In Mean Girls (2004), the “Plastics,” led by Regina George (Rachel McAdams), use their “burn book” to record derogatory remarks intended to ostracize other students. In a bid to take down her rival, Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), Regina writes negative comments about herself in the burn book, photocopies its contents, and scatters them throughout the school. Chaos erupts. Eventually, the teachers restore order, deliver a lesson on bullying, and everyone lives (relatively) happily ever after.
It would seem that some among the Young Republican leadership might benefit from watching Mean Girls—because the “burn book” they’ve been keeping on Telegraph was just revealed, and it is creating its own sort of chaos. In a series of leaked messages, several Young Republicans exchanged racial slurs, anti-gay and misogynistic language, “jokes” about sending their opposition to the gas chamber, references to rape as “epic,” and anger-fueled rants about rival Republican opponents (e.g., the “inbred cow f-ckers” in Arkansas). Describing these messages as “unprofessional” or “inappropriate” is accurate, but it is also insufficient.
Why All Speech Matters to God
Before reflecting on the leaked messages, it’s worth clarifying how we speak in public versus a private context. While I doubt anyone would find more than “snark” or sarcasm in my private exchanges with friends, I do use looser language in private than in public. In unscripted conversations, I can play with ideas that aren’t ready for publication. I suspect many people do the same. We think and joke differently in private than we would in public.
Still, if we believe that “what comes out of the mouth [or, in this case, the thumbs] proceeds from the heart” (Matt 15:18), then even our casual speech reflects our character. Attending to our language, we may find that we repentance—we need to be more fully conformed to Christ’s image.
To be clear, I am not excusing or justifying inappropriate speech. No message board is so private that it exists outside God’s authority. Speech is not inappropriate because others deem it offensive—the gospel, after all, is an offense to those unwilling to submit to it (Jn 6:61; Rom 9:33; 10:19; 1 Cor 1:18, 23). Speech is inappropriate by nature when it contradicts the good, true, and beautiful. is intrinsically inappropriate—inappropriate by its very nature. While certain contexts allow for familiarity, creative exploration, humor, and even some friendly teasing, no context can make inappropriate speech appropriate.
Why Christians Can’t Afford to Treat Speech as Harmless
If speech reflects our character and can be inappropriate by definition rather than by interpretation (e.g., someone deems what we’ve said is offensive), how should we think about the way we talk? What might it mean for us, as Christians, to hold our leaders accountable for speaking in a way that runs with the grain of the biblical text? If we believe speech matters, we need to understand why and what to do with it.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” has fallen out of favor as people realize that words can do damage. While I would stop short of equating speech with violence, words impact the world. The Bible’s prohibition against bearing false witness (Exod 20:16; 23:1; Deut 5:20; 19:18; Prov 12:17) underscores the power speech can have and the necessity of guarding against certain forms of it. Psalm 15:3 “slander” is used in parallel with doing evil to one’s neighbor, and Proverbs links dishonesty and strife (Prov 16:28). As Proverbs puts it, “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin” (26:28).
This is why Paul urges believers to “let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (4:29). Words do things. They don’t simply disappear into the ether.
We should, at the very least, be slow to dismiss any comment as “just talk.” Words always do something. Do I believe the leaked messages from the Young Republicans reflect their desire to reinstitute slavery or kill their political enemies? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean their words are harmless. Derogatory language is not playful or innocent, but formative—it shapes the perceptions of those who use it.
Studies of hate speech suggest that “frequent exposure to hateful content” fosters prejudice and lowered empathy. Even if you aren’t inclined to trust the research, Scripture demonstrates the way speech can distort reality. Consider the following:
-The spies’ report in Numbers 13:25–29 skewed Israel’s perception so they focused on the Canaanites’ might rather than God’s power.
-In Deuteronomy 9:4, Israel is warned not to claim victory due to their own righteousness.
-In Jeremiah 7:1–7, false prophets convinced Judah that the temple’s presence guaranteed God’s favor, negating the need for repentance.
In each case, language misleads—it reshapes reality in the minds of those who hear it.
It’s Not about Being Offended—It’s about Being Obedient
Given the Bible’s teaching, Christians need to take speech seriously—even when political leaders urge us to downplay it. For instance, Vice President Vance diminished the importance of the leaked messages from the Young Republicans while condemning Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones for what Vance characterized as violent remarks. Vance wrote on X: “This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia. I refuse to join the pearl-clutching when powerful people call for political violence.”
Two things can be true at once: Jay Jones’s texts can be inappropriate, and so can the leaked Young Republican message board. I’m not “clutching pearls” or feigning outrage—I simply think language matters because the Bible tells me so.
From a Christian perspective, this should be a wake-up call. We must demand more from our political leaders and ourselves. While political discourse alone doesn’t cause the degradation of speech, it isn’t exactly elevating it either. That needs to change—not because I’m offended, but because what comes out of our mouths has an effect on the world around us. Christians should set a higher standard on speech, recognizing that words, like sticks and stones, can break us—or, at the very least, break us apart.
How to Respond Biblically When Words Cross the Line
How do we solve the issue of speech? I don’t have a simple solution, but here are a few starting points:
1. Stop offering justification for poor speech.
No speech should be immune to evaluation. The serpent in Eden doesn’t lay a hand on Eve—it’s all subtleties, half-truths, and ambiguities that lead the human couple to rebel against God (Gen 3:1-7). We must acknowledge that language can unite and divide, build up or break down. Excusing or minimizing inappropriate speech ignores the biblical teaching on these matters.
2. Stop celebrating poor speech.
We also need to stop cheering for the empty words we hear too often. Even if we agree with a position or sentiment, we need to pay closer attention to the words that are spoken. For instance, do I believe the leaked Young Republican messages should be taken seriously by those to whom the people in that message board are accountable? Yes. There are signs that they are. Do I think there needs to be an ongoing narrative with which we concern ourselves on a daily basis? Probably not. It certainly doesn’t need to be used as political fodder to distract us from other issues. Do I think describing concern over the message boards as “pearl clutching” captures what is happening? I don’t. I think these matters need to be taken seriously. That means not dismissing or exaggerating them.
3. Refuse to be easily offended.
While serving as an academic dean, I learned that listening well often requires us to set aside offense. It helps us to avoid making more of something than we should.
In a world where speaking at scale is easier than ever, Christians need to watch our language and the language of others to ensure we are reinforcing stories that deny and distort the Triune God. Words have power; we need to be careful how we and others use them.
Photo Credit: @Unsplashj/Mariia Shalabaieva
