Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:31, NIV
After Paul reintroduces us to relying on the Holy Spirit to lead our conversations, he gives us this command. "Get rid of this!" He knows that when we allow a different spirit to fester in us, we will grieve the Holy Spirit. He is very particular in his language, but not exhaustive. The words he uses are instructive. Let's take a look at them.
Get rid of bitterness: We all know what bitterness tastes like and how we will spit out things that are really bitter. It is the same thing with bitterness of the soul. We have encountered this gall a lot in our present discourse in our country. May it not fit in our hearts and mouths.
Get rid of rage: This is a word that means to boil over. It is what happens when we become inflamed by passion. We should reserve our passion for Jesus and keep our emotions and words at an even keel.
Get rid of wrath: This is anger with an eye to punishment. When we let ourselves express ourselves in wrath, it communicates that we do not love the people we are speaking with.
Get rid of clamor: This word means to cry out. In our context, it would mean to raise our voice or yell. Great communication keeps a steady tone.
Get rid of slander: This comes from the word translated blasphemy. These are hurtful words that injure another's character or name. This is the way they spoke of Jesus and what we see in our culture where people are vilified by others without cause. We must be speakers with a tongue of truth.
Get rid of malice: Lastly, Paul tells us to get rid of malice. This is wickedness that casts aside any restraint or law. There is neither regard for the person or for the Lord God.
Paul uses this set of strong words to capture our attention and direct us away from the conversations that are happening in the kingdom of this world. We are not of this kingdom but have been delivered. Let's make sure we take out the trash of these behaviors in our lives.
Love, Pastor Stuart