Posted on :
2:55 PM
| By :
Andrew Randazzo
If you were to ask me what I struggle discerning the most, it wouldn't be music, or movies, or even church methodology. The greatest thing is my conversation. I'm not talking about whether it's ok to swear or how I respond to others, though those are elements.
Here's a few verses I'm wrestling through:
- 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)
- 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)
- Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
- Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Tim 4:12)
Eph 4:29 is pretty clear, but 5:4 is open to question. What is crude joking? Our culture is full of it, and it's even commonly found in the pulpit; but where's the line?
Philippians is really tough stuff. When you evaluate everything by the standards it sets, we instinctively begin justifying our actions because a passage like that is so radical and implies major changes in the area of our speech. The same goes for Eph 4:29 that says that only words that build up are to be spoken. Does that mean never talking about football because it doesn't "build up" each other in the faith? These are my tensions.
Finally, I wrestle with 1 Timothy 4:12 that says we're suppose to be an example to the believers in our speech. If we want a platform for ministry, our speech has to be respected. No one is going to listen to a junior high girl who uses "like" every other word and lacks the smallest ounce of intelligence. Watch this video to get a better understanding of what I'm saying.
If we want the world to listen to the message of Christ, we must strive to speak in a manner that invokes respect and legitimacy. The human race has the highest level of intelligence on earth, and God means for us to utilize it to our greatest ability. Break free from your limitation of only having 4-5 descripitive words. When we hold a conversation with someone, let us not be repetitive like the speakers at the keynote presentation for the iPad.
Expand your vocabulary and use choice words with precision and accuracy as you communicate with people. Do not let your speech be a hindrance to the effectivity of communicating the Gospel.
Yet another tension remains. Do I speak on the level of a seminarian when talking to my home boy in the hood? Of course not. I would even venture to say it's ok to use certain slang terminologies in that scenario. At the same time, I wouldn't visit someone in the nursing home and tell them they're "lookin pimp". Ok, I don't need to continue that argument, but what happens at church with a diversity of people? Whether you're preaching or you have the attention of a small audience after church, how do you communicate effectively and biblically to the glory of God?
Yet another tension remains. Do I speak on the level of a seminarian when talking to my home boy in the hood? Of course not. I would even venture to say it's ok to use certain slang terminologies in that scenario. At the same time, I wouldn't visit someone in the nursing home and tell them they're "lookin pimp". Ok, I don't need to continue that argument, but what happens at church with a diversity of people? Whether you're preaching or you have the attention of a small audience after church, how do you communicate effectively and biblically to the glory of God?
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