response to a recent article in The New York Times. The Times article is written by Dr. Mark Edmundson, an English professor at the University of Virginia.3 Edmundson explains that nasty language and vulgar words denigrate and diminish, but he is not willing to condemn such language. For Edmundson, bad language has its place, but “obscenity loses its power and meaning in ubiquity.”4 In other words, bad language is not always bad, only if you use it too much.

Capone makes the Christian applications that Edmundson does not:

Our words reveal our view of God even when we are not using his name. A statement about a work of art is also a statement about the artist. When we compare creation to excrement, we insult the creator. We do the same when we speak crassly of God’s great gift of sexual intimacy. Cursing other humans usurps God’s role of judge. Our attempts at authenticity become accusations against God. Mr. Edmundson is correct that these make the world “smaller and meaner.” Christians know exactly why: Profanity devalues God and his beautiful creation….

As an English Professor at the University of Virginia, Edmundson knows how language works. It can expand or shrink our world. As Christians, we know why: The God who created language also created the heavens and the earth. Whenever we speak, we ultimately speak of Him. Cursing does not necessarily reveal a meager vocabulary or low intelligence; but it does show a deficit of wonder and imagination.5

In conclusion, Capone also presents a biblical corrective:

Christians need replacements for the temptations of profanity. Instead of cursing others, we can use the words of Psalm 58, 82, 103 or 109 to cry out to God for justice; He tells us in Romans 12:19 that vengeance is his territory. Instead of venting our frustrations with crude language, we must rediscover the gift of lament. We can turn to passages like Psalm 13 or 61 to express our hurt and frustration. Profanity is a poor substitute for the riches of expression God provides for us in His word.

Authenticity is not an absolute or unqualified good. While appropriate at times, it can also degrade and warp us and others. Let’s use language that expands our world rather than shrinking it. Doing so makes our lives much brighter. Even more importantly, it honors God.6

The lessons of youth still apply. Let’s watch our language. “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee” (Prov. 4:23).

WATCHING OUR WORDS ONLINE

Alongside of the spoken word, we must examine our use of the written word, including on social media. There are ways to speak the truth in love (even online), but contentious, evil, and destructive speech seem to be the norm on the internet.

Randy Alcorn recently warned against one form of evil communication online:

In this age of social media, I’ve seen Bible-believing, Christ-centered people post thoughts online only to receive a string of hypercritical responses from people who wield Scripture verses like pickaxes, swiftly condemning the slightest hint of a viewpoint they consider suspicious. Others quickly join the fray, and soon it appears that no one has bothered to read what the blogger actually said. Responders assume the worst, not giving the benefit of the doubt and engaging in shotgun-style character assassination. If I were an unbeliever reading such responses, I certainly wouldn’t be drawn to the Christian faith.

I wonder why it’s not immediately recognized by those engaging in such behavior that what they’re doing is utterly contrary to the faith they profess and the Bible they believe. How is it that perpetual disdain, suspicion, unkindness, and hostility are seen as taking the spiritual high ground?7

As Alcorn indicates in his title, this behavior is contrary to God’s Word, “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jam. 1:19).

There are other temptations involving online communication. Some of the most viral, wide-spread, and engaging online posts are those that are the most contentious; but Proverbs 20:3 teaches “It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.” Even consuming (reading, following, or seeking out) evil communication is unwise; Proverbs 4:23 commands us, “Keep [guard] thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

I have wondered how our personal lives, marriages, families, congregations, and communities would benefit and grow if we collectively and decisively removed ourselves from social media. How much time would be gained for profitable pursuits? How much strife would simply go away? How many destructive words would go unwritten? And how many souls would be spared that destruction?

Ultimately, corrupt communication is not a product of the internet or of social media. Evil words—by any means and in any forum—proceed out of our hearts (Luke 6:45), and our hearts are deceitful above all things, desperately and unfathomably wicked (Jer. 17:9). We need new hearts, which God gives in the work of regeneration. Out of the new heart we speak the truth, in love, with grace, but our sinful flesh still cleaves to us and we still bring forth corrupt communication.

For now we may rejoice in the small beginning of sanctified obedience, and we look forward to perfect sanctification—even a tongue tamed by the Spirit! Until then, the way of wisdom always includes carefulness and restraint. “Let thy words be few” (Eccl. 5:2).

1 Pierce Taylor Hibbs, “The Depth of Everyday Words.” Tabletalk Magazine, August 27, 2025. https:// tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/the-depth-of-everyday-words.
2 Hibbs, “The Depth of Everyday Words.”
3 Mark Edmundson, “Why Does Everybody Swear All the Time Now?” The New York Times, September 14 2025. https:// www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/opinion/culture/curse-words-profanity-swearing.html.
4 Edmundson.
5 Matthew Capone, “Watch Your Language: The New York Times Knows That Profane Language Matters—And So Should We,” WORLD News Group, October 7, 2025, https:// wng.org/opinions/watch-your-language-1759807463.
6 Capone.
7 Randy Alcorn, “Are We Slow to Speak and Rush to Judgment on Social Media?,” EPM Resources, November 14, 2025, https://www.epm.org/resources/2025/Nov/14/rush-judgment-social-media/.