How To Handle Inappropriate People
As believers, we’ve all encountered those people we would label as “inappropriate.” They’re always quick to resort to sexual innuendos, tell dirty jokes, or say things that are inappropriate in any situation. The first thing to do in dealing with people who are inappropriate is to maintain our own emotional and spiritual composure through wisdom and grace. Rather than reacting out of anger or trying to control the other person, we must guard our peace by responding with calm patience. That doesn’t mean we have to allow them to continue, but we can set firm boundaries that let the other person know that what they said is not acceptable. We might say something like, “I’m uncomfortable with this topic, let’s change the subject.” We can have righteous indignation, which is anger God would have if He were in our situation. As believers, our most powerful asset is prayer. We can pray that God will give the person the wisdom to see how their words affect others and that He will guide them to speak with kindness and respect. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.” God will give us the courage to speak up clearly and with kindness when limits are crossed.
