Our round the world trip today lands at Gathering Rubies the blog of Janice Garrison. While I normally encourage you to click the original source, rather than reading here; it applies doubly so today since I had a tough time choosing among several good recent blog exhortations. Most of us have seen an eroding of standards in both written and oral communication both outside and within the Church. I believe that those who bear the name of Christ should aim for the highest standards. Janice titled this, Think Before You Speak.
Vulgar slang language and Acronyms
I strongly dislike hearing or reading offensive slang, to me there is no difference. If a person says the slang they may as well say the original word because that is where my mind goes even when I hear the slang and it is likely where their mind is going as well.
I find it disturbing when I hear a Christian say frigging. “All screwed up” is another phrase I dislike, it may seem minor in comparison, even so the slang is derived from the same word.
Another thing I dislike is repugnant Acronyms such as LMFAO or ROTFLMFAO. I won’t even write what they mean, you can Google them if you are curious enough, or trust me when I say they are offensive and not something a Christian should be saying or using.
Regardless of age, young or old we should think before we speak. Our lives and our language should glorify God and encourage others. We are to be separate from the ways of the world.
Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Tim 4:11-13
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:7-8
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech. 1 Peter 3:10Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? James 3:5-11
May you be encouraged by these scriptures and make it your goal to glorify God with your words and actions.
What speech-patterns in your life bear the mark of a more relaxed attitude or a softening of the highest standards you once held to? Are there any things about which you would think, “You know, I didn’t always use that kind of language, but lately…” Certainly, we need to avoid legalism, but we also need to know and recognize genuine conviction. Janice mentioned a couple of things in her second and third paragraph, but another one I’ve been increasingly aware of is Christians who say, “Oh my God;” or text “OMG.” We need a system of checks and balances, and sometimes that can come through another person or an online writer. Know someone (besides yourself!) who this applies to? Right click the title for today’s thoughts and copy the link — or the link in the first paragraph — and send it to them.
Christianity 201 