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WATCHING ONE’S
WORDS
All Bible references are to the Anglicised New International Version
(NIV-UK)
Let
your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may
know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4: 6
SALTY LANGUAGE is generally understood to mean
the kind of talk that borders on indelicacy and is suggestive, crude or risqué.
The expression originated several centuries ago and appears to allude to the
colourful language of mariners, absent from polite society for long periods of
time. Though referred to as ‘old salts’ from the 19th century, this may have
more reference to the saltiness of the sea than to the supposed strong language
of sailors.
It may seem curious that the
Apostle Paul exhorts the Colossian Christians to season their language with
salt, but we can be sure that he was not encouraging them ― or us ― to spice up
our language! Rather, he urges caution: ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come
out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to
their needs, that it may benefit those who listen’ (Ephesians 4: 29).
In the public arena our ears are
assaulted every day with bad language. It is almost impossible to avoid affronts
to decency and the more sensitive may feel defiled at witnessing such depravity.
Shielding their children from bad language is a major concern of most
responsible parents. Youngsters learn quickly and repeat everything they hear,
including swear words and obscenities, and it is impossible to avoid every
danger. Unless strong and loving parental guidance is instilled from infancy to
puberty, the urge to be ‘cool’ among their friends may lead teenagers to use
language they would not use at home. Television, and to some extent the
internet, presents a serious challenge to parents, as standards continue to
plummet, and protests are usually ignored or ridiculed by the purveyors of
vulgarity.
Salt as a Symbol
A ‘covenant of salt’ is an Old
Testament expression for a covenant, or agreement, that was supposed to be
honoured forever (Numbers
18: 19). Salt apparently was
used as a figure of speech for binding agreements because it was a basic part of
the Israelite diet and it was also used as a food preservative in the ancient
world. The Mosaic
Law required that the ritual grain and meat offerings of the people must be
seasoned with salt, signifying their covenant relationship with their God.
In Bible times
salt was expensive, prized for its preservative and culinary uses, and guests
who had eaten their host’s salt ― received the hospitality of a meal ― were
obligated to him or her, the Middle Eastern expression ‘there is salt between
us’ epitomising their
relationship.
Jesus told the disciples that they
were ‘the salt of the earth’, implying their wholesome influence among a race
afflicted by the demoralising effects of sin (Matthew
5: 13). The expression is
still used as descriptive of the best type of people, though not exclusively of
Christians.
Seasoning our Speech
It was
evidently important that the Apostle Paul should speak plainly to the Ephesian
believers about their conversational habits. ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you’ (Ephesians 4: 31, 32).
This is sobering counsel for those
of us who claim to be followers of Jesus. Men marvelled at the Master’s powers
of persuasive speech, unmatched by any of his disciples, and even His most
intimate followers as ordinary men would be careful to ‘watch their language’.
How much more those men and women joining the early church would need
instruction.
And as the Lord’s people today, can
we excuse ourselves from the Apostle’s suggestion that even we may be in need of
caution? While brawling, slander and malice may never sully our conduct, are we
ever guilty of bitterness and anger, backbiting or gossip? When hurt or offended
it is all too easy to relate the circumstances to others, thus increasing the
damage and perhaps lessening the offender’s chances of recovery. Whilst of all
the human faculties the tongue is the one most prone to lead us astray, the pen
― and the keyboard ― are also
instruments in need of godly supervision, as unwise or unwholesome
communications so easily take root and proliferate. We may all do well to echo
the appeal of King David in Psalm 19: 14: ‘May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD,
LORD, my
Rock and my Redeemer.’
As Others See Us
How we say something may be more
important than what we say, and one’s tone of voice can convey an instant
impression. But words are not strictly necessary, as the face can be an index of
our thoughts. An open gaze or the avoidance of eye contact, a raised eyebrow or
a frown, a ready smile or pursed lips are all instantly ― and perhaps
unconsciously ― registered by others as indicating our thoughts. Yet the kindly
observer will make allowances for another’s shyness or social anxiety and resist
a too-hasty judgement of that person’s demeanour. As the observer or as the
observed, how vital it is, then, that we remember the wise man’s advice: ‘Keep
thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life’ (Proverbs 4:
23, King James Version).
