Fluent in Tongues, Rude in English

Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.
Romans 12:18 GNB

It was very early in the morning. I was half asleep but I could bet that it wasn’t even 4am yet, but the noise was deafening.
What was going on?

I was in my hostel room, trying to enjoy the last few moments of my sweet sleep before I had to wake up and start my day but I was woken up by a very loud voice.

I kept hearing deep tongues from my sleep. I stood up and looked around and apparently I wasn’t the only one whose restful sleep had been rudely interrupted by a passionate Christian who was communicating deep things in the realm of the spirit at that very early hour of the morning. My roommates were also awake.

“What’s going on? Who is shouting?” I asked, trying to clear my eyes with my hands.

“Somebody is praying from the other block” one of my roommate replied.

“And she’s that loud? What is wrong with people for God’s sake?” I was genuinely displeased.

That marked the end of our sleep that morning. We had to start our day earlier than we planned because someone was praying.

I’ll pause this story to make a comment.
Your faith/religion should never be practiced to the point of causing unnecessary discomfort to other people. Selah.

Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.
Romans 14:16 NLT

Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.
Romans 14:16 NIV

Do not let what you regard as good get a bad name.
Romans 14:16 GNB

Back to my story.

Our beloved prayer machine finally ended her prayers after a long time and went to her room.
My roommates then began to tell me about her. Apparently, she’s well known for her habit of praying very loud in the hostel and disturbing people but that’s not the only thing she’s known for.

She’s also known for her lousy and loud behavior. According to them, she had a pungent attitude and loud mouth and fought with people very often.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to rely on people’s reports about her, I eventually witnessed some episodes of her drama and I was just dumbfounded at her behavior.

I am pretty sure that this is not the first time you’re hearing (reading) about “serious Christians” doing and acting in unimaginable ways. We’ve seen and heard all sorts, but today I want to talk about people who show the world that they’re the most fervent and serious Christians but end up contradicting that claim with their lifestyle, especially the words of their mouth.

Bear in mind that I’m not saying being a Christian makes you perfect. Of course we’re humans and can be heavily flawed in divers ways and we keep working on them until we’re completely transformed.
But when you get to the point where you show the whole world a certain level of seriousness in your faith as a Christian, then a level of conformity to the image of Christ should be seen in you as well.
Don’t be fluent in tongues and rude in English.

Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].
Colossians 4:6 AMP
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:6 ASV
Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith.
Colossians 4:6 TPT

Who are we fooling when we carry out all kinds of religious activities “faithfully” in the presence of certain people only to end up saying terrible things to those same people shortly after?
Who are you representing?
Definitely not the Christ that I know.

We must daily die to flesh and its nature until we are identical with Christ.

Your tongues are not going to mean anything to people around when you’re rude and unpleasant in English.

I’ll also grab this opportunity to point out something else I have noticed. People who are always quick to say things like “That’s how all those prayer warriors behave” “People of so and so church always have this bad habit” “All these people that are serious about God, they are bad people”.
Permit me to say that the foolishness in those words can not be quantified.

The fact that you see a number of Christians who seem very religious doing horrible things does not mean you should generalize and conclude that we are all like that.
Don’t be quick to conclude, throwing everybody into one box. That, my friend, is not very wise.

Have a beautiful week, lots of love, Mo’

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 NLT