“Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice [Ephesians 4:30-32] are characteristic of words that qualify as ungracious speech. These are forbidden vices that grieve the Holy Spirit. God has a personal concern that His children use their speech in kind and merciful ways and not at all in ways that are harmful: ‘But love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.’ (Luke 6:35-36). Being gracious in your interactions with people inside and outside your church family does not mean you have achieved some elite level of Christianity. Graciousness is fundamental. Christians’ words are God’s instruments of grace to other.”
John Crotts, Graciousness: Tempering Truth with Love. Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2018, page 63
.
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 