Bible Verses That Would Have Saved Basketmouth From Posting His Rape Joke

One of Nigeria’s foremost comedians, Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth

One of Nigeria’s foremost comedians, Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, received a lot of flak on social media (Facebook and Twitter) for posting a ‘rape joke’ that many considered offensive. 

Many commentators contend that the joke encourages rape. Some even went as far as to call on Globacom, a telecommunication giant for which he is a brand ambassador, to revoke his endorsement deal with them.  

 

The 'Offensive' Rape Joke Basketmouth Posted On His Facebook Wall

Even though Basketmouth apologised to his fans for posting the rape joke and promised never to repeat it, it is obvious that he is not a good student of the Bible. If he were, he would have known better and cleaned up his act.

Basketmouth And Family

Here are some verses from the scripture that would have saved him some blushes or even millions of naira from lost endorsement deals: 

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:4) 

 “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” (Eph. 4:29)

“But now you must put them all away…obscene talk from your mouth…” (Col. 3:8)

 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” (Matt. 12:36) 

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Prov. 21:23) 

 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:6)

“The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips” (Prov. 16:23). 

 

“Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you” (Prov. 4:24)

 “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool” (Prov. 19:1) 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

 

 “For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit’” (1 Pet. 3:10).
 

 “...If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James: 3:1-18).

 

 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov. 10:19). 

 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). 

 “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth” (Prov. 10:20).

 “The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near” (Prov. 10:14). 

 “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse” (Prov. 10:32). 

“The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense” (Prov. 10:21). 

 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell” (James 3:6). 

 “Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?” (Eccl. 5:6).

 

 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34).

 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

All scripture from the English Standard Version (ESV)