Article July 15, 1985 Issue

Watching what we think and say: a spiritual goal

JUDITH ANN HARDY

Why even bother to watch what we think and say? Is it just to be more socially acceptable, more polite? To earnest followers of the Bible, it's far more than that.

Christ Jesus, the Way-shower, taught that our words reflect our deeper motives. He said: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man... But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man."^{Matt. 15:11, 18-20.} And Paul, while he is speaking of more than words, points the standard for our life and speech: "Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ."^{Phil. 1:27; "Conversation" here, as always in the King James Version, refers to one's total way of life.}

What a goal to aspire to! That every word coming out of our mouths and every act we participate in shall be in accord with Christ Jesus' own words and works!

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