It’s nasty and no amount of mouthwash can cover it.

Every time they open their mouth it just reeks.  Smells like death.  People go running from it as soon as they can.  People may not be able to tell them to their face, but I can guarantee they are thinking it.  “Please, for everyone’s sake, keep your mouth closed.”

What’s the issue?  Spiritual halitosis.

What’s spiritual halitosis?  I’m glad you asked.  It is the horrible condition some people within churches have that causes them to spew forth nastiness every time they start talking. It’s as though they can’t help it.  The disease has taken over.  Out of their mouth comes the onslaught of negativity, criticism, false superiority, gossip, and meanness.  It doesn’t matter what they are talking about, it always comes out rotten.  No one is safe. Great things could have been better, good things are abject failures.  If there is a way to paint something with a negative stroke, they have got the brush handy.

The breathtaking assault usually begins in a familiar way.  “Did you hear…?” “I’ve heard that…”  “Can you believe…?”  “If you asked me…”  They complete their thought as the stench fills the air.

Oh, they’ll talk about anything; pastors and their staff, deacons and leaders, programs and ministries.  They are quick to cast a cloud over all they see as being wrong in their church, things that don’t align with their particular personal preferences or opinions. The manner by which they share it is nothing short of putrid.

The Apostle Paul gives a warning about such nasty talk.  In Ephesians 4, he reminds a church that as followers of Jesus they are to stop living like they did before they met Christ.  Instead, they were to put on a new self which looks like Jesus.  As he talked about what that looks like (and fittingly enough sounds like), he tells them that they were to “let no unwholesome talk proceed from their mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Interestingly, the word we translate as unwholesome literally means decaying or rotting.  Ever found something that was rotting and smell good?  I didn’t think so.  He is telling those believers, and us, too, to not let any of that rotting, smelly, decaying talk ever come out our mouths.  Period.  Everything we say should instead be pleasant and build up people.

Jesus says in Luke 6:45 that what comes out the mouth is the overflow of what’s in the heart.  If garbage is coming out your mouth, it says an awfully lot about what’s in your heart.  Yikes.  As a pastor friend once told me, what is in the well comes up in the bucket.

So.  If you struggle with spiritual halitosis, here are some helpful suggestions.

1. Acknowledge you have a problem. It is a sin. We are commanded to not talk that way.  There is no other right way to look at this.  If you continue to breathe out nastiness, it is a sign of willful rebellion and disobedience.  Repent of that sin.  Don’t make excuses, fix the problem. Ask God to forgive you for speaking that way about His church (His bride by the way) and His people.  Repent and move forward.
2. Stop breathing nastiness on people. You choose how you will talk and what you will talk about.  Choose wisely.  You will find people will treat you differently when your spiritual breath is sweeter.  People will often tolerate a sufferer of spiritual halitosis, but they are drawn toward those with pleasant speech.
3. Think about who is using you. No one wants to think this way, but…If God is not using your words to build up His church and people, someone else is using them to tear them down.  Who do you think that is?  Imagine the great satisfaction the devil must feel knowing that those who are claiming to be followers of Jesus, are actually doing his work for him.  The Adversary is intent on tearing down the church, let’s not lend him a hand.
4. Focus on breathing out praise and encouragement. It may be a struggle at first, but you can be one whose breath is sweet and not sour.  Take every opportunity to speak good about His church, the body of Christ.   Find ways to talk about the great things God is doing in people around you. Rather that criticizing, focus on encouraging.  Rather that pointing out mistakes and differences, point toward positives and strive for unity! As Paul says, “so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

 

So, for all who struggle with this struggle, to the full ranks whose breath is fully rank, to all those dealing with spiritual halitosis.  Breathe easier.  There is hope. As our Savior cleans up our heart, we will find the words coming out our mouths will be all the sweeter.  Allow Him to begin that work today.