Graceful speech

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. – Colossians 4.6

Dealing with people in the world is clearly important. Paul follows up his words about wisely redeeming the time with words about how we are to speak to them. Though the principle of proper speech runs throughout scripture, here it is used in the context of dealing with those beyond the pale of the gospel. The ‘each one’ refers back to those who are ‘outside’ the faith in the previous verse.

As Christians we can expect opposition from the world. We can’t expect them to really ‘get it.’ The question we often hear is ‘Why?’ We must expect the questions because what we believe really can’t make much sense to the world. Everyone is a sinner. Our sin disqualifies us from eternity with God. We can’t do anything to fix it. Our hope is a Saviour who went to the cross to pay the price for our sin.

And He rose again in victory over death.

On top of that we live in a world full of wickedness. So how do we bridge that gap? 

Some folks think that anger and wrath and calling people names and such is the way we respond to that world. It’s pretty popular in Christian culture to hear all kinds of ugliness toward those who are ‘without.’

But Paul says we need make sure that our speech is ‘always with grace and seasoned with salt.’

When we are dealing with people we need to be careful that our talk doesn’t destroy our witness. We can’t answer with anger or hatred or vitriol. Grace is the language of the believer who cares about others. And not only do we employ grace, but with season it with a little salt so that it is flavoursome and savoury. Our answers should make others want what we have, but it is too easy to scare people away.

So when we get frustrated at the world around us. when we get angry at the wickedness around us, and when it seems like society is falling apart as it turns from what have been what we consider to be traditional values let’s examine our response . Let’s make sure that our words are gracious and well seasoned and full of the love of Christ.