Does Accountability Include Words Spoken and How We Live?

Accountability is difficult to feel comfortable with because everyone has acted irresponsibly. Who hasn’t spoken disparagingly about another person’s behavior or character when it was unwarranted? It’s amazing what words can be spoken in moments of reckless intent.

It’s frightening to realize we will be held accountable for every word we speak. In Psalm 141:3 David recognized the implications of reckless speech: “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord: keep watch over the door to my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil.”

One of the Ten Commandments specifically states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor or accuse anyone falsely.” David was aware that he would be held accountable for the words he spoke and for living an honorable life before God. “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” That’s a request God will honor.

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For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 

~2 Corinthians 5:10 New International Version

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Communication Gatekeeper: Protector of Relationships

It’s impossible to agree with everything we hear due to personality differences, our religious and political views, and our perception of the world. In our closest relationships, disagreements are expected, but whether they evolve into conflict depends on the effectiveness of the gatekeeper’s influence and power over our emotions.

The gatekeeper, identified as the voice of conscience enhanced by the Holy Spirit, should provide alternatives to negative communications that could cause a relationship breakup. The purpose of the gatekeeper is to determine what is acceptable for healthy communications and the overall good of a relationship.

Proverbs 18:1 offers this reminder: "People who do not get along with others are interested only in themselves; they will disagree with what everyone else knows is right." A principle for effective communications is to make sure the highest level of integrity is maintained in language and motives. This pleases the Lord God. 

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Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

~Proverbs 21:23 English Standard Version

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A Gatekeeper of Words

Understanding when to speak and how to phrase what needs to be said is crucial to effective communication. Everyone has experienced trying to communicate and not being receptive to a listener. Essential to effective communications is realizing the choice of words and  tone of voice either attract others or turn them away.

What comes to mind when you hear the word gatekeeper? You might think of someone who has authority to permit entrance into an establishment. Each person is in effect a gatekeeper for all the words stored up in their vocabulary, one which has power to unleash a flood of words intended for good or evil. 

Think of yourself as the gatekeeper for your words that produce peace or dissention, good or evil. God’s word directs us to guard our hearts by being a responsible gatekeeper for what we say as well as what we allow ourselves to hear. Ask Christ Jesus to create in you a clean heart and a right spirit. He will do it. 

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Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

~Psalm 141:3 English Standard Version

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