Our words should be not only pure but also persuasive, pointing others to Christ. Often, we underestimate the profound impact that our speech can have on those around us, particularly non-Christians. Every conversation is an opportunity to reflect the love and truth of Christ. Let us therefore commit to using our speech as a tool for witnessing so that others may see Him in us.

City on a Hill

I once spoke with a Christian woman who was born in the Netherlands but had lived in the United States for many years. She expressed disappointment that despite her long stay in America, she still spoke with a Dutch accent. Sensing her frustration, I gently told her, “Don’t be disappointed with your accent—it’s a reflection of who you are.” Then I asked, “Are you not proud of your Dutch heritage?” She paused,  and then smiled. “You’re right,” she admitted. “I should be proud of my heritage.” I shared with her my own experience. English is not my first language—I was born and raised in the Philippines—so when I speak, my accent reveals my origins. People quickly recognize that I am not originally from North America.

As Christians, we, too, have a distinctive identity. The Bible reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. Shouldn’t our words reflect our true home and identity as followers of Christ? Just as our earthly accents reveal our national heritage, our speech should bear the marks of our heavenly citizenship. Do those around us hear our heavenly accent? Do people ever ask: “Where are you really from? You speak differently than the rest of us.”

In this article, we will examine Paul’s teachings in Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4, exploring the significance of pure speech and its role as a positive witness to Christ.

A Call to Distinct Christian Speech

Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian church while imprisoned in Rome in the early 60s AD. One of his key purposes was to guide these young Christians in living a new life in Christ, distinct from their former ways. He urged them, “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do” (Eph. 4:17). At the time, Ephesus—under Roman rule—was deeply influenced by a culture where harsh rhetoric, flattery, and slander were commonly used to gain political and social advantage. The Greco-Roman world placed a high value on oratory skills, but public speech was often driven by manipulation, arrogance, and deception rather than truth and edification.

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