Reflections on Verbal Violence, Name Calling, and Jesus’ Teachings About Purity
Recently, I came across a news article describing a female commentator’s deep disappointment with how the President repeatedly uses harsh words—calling female journalists “obnoxious,” “terrible,” “stupid,” “nasty,” “ugly,” “insubordinate,” and even “piggy.” What really struck me was not just the words themselves, but the concern that such language, when used by someone in authority, can become “normalized” in society. As a minister, this issue reminds me of a powerful truth from Scripture: what comes out of our mouths has a lasting impact, not just on others, but on our own spiritual health.
Verbal Violence and Name Calling: More Than Just Words
Insulting people and name-calling might seem like small things, but their effects run deep. When we use words to tear others down, we engage in what the Bible calls “defilement.” It’s not just about hurting feelings—words can shape attitudes, influence behavior, and even change the culture around us. When leaders use insults publicly, it can make others think such behavior is acceptable. But the Bible calls us to a higher standard, reminding us that our words reveal the true state of our hearts.
What Does the Bible Say About Defilement?
In Scripture, the idea of being “defiled” means to be made impure or unclean. The Old Testament focused heavily on ritual purity—following specific rules and performing ceremonies to be clean before God. For example, touching a dead body or eating certain foods required special cleansing rituals. These rules taught people about the seriousness of approaching God with respect and purity.
Jesus’ Radical Shift: It’s What Comes Out That Matters
Jesus changed the conversation around purity and defilement. He taught that it’s not just what we touch or eat that makes us unclean, but what comes out of our mouths—our words and actions. In Matthew 15:11, Jesus says: “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” And in Mark 7:20-23, He goes further: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
From Rituals to the Heart: What Really Matters
The shift that Jesus introduced was profound: external rituals aren’t enough. We can wash our hands, eat the right foods, and follow religious traditions, but if our hearts are full of anger, pride, or hatred, we’re missing the point. The real measure of our spiritual health is found in the character and motivations within us.
The Heart: Source of Good and Evil
According to Jesus, the heart is where everything starts—our thoughts, desires, intentions, and actions. If our hearts are filled with bitterness or contempt, those attitudes will show up in our words and behaviors. The Bible often uses the heart as a symbol for our inner selves, the place of our will, emotions, and conscience. A pure heart leads to a pure life; a corrupt heart leads us astray.
Spiritual Implications: Purity, Humility, and Transformation
Jesus’ teaching challenges us to pursue purity of heart, not just outward conformity. It also calls us to humility—we’re all prone to inner corruption and in need of God’s grace. True spiritual transformation is a work that God does within us, changing our hearts so that our words and actions reflect love, compassion, and goodness.
Conclusion: Let’s Guard Our Words and Hearts
What we say matters. Our words have the power to build up or tear down, to heal or to harm. When insults and name-calling become normalized, especially by those in authority, it can erode the moral fabric of our communities. As followers of Christ, let’s heed His teaching: focus not just on outward appearances, but on cultivating hearts that are humble, honest, and open to God’s transforming work. In doing so, we demonstrate the kind of purity that truly draws us closer to God—not through rituals alone, but through lives made clean from the inside out.
Minister A Francine Green
December 2025
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