Big Mouth!
 
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.  NASB

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person. NASB

I guess that I should admit to being challenged by these two passages in scripture.  Both are found in the middle of long lists of instructions to the saints on how they ought to act, and both are pretty clear about how we should speak.  Let me lay out the strictest case here…

According to Ephesians, we are not to allow useless or unfit talk (or logos) to proceed out of our mouths, and according to Colossians we are to speak gracefully with speech or words that are influenced by God’s word.  We gracefully speak the truth and abstain from worthless, idle, vain, or unfit speech. 

As one who jokes around and frequently pushes the envelope on decency and appropriateness, I find this a challenge.  I see where I must become much more circumspect in my speech.  I must maintain balance though.  I can joke around…so long as it is done with grace and seasoned with the salt of the Word.