THE RUDE TONGUE

The Rude Tongue

There will be a highway called the Holy Road.

No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road.

It’s for God’s people exclusively.

Isaiah 35:8




Speaking of the highway, wouldn’t it be great if

there were a special freeway for only nice, consid-

erate people? The thoroughfares are the theater

where road rage is played out every single day.

Discourteous drivers yell obscenities to fellow drivers

young and old.




What has made us so rude? Is it the overbooked

schedules, longer commuting times, demanding

bosses, spoiled children, and the stress of daily

living? Perhaps our lack of patience can be attrib-

uted to the modern conveniences that allow us to

do almost everything in mere seconds. Showing

patience is a rare occurrence. Ill-mannered, dis-

courteous communication has become standard practice—even among God’s children. I was in a

meeting recently where a man was attempting to

make his point. He droned on in his normally slow

and deliberate manner. A woman, frustrated with

his pace, anxious about her next meeting, and

lacking the grace to hold her thought until he fin-

ished, interrupted him. She finished his statement

and completely changed the subject. The other

members of the group looked uncomfortably at each

other, but no one said anything—not even the man.

Incidentally, it was a meeting of executives at a

Christian organization.




Being rude to others is very denigrating to them

and can spoil their entire day. Whatever happened

to the Golden Rule? “Do to others as you would

have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). Do unto others?

Why, we do not even have time to think about

others! We are totally absorbed with our own

agendas. Many of us can be counted among cell

phone users who parade around public places

talking at the top of their voices as if no one else is

present. Just tonight at church, during a very crit-

ical moment, a woman sitting near the front of the

sanctuary received a call on her cell phone, which

rang loudly and several times before she answered

it. My husband was appalled that she not only had the phone on in church but that she actually took

the call. Cell phone users seem to be totally obliv-

ious to their annoying and offensive social mis-

conduct. And, even though some speak quietly, I

have noticed people dining with others while

spending an inordinate amount of time talking on

the phone. It is no wonder that many relationships

are so shallow these days.




Speaking of additional acts of rudeness, what

about the cashiers at the checkout stands who are

so engaged in their conversations with each other

that they never offer a “hello”? That is so rude. And

let’s not forget the executive who takes phone calls

during a meeting. This is disruptive and disrespectful.




Shouldn’t our love for God and the desire to rep-

resent Him well here on earth have an impact on our

day-to-day behavior? “Love is patient and kind. Love

is not…rude. Love does not demand its own way”

(1 Corinthians 13:4-5).




What if someone is rude to us? Should we just

let it go? Is it biblical to address the situation or

should we just grin and bear it? While God has not

called us to be a wimpy milquetoast who always rolls

over and accepts rude behavior, we must confront

rudeness in a direct but nonoffensive manner. It may not be necessary to tell a person, “You are so rude.”




However, it is a good idea to let her know you are

aware of her lack of graciousness at the moment.

Sometimes a well-phrased, caring question will do

the trick. “Tough day, huh?” Of course, if you really

feel that you have been mistreated, you should

report the incident to someone in authority where

possible. Some people continue their rudeness

because they get away with it; reporting it may bring

consequences that will ultimately change their

behavior. Most importantly, do not allow people to

suck you into the vacuum of their negativity by

matching their rudeness with rudeness. The other

day someone hung up in my face. My first thought

was to call him back immediately so that I could

return the behavior. The Holy Spirit reminded me

of the admonitions I had written under the

“Retaliating Tongue.” There is never a justification

for being rude.




If you find you tend to speak rudely to others,

repent and recommit to following the Golden Rule.

Know that when you are rude, you have made a very

selfish and ungodly decision that your needs or con-

cerns are paramount to all others.

God’s people are patient, considerate, and kind.

Remember that tomorrow when you encounter a person whose actions beg you to respond in an

ungodly way.




Today’s Affirmation:

I will slow down and take the time to

do unto others as I would have them

do unto me.