The Remnant

Columnist
Jerrell Miller
Cleddie Keith
Dianne Sloan 
Chris Harvey 
Warren G. Harkins Billy Deck 
Randy Clark

2000
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Words  
 "Too many Christians are adopting the vulgarities of the people around them and excusing this sinful behavior, by thinking, "everyone does it.." 

Pastor Warren Harkins is Pastor of Praise Assembly of God

COMANCHE, OK -- Looking for another sign of the "End Time?" I have been seeing and (unfortunately) hearing the language of our society and feel it is one more sign of the times. While God is visiting His people and the Holy Spirit is being poured out in freshness. Satan is also pouring out a tidal wave of sin and decadence among us. You don’t have to be a rocket scientists or a Greek scholar to discern this. Just turn on the television or a radio, read a bumper sticker or check out that teen-agers t-shirt. Vulgar and profane words swirl around us like the wind. For most movies, videos, TV programs and music the ranker and raunchier the better. The Prophet Hosea, calls Israel to repentance because they had departed from the Lord in their words. "By swearing and lying, and killing and stealing and committing adultery...."(Hosea 4:2) . Words are important. They frame everything we do, everything we say, and everything we think. Jesus said, "...how can you being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure (depository) of the hearibringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth for the evil things." Matthew 12:33-34. It is absolutely true, it is possible to know what is in a person’s heart by the words that come out of their mouth. This certainly applies to the Christian as well as to the worldly person. Perhaps even more so. Proverbs 15:26 "...the words of the pure are pleasant words." There is nothing pleasant about vulgar, filthy, profane words, whether they come out of the mouth of a professing Believer or out of a sinner. Too many Christians are adopting the vulgarities of the people around them and excusing this sinful behavior, by thinking, "everyone does it." Pastors and Evangelists, would do well to do some language cleaning. It is not unusual for some preachers to ‘salt their sermons’ with common, gutter language. It is no mystery as to why the pews are filled with profanity when also is the pulpit . Hosea points out, "like people, like priest" (4:9). Why does revival tarry? Perhaps if we change out words from expletives and obscenities to words of faith and optimism the Holy Spirit would not be hindered. The Scriptures give a great deal of instruction concerning words. God knows, better than we, how word affect the person that is speaking them. I thank God for His last days outpouring of His Spirit. I thank God for this Divine Visitation, we are blessed that the Dove has landed, the river is flowing, revival is here. I do not want the Dove to fly away or the river to go dry. So I will set a watch upon my lips that no profane or obscene or off color words or tales touch them. That which is in your heart is coming out of your mouth. Repent of profanity and permissive, suggestive language, you are bigger and better than cold, hard, ugly, nasty words, repent and ask your Heavenly Father to, "Speak to your heart, and change your life."