STOP FOOLISH TALK. 1st Peter 2:15 . Civil authority has been established by God; therefore, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should submit to those who rule over us. Good citizenship counters charges against those who are
Christians and commends the Gospel we proclaim as we live out the results of our faith before the people. The behavior of Christians in society affects secular government by God’s design: “This is the will of God.”
By obeying righteous laws and those who enforce them, we can stop the slander and false accusations directed against believers. Many daily events are governed by laws that may not seem precise and are not easily understood. The principle by which we live is to obey the laws unless they clearly conflict with what our conscience dictates under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. "Well doing" in this passage has more to do with attitude than with charitable acts of kindness. To walk in a godly manner in an ungodly society will stir up the consciences of foolish people. They will seek to challenge and condemn a child of God, but appropriate Christian behavior will silence their foolish accusations.
There are those whose ignorance demonstrates a willful refusal to repent and believe the Gospel, and who are looking for an excuse for their resistance to the truth. Often, this stems from being educated in a certain school of thought and thinking they are wise because “Just follow the science.” The exemplary conduct of a believer in the classroom, at work, or in business, or even in religious groups, silences opposition to the word and the results of the Gospel. One person said to another, “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear a word you say!”
Words have a way of multiplying when people come together. Sometimes they can be edifying when wandering thoughts gather. The believers were told that when this happened, they should speak one by one; the results would be very profitable. There is another format that foolish people use; the whispered word in another’s ear leads to subterfuge. The lying lips and gossiping tongue have evil intent – usually wanting to bring someone down by the end of the conversation.
If a bunch of people talk at once, it is hard to make sense of the point of the talk when the noise finally ends. The problem usually remains, because we don’t know what was said – if it happened like that in a hospital, the patient would be dead. When you know there’s gossip or talk going around, quietly go about your work, don’t be found among them. Move from the room to do some good for others. Walk away so you can attend to some work for your sisters and brothers. If it is noised abroad, there is some spurious tale that would put down the people of God, to make their purpose fail. Don’t retaliate or reply; go find some good work to do, and it won’t be long until others know what is false and what is true.