Christian Communication:
Good Christian communication is where good Christian relationships begin.
“More friction and tensions are caused in a family by tone of voice than for any other one reason.”—Billy Graham
One of the most important skills you can learn is how to communicate effectively. Your communication skills can determine the quality of your relationships. The inability to communicate will be the chief contributor to poor relationships. Words have power and Christians must know and understand what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. Ecclesiastes 3:1,7 (NIV) tells us, There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and time to speak. Unfortunately, a lot of us speak when we should be silent and keep quiet when we should speak. Christians must continually communicate openly and honestly in all of our relationships, especially marriage.
Truth without love is mean and love without truth is meaningless!
When there is a lack of communication or the absence of total honesty, misunderstandings can occur within a marriage. Bitterness, frustration, and even anger can build up in one or both individuals because of hurt feelings, unspoken words, or miscommunication. You want to avoid, at all costs, allowing pressure to build to the boiling point because it can lead to intense arguments. You should tactfully and lovingly express your feelings up front so your spouse is always aware of your worries, concerns, or any other issues that arise. You NEVER want to allow the enemy to get a foothold in your relationships. The only way to avoid this is to communicate honestly, upfront, often and, most importantly, speak the truth in love Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) says Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.
Your words have power. Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Your words can cause delight or despair. The words you choose to say on a daily basis are highly important because they can bring life or death to your spouse, your kids, your mom and dad, your siblings, your friends, your co-workers, and all the people you encounter on a daily basis. As a Christian, you represent God, and you should strive to only use words that leave a positive impression on those you associate with on a daily basis. Those who do not communicate well will be lonely and rarely have many close friends. Proverbs 15:2 (NKJV) says, The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
Is your tongue productive or destructive? My dad, Pastor Frank Sanford, calls the tongue the ‘pink tornado’ because the words that roll off of the tongue can cause a lot of harm and devastation in mere seconds. Just like a tornado, hurtful words can seem small and unintentional, but they can begin to grow in their negative impact, get out of control, and cause serious damage. Abe Lincoln said, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Proverbs 10:19 (NIV) says, When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. It is ALWAYS wise to hold your tongue and THINK before you speak! Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NIV) says, Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart, to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. God gave us two ears and one tongue, therefore, we should listen twice as much as we speak. James 1:19 (NIV) says, Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. When you become angry, you are not going to say or do the good things God wants you to do and say. The hardest sins to control are the sins of the mouth. On the other hand, it is difficult to get into trouble for something you DID NOT SAY! Proverbs 21:23 (NIV) tells us, He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before saying anything:
1. What do I have to gain or lose from saying this?
2. By saying this, will I make this situation better or worse?
3. Will these words add value to the life of the other person?
4. THE BIG QUESTION! Is Jesus pleased with what I am saying or is Satan pleased with what I am saying?
The proper answers to these questions will help you control your words.
“Communication is the ability to ensure that people understand not only what you say but also what you mean. It is also the ability to listen to and understand others. Developing both of these aspects of communication takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work.”—Dr. Myles Monroe
CONCLUSION
The words you speak should clearly communicate to others that you are a child of God. The best uses of your words are to honor God, praise Him, speak His truth in love, and glorify Him! Do this and you will be a Champion of Christ and Live The Victory!
Go Live The Victory!
