Love Is...Not Rude

Love Is…Not Rude

Pastor Russell Henderson

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV.

When the bible refers to rudeness it is specifically talking about our outward characteristics such as how we present ourselves and how we speak.  The biblical definition literally means to act unbecomingly or indecent.  So now the question we must ask is this:  What are the standards by which our outward character is judged?

Ephesians 4:29 instructs us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”   Unwholesome speech is language that is rotten, corrupt and putrefied.  It is the same language used when Jesus talked about a bad tree bearing bad fruit.  Have you ever smelled a rotten apple?  Every fall my family and I go to the apple orchard to pick apples.  You would think that it smells so sweet with all of the apples on the trees.  However, you can’t smell the good apples because the smell of all of the rotten apples overpowers the good smell.  When your speech is corrupt it smells like those rotten apples, and any trace of decency is covered by your rude character.

You must understand that rude and indecent speech is so dangerous because it is a direct reflection of the condition of the heart.

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." - Mat 12:34-37 NIV

A person that has a rude heart has no choice but to display rude behavior.  On the other hand, a person that has a heart of love cannot display rude behavior because the behavior will always reflect the heart.

Rudeness also speaks of one’s reaction to authority.  Rudeness does not want to comply with any authority figure, but ironically enforces his authority on everyone else.  One who is rude deliberately seeks to hurl insults and is judgmental in nature.  And when you get down to the root of the issue, rudeness is usually the result of unforgiveness.

If love is not rude, then it is polite.  It is always seeking to lift people up, to encourage, and to show grace.  Remember Ephesians 4:29 says our speech should “build others up according to their needs”.  One who is polite strives to put his best foot forward.  He wants to uphold his name and reputation as well the person or idea that he represents.

As Christians we are all about lifting and upholding the name of Jesus.  We want Him to be glorified in all that we do, and we want to give Him a good name.  If we claim to be followers of Christ, the world will definitely develop an opinion of Him based on our character and speech.  How horrible it would be for someone to reject Christ because our rudeness gave Him a bad name.

In all you do, be polite and gracious.  Present yourself in a way that exalts Christ.  Let your speech be saturated with the Spirit.  Be forgiving and compassionate, and remember these words from Galatians 6:1-2.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.