Suffering from Spiritual Halitosis

It’s vile and no amount of mouthwash can ever cover it.

Every time they open their mouth, it just reeks. Smells like death. People get away from it as soon as they can. They may not tell them to their face, but I can guarantee they are thinking it. “Please, for everyone’s sake, keep your mouth closed.”

What’s the issue? Spiritual halitosis.

What’s spiritual halitosis? 

I’m glad you asked. It is the horrible condition some people suffer from that causes them to spew forth nastiness every time they talk. It’s as though they can’t help it. The disease has taken over. Out of their mouths comes an onslaught of negativity, criticism, false superiority, gossip, and meanness. It doesn’t matter what they are talking about, it always comes out rotten. No one is safe. Great things could have been better; good things are abject failures. If there is a way to paint something with a negative stroke, they have got the brush handy.

The breathtaking assault usually begins familiarly. “Did you hear…?” “I’ve heard that…” “Can you believe…?” “If you asked me…” As they complete their thought, the stench fills the air.

They’ll talk about anything and everyone: the community, weather, politics, religion – friends, neighbors, and family. Everything is fair game. They’re quick to speak, in a rush to judge, with no filter added. The words they spew create a wretched cloud over all they see as being wrong, things they don’t like, or things that don’t align with their particular personal preferences or opinions. The manner by which they share it is nothing short of putrid.

The Apostle Paul gives a warning about such nasty talk. In Ephesians 4, he reminds a church that as followers of Jesus they are to stop living like they did before they met Christ. Instead, they were to put on a new self that looks like Jesus. As he talked about what that looks like (and fittingly enough sounds like), he tells them in verse 29:

Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Interestingly, the word we translate as unwholesome literally means decaying or rotting. Ever found something that was rotting and smelled good? I didn’t think so. He is telling those believers, and us too, not to let any of that rotting, smelly, decaying talk ever come out of our mouths. Period. Everything we say should instead be pleasant and build people up.

Jesus says in Luke 6:45 that what comes out of the mouth is the overflow of what’s in the heart. If garbage is coming out of your mouth, it says an awful lot about what’s in your heart. As a pastor friend once told me, what is in the well comes up in the bucket.

Yikes. 

So, if you struggle with spiritual halitosis, here are some helpful suggestions.

1. Acknowledge that you have a problem. It is a sin. We are commanded not to talk that way. There is no other right way to look at this. If you continue to breathe out nastiness, it is a sign of willful rebellion and disobedience. Repent of that sin. Don’t make excuses – fix the problem. Ask God to forgive you for speaking that way. Repent and move forward.
2. Stop breathing nastiness on people. You choose how you will talk and what you will talk about. Choose wisely. You will find people will treat you differently when your spiritual breath is sweeter. People will often tolerate someone who suffers from spiritual halitosis, but they are drawn toward those with pleasant speech.
3. Think about who is using you. No one wants to think this way, but if God is not using your words to build up His church and people, someone else is using them to tear them down. Who do you think that is? Imagine the great satisfaction the devil must feel knowing that those who claim to be followers of Jesus are actually doing his work for him. The Adversary is intent on tearing down the church and hurting people; let’s not lend him a hand.
4. Focus on breathing out praise and encouragement. It may be a struggle at first, but you can be one whose breath is sweet and not sour. Take every opportunity to speak good things. Use your words to encourage others. Talk about how good God is! Say positive things about His church, the body of Christ. Talk about the great things God is doing in the people around you. Rather than criticizing, focus on encouraging. Rather than pointing out mistakes and differences, point toward positives and strive for unity! As Paul says, “so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

So, for all who struggle with this disease, to the full ranks whose breath is fully rank, to all those dealing with spiritual halitosis. Breathe easier. There is hope. As our Savior cleans up our hearts, we will find the words coming out of our mouths will be all the sweeter. Allow Him to begin that work today.