
Request your free, three-month trial to Tabletalk magazine. You’ll receive the print issue monthly and gain immediate digital access to decades of archives. This trial is risk-free. No credit card required.
Try Tabletalk NowAlready receive Tabletalk magazine every month?
Verify your email address to gain unlimited access.
I once spoke with a Christian woman who was born in the Netherlands but had lived in the United States for many years. She expressed disappointment that despite her long stay in America, she still spoke with a Dutch accent. Sensing her frustration, I gently told her, “Don’t be disappointed with your accent—it’s a reflection of who you are.” Then I asked, “Are you not proud of your Dutch heritage?” She paused, and then smiled. “You’re right,” she admitted. “I should be proud of my heritage.” I shared with her my own experience. English is not my first language—I was born and raised in the Philippines—so when I speak, my accent reveals my origins. People quickly recognize that I am not originally from North America.
As Christians, we, too, have a distinctive identity. The Bible reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. Shouldn’t our words reflect our true home and identity as followers of Christ? Just as our earthly accents reveal our national heritage, our speech should bear the marks of our heavenly citizenship. Do those around us hear our heavenly accent? Do people ever ask: “Where are you really from? You speak differently than the rest of us.”
In this article, we will examine Paul’s teachings in Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4, exploring the significance of pure speech and its role as a positive witness to Christ.
a call to distinct Christian speech
Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian church while imprisoned in Rome in the early 60s AD. One of his key purposes was to guide these young Christians in living a new life in Christ, distinct from their former ways. He urged them, “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do” (Eph. 4:17). At the time, Ephesus—under Roman rule—was deeply influenced by a culture where harsh rhetoric, flattery, and slander were commonly used to gain political and social advantage. The Greco-Roman world placed a high value on oratory skills, but public speech was often driven by manipulation, arrogance, and deception rather than truth and edification.
Bible commentator Adam Clarke (1762–1832) noted that “on many occasions, a lie was to be preferred to the truth itself.” He referenced ancient pagan writers, such as Menander, who once said, “A lie is better than a hurtful truth.” The Ephesian converts had been raised in this kind of morally lax environment, where dishonesty was often seen as a practical virtue rather than a moral failing. This is why Paul urges them in Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor.” He reinforces this in verse 29, saying, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” The Greco-Roman society was also known for its entertainment, including theatrical performances that often featured profane language and sexually suggestive humor. For this reason, Paul admonishes the Ephesians: “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place” (5:4). Paul’s exhortation remains a powerful reminder for Christians today to distinguish themselves through their speech. The cultural landscape of Paul’s time was not so different from our own. Sadly, obscene, blasphemous, and slanderous language has become commonplace in modern society, permeating daily conversations, television, movies, social media, news, and politics.
speech as a positive witness to christ
As believers in Christ, we are called to stand apart from the corrupt society around us, reflecting His truth in the way that we speak. Our words should be honest and holy—seasoned with grace, uplifting to others, and always directed toward glorifying God. How do we measure up? Let’s reflect on our speech.
- Do we use words that build up our spouse, children, or family members?
- Do we speak with integrity?
- Are our jokes pure?
- Do our social media posts honor Christ?
- Do we avoid entertainment that normalizes profanity?
As parents of five small children, my wife and I have set a rule in our home: We do not watch any movie that contains the irreverent use of God’s name. This is a small yet intentional way that we seek to honor God in our speech and protect our children from becoming desensitized to blasphemous language.
When we interact with others—especially those with whom we disagree politically or religiously—do we approach them with respect and humility? Even when addressing sin, standing for truth, or engaging in difficult conversations, we should do so with grace (Col. 4:6). I face this challenge regularly at the YMCA, where I play basketball for exercise. Many players casually take God’s name in vain. One day, I kindly asked a player to stop using God’s name irreverently. Initially, I wondered whether he would be upset, but to my surprise, he became interested in my Christian faith. As we talked, I learned he was originally from Palestine and identified as a nominal Muslim. That simple moment of speaking up for God’s name—graciously yet firmly (with God’s help)—opened the door for a spiritual conversation.
Our words should be not only pure but also persuasive, pointing others to Christ. Often, we underestimate the profound impact that our speech can have on those around us, particularly non-Christians. Every conversation is an opportunity to reflect the love and truth of Christ. Let us therefore commit to using our speech as a tool for witnessing so that others may see Him in us. Yet despite our best efforts, we all fall short in our speech. We have spoken words that we regret, responded harshly in anger, and failed to use our voices for God’s glory. Thankfully, we have Christ, whose blood “cleanses us from all sin,” including the sins of the tongue (1 John 1:7). In Him, we find both forgiveness and the strength to speak words that honor God and lead others to His truth.