Watch Our Speech

“Profitless talkers,” “liars,” “talking back,” “speak[ing] injuriously” and “foolish questionings”​—these expressions reveal that the use of the tongue was being abused on the island of Crete. It was even necessary for Titus to warn aged sisters not to be “slanderous.” The same advice is needed today.​—Titus 1:10, 12; 2:3, 9; 3:2, 9.

For example, in one congregation an elderly sister, though zealous in field service, was inclined to speak badly of her grown-up, dedicated children and her unbelieving husband. Without mentioning her name, it became necessary for one of the elders to give a talk to the congregation about this matter. Really, do we have the right to speak abusively of any living human? Paul’s inspired letter to Titus replies: “Speak injuriously of no one.” Rather, Christians must concentrate on using “wholesome speech which cannot be condemned.”​—Titus 3:2; 2:8.

Maintaining a Correct Attitude

Cretan Christians needed to maintain the correct attitude toward worldly sinners, not speaking abusively of them but “exhibiting all mildness toward all men.” We need to do the same today. Otherwise, our efforts in helping them to accept the Kingdom message will fail. Also, just as in ancient Crete, we need to guard our associations. How else can we obey the command “to repudiate ungodliness and worldly desires and to live with . . . godly devotion amid this present system of things”? ​—Titus 3:2; 2:12.