Christians believe that the gospel — the good news of Jesus — changes every aspect of our lives. This includes how we communicate with others.
Christians believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ should be the starting point of everything that the church does, says and believes. The gospel is all-transforming; a person who has been saved through Jesus Christ does not remain unchanged. Every aspect of a person’s life is laid down at the foot of the cross.
Followers of Jesus are recipients of unimaginably good news: “that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Receiving this good news, we let it sink into the very core of our identities. Two truths emerge as we take in this gospel: First, we recognize that we are deeply sinful and are in need of more mercy than we ever thought possible. Second, we find that God shows us more love, and gives us more grace, than we ever thought imaginable.
The mark of a Christian is one who has been rescued from sin by God’s grace — that is the essence of the gospel. But as Christians, we acknowledge that the gospel does not leave us as we are. We’ve been brought into a new family; we have a new allegiance. God’s grace compels us to a new, transformed life as we seek to live as members of the family of God.
The gospel, then, has implications for all of life, including in the way we communicate with others. Consider these three points in how the gospel shapes our own communication practices.
1. Because of the gospel, we communicate with clarity.
If believers are those who have been given new hearts through Christ, then we should have a desire to embrace excellence in every area of our lives — not as a means of salvation, but out of a heart of love and gratitude for the One who saved us. So, we strive to communicate with clarity in all avenues of life.
People who seek to communicate clearly with others are those who are seeking to love their neighbors as themselves. Whether that’s communicating the gospel to a neighbor, instructions to a coworker or a story to a friend, clear communication implies honor, respect and love to the people in front of us.
Christians should strive to be the best communicators. But we also acknowledge that every aspect of our lives has been marked by grace, even when we do not communicate clearly. This truth compels us to assume the best of others while striving to gain mutual clarity, always keeping God’s grace in the front of our minds.
2. Because of the gospel, we communicate with sincerity.
Christians who have received the gospel always seek to communicate with sincerity, not attempting to lie or mislead others. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator” (Colossians 3:9-10).
Words marked by deceit and hypocrisy are communication practices of the “old self.” Paul tells us that’s the way we used to speak to one another. But we’ve been changed — we’re part of a new family now. God is transforming our new selves to look more and more like Him.
Christians, then, are the kinds of people who communicate with sincerity. A Christian journalist reports events with honesty and accuracy. A Christian employer communicates both with kindness and candor. A Christian parent speaks to her children with wisdom and without bending the truth. All of us strive to “speak the truth in love” because our hearts have been shaped by the good news of salvation (Ephesians 4:15).
3. Because of the gospel, we communicate with gratitude.
How is Christian communication different from the world’s communication? Paul tells us that Christians must speak to one another in this way: “giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).
A community shaped by the gospel speaks to one another out of thankfulness to God. That’s why we should be quick to share testimonies with one another — when we recognize that God has done so much for us, we feel compelled to tell others about the good work that He has accomplished.
Christian communicators are people who speak, write and express themselves in ways that are clear, sincere and joyful. When the gospel comes into our lives, we do not remain the same. Even the way we communicate is transformed by God’s grace.
EDITOR’S NOTE — N.C. Baptists desire to communicate with clarity, sincerity and gratitude for God’s good work in our lives. How are we doing? Let us know by filling out this survey here.