And what about slang? This is
informal language using words and expressions not appropriate for formal
occasions. Slang may be regarded as offensive or vulgar, and a ‘slanging match’
between quarrelling opponents is verbal abuse not pleasant to witness. But slang
may be merely somewhat colourful and often humorous language, causing no
offence, originating from various trades or professions, perhaps from childish
euphemisms, or imported from other language groups.
Should Christians avoid slang?
Generally speaking, slang is not edifying and probably should be avoided.
We cannot imagine Jesus indulging in slang or cheap expressions. People who are
refined in their speech as well as in their general conduct have the greater
influence upon others, who are apt to judge us not by their own standards, but
by what they consider to be our
standards.
Using the Lord’s name profanely is
another hazard. How often one hears the exclamation ‘Oh my God!’ from the lips of somebody
obviously not praising His name. Christ’s name is also heard as an expletive,
offensive to the ears of Christians, and Heaven and Hell are frequently called
upon in the sense of profane oaths, though some to their credit do modify their
language in the company of those they feel might be offended. Jesus set the
standard when He exhorted the disciples: ‘Do not swear at all: either by heaven,
for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by
Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. . . . Simply let your “Yes” be
“Yes,” and your “No,” “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one’
(Matthew 5: 34, 35, 37).
But there are pitfalls even for
believers. According to the dictionary, ‘gosh’ and ‘golly’ are euphemisms for
God, and ‘heck’ is used for hell. There are doubtless many more substitute words
used ― perhaps innocently ― which would be better avoided. Can the use of the
milder expressions be excused? The Apostle James has much to say about the
control of the tongue, and ruefully admits that ‘We all stumble in many ways. If
anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his
whole body in check’ (James 3: 2). Mercifully we have a God who knows the human
weaknesses of His people, but sees also the sincere intentions of our hearts.
The Conversational Style
The discourses of Jesus were not
stuffy and the common people heard him gladly, as He spoke their language,
illustrating his meaning with familiar situations and experiences of everyday
life, such as the weather signs, the lilies of the field, the innocence of
little children. The colloquial or conversational style is often more effective
in interesting others in the Gospel message than a formal address as delivered
from a church pulpit. And humour need not be excluded. There were surely many
occasions for laughter among the disciples as they witnessed the varied
reactions of the humble and the haughty to the message of the reactionary
preacher from Galilee. His castigation of the Scribes and Pharisees who loved
the top seats at banquets, made lengthy prayers in public, strutted about in
flowing robes and who would ‘strain at a gnat and swallow a camel’ would have
His followers muffling their mirth at such
audacity.
Of course there are many examples
of humour in the Bible. The account of Jonah’s grouchy reluctance to preach to
the people of Nineveh and his peevish attitude when they received his message,
presents a comical view of human contrariness. The Proverbs offer a wry comment
on human frailty, as in the observation that it is ‘Better to live on a corner
of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife’ (Proverbs 21: 9). And in
spite of the seriousness of the situation, there must surely have been some
chuckles when Paul made his escape from Damascus in a basket
(Acts
9: 23-25). And long afterwards the Apostle Peter
may have related amid much laughter the events of that night when he was
miraculously released from prison, and arriving at the house where the disciples
were praying for him, knocked on the door but was kept waiting for admission,
the young maid Rhoda being so astonished at hearing his voice that her wits
deserted her (Acts
12: 1-16).
As ambassadors of Christ, we have
an amazing privilege and responsibility. What we say, and how we say it, is a
matter for constant vigilance as to our conduct, and a godly common-sense
approach. In witnessing the Gospel to others, and in our daily walk and
conversation as disciples of Christ, a little gentle humour is like wholesome
seasoning ― salt, and perhaps a little pepper ― to make the message appetising
and the Christian way of life appealing. And when the work of Christ’s Kingdom
is accomplished, the promise of Zephaniah 3: 9 will be
fulfilled:
For then will I
turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the
LORD, to
serve him with one consent. (King James
Version)
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