Christian, perhaps you don’t think your choice of words is a big deal, but God’s Word says otherwise.

The Greek word translated corrupt is sapros (sap-ros’), and it means bad, rotten, putrefied, of poor quality, morally worthless, or no longer fit for use.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul discusses the church as the body of Christ and what that should look like. In this particular chapter, he explains how we are to live as children of light instead of those who are “darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity” (Ephesians 4:18-19, NIV).

Think of the filthiest word you’ve ever heard or used. The first time you heard it, you were probably shocked or uncomfortable. But over time, having been exposed to this word time and time again, it began to lose its shock value. You became desensitized to it until, eventually, you found yourself using it—or maybe sharing social media content that used it. What has happened is what is described in the verses above: you’ve lost sensitivity and have given yourself over to the sensuality of using that word and indulging in that impurity.

Foul language is not the only impurity addressed in verses 18-19; anger, lies, gossip, brawling, sexual immorality, and greed are also referenced throughout the chapter.

Paul reminds us that we did not come to know Christ this way (v. 20). “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness,” (vv. 22-24, NIV).

As Christians, each day we should die to ourselves (1 Cor. 15:31, Rom. 6:11, Rom. 8:13, Gal. 2:20, Gal 5:24 Col. 2:20), allowing the Holy Spirit complete control so we can become more and more like Christ—and that includes the words we speak (or write or share on social media).