What is it to talk like a Christian? James tells us this:
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and make a profit” –yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
James 4:13-16
First of all, when we talk like a Christian, it should not be us speaking to others but instead, allowing Christ to speak and communicate through us. We are not inviting people to be like us, we are inviting them to be like Christ and therefore, when we speak to others, we should keep this in mind.
It does sound a little difficult but it is completely doable! Here are a few effective ways to let the love of the Lord speak through us:
- Identify who you are speaking to, what they need and learn how to listen to them. It is important to recognize who we are speaking to and what they need in order for us to be able to help them.
- Practice empathy when speaking to others.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin. Heb 4:15
- Let the Holy Spirit speak through you- let the Bible be your guide. It’s easy to throw in a little anecdote here and there in the middle of a conversation but what we really need in times like this is the Lord. Therefore, we should allow Christ to speak through us with the use of the bible.
- Believe in the things that you say.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:28-29).
- Encourage others to apply the Bible’s teaching in their lives.
- Allow the person you are conversing to figure out their situation by asking questions.
Are you allowing the Lord to speak through you?