WWJD By Dr. Richard Youngblood
Question: I work with a man who almost constantly spews
forth vulgarity from his mouth. What do
you think Jesus would do in this situation?
Situations like this have a way of stirring the righteous indignation of one who seeks to be holy as the Lord is holy (1 Peter 1:16). However we may react, a Christian must maintain self control and seek to live in peace with all people (Romans 12:9-21). There were times when Jesus was angry at the actions of people like the Pharisees; but he never allowed himself to react improperly in his anger, and neither should we (Mark 3:5-6; Ephesians 4:26). By studying the way Jesus dealt with those whose conduct angered him, we should be able to find guidance for your situation.
For example, Jesus taught that “out of
the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34-35). Therefore, any
effort to change outward behavior will not be very effective without changing
the heart. If you
are willing temporarily to tolerate his vulgarity while developing a meaningful
relationship with this person, you might eventually be
able to invite him to church, a Bible study group or even a social gathering of
Christians. Through this kind of loving
and patient endeavor, you may help this man come to faith in the Lord who fully
transforms even the most sinful of lives.
If nothing else, he may find enough respect for you and your Christian
life that his conscience will cause him to be more careful about his language
around you.
Sometimes
Jesus also saw a need to confront the behavior of people as he did the
Pharisees when they accused him of casting out demons by the power of
Beelzebub, the prince of demons (Matthew 12: 33-34). Although he spoke very sternly, saying, “You
brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?” (Matthew 12:34), Jesus never forced his way
upon the Pharisees. He respected their
freedom to choose for themselves whether to believe and live by his teachings
or not.
Following
this example, you may find a way to kindly and respectfully confront your
fellow-worker about his vulgarity. Sometime
when he is alone and you can speak without embarrassing him before others, you
might say something like this: “John, I don’t mean to be disrespectful or try
to tell you how to live your life, but I have a problem that I need some help
with. As a Christian I am not accustomed
to the kind of language you use. The
people I usually associate with do not speak like you and I have chosen not to
do that. This is a free country, and you
have the right to say what you want when you want and the way you want. However, I find your vulgarities
distracting. They keep me from being
able to keep focus on my work. I am
respectfully asking only that you help me by refraining in my presence. What you choose to do elsewhere is your
business.”
Finally, you may find that you
have no real ability to change this fellow-worker. When the
Pharisees refused to change, Jesus told his disciples: “Leave
them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall
into a pit" (Matthew 15:14). Jesus
placed them in the hands of a just God saying: “But I tell you that men will
have to give account on the day of judgment for every
careless word they have spoken. For by
your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned"
(Matthew 12:36-37). If this is the case, you may face the tough
decision to remove yourself from this work position in order to escape his
verbal assaults.
Continue to conduct yourself in a manner that exemplifies the life and teachings of Jesus. You should not appear self-righteous, but neither should you laugh along with others at his vulgarity. Above all, pray for God’s wisdom to guide you everyday.
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