"The abnegation of reason is not the evidence of faith, but the confession of despair."
- J.B. Lightfoot
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Some "final" thoughts about language:
It’s a given that Christians shouldn’t use bad language. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4).
It’s pretty clear that our words matter. What comes out of our mouths should be positive, not negative. That requirement is hard enough, but even for those of us who don’t cuss or tell dirty jokes; it’s still possible to use bad language. “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). Any words that tear other people down are “unwholesome.” So when we criticize, or complain, or gossip, this also is wrong.
What’s especially convicting about this is that bad language starts with our hearts and minds. Jesus said, “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:44-45).
Jesus also said, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander…”(Matthew 15:18-19).
This means that when we use profane language or tear others down with our words, we are simply identifying what is in our heart. Bad language is only a symptom. The real problem is found in the heart. The heart is what must be cured, so that our mouths will follow suit.
It is possible to keep your mouth clean while your heart is still filthy. God says that people who do the following are sinful: “Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him” (Jeremiah 9:8). Their tongues are deadly because the politeness is just a cover for what is really going on. It’s possible to use kind words with evil intent. “With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse” (Psalm 62:4).
What we must do is ask that God transform our hearts and our mouths so that what is in the inside and the outside is good.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD” (Psalm 19:14).
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/5499.
Comments on "Four Letter Words Aren't The Real Problem":
2. Shrode
- 07/08/2009 9:44 am CDT
Brian,
I wondered about whether I should include complaining in that list. I struggled with it for a little while,probably for the same reasons you did, then I remembered this verse:
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. (Philippians 3:14-15)
So I figure it's OK for me to say it's wrong. :)
3. Karl
- 07/08/2009 10:35 am CDT
If relevant to your topic at all, this probably belonged in another of the posts on this topic, but C.S. Lewis had some great things to say about coarse language. The place I read it is in the book "Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis" by Terry Lindvall. The book looks at the humor in Lewis's writings. Lewis has a good bit to say about bawdy and "vulgar" humor, which he defended and carefully distinguished from the blasphemous or pornographic. The book devotes a chapter or two to Lewis's writing about such humor, and examples of it from Lewis's life and writings.
A (tape recorded) story told by Lewis ("Bottom" is a character in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"):
"The Bishop of Exeter was giving prizes at a girls' school. They did a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Bishop stood up afterwards and made a speech and said [piping voice]: "I was very interested in your delightful performance, and among other things I was very interested in seeing for the first time in my life a female Bottom." [Guffaws follow on the tape]
"The fact that we have bodies, is the oldest joke there is." CSL
5. Brian - Austin
- 07/08/2009 8:48 pm CDT
Shrode,
Well, that sure does give me something to think about. Quite a high standard, but that, in itself, doesn't surprise me. I do wonder about the context though, seems to me that this may have been a call towards more unity within the body of Christ. Certainly standing up against something that is wrong is not wrong, but this would technically fit into the definition of complaining. I suspect that I'm parsing this a bit too finely considering it's a translation (of course) but I also believe that context matters, and that complaining is not wrong in all cases (though I'm sure I do too much of the "wrong" type of complaining).
By the way, it's Philippians 2:14-15, not Philippians 3:14-15. Count that as my formal protest. :-) Feel free to tell me to sit down and shut up.
6. Shrode
- 07/09/2009 10:53 am CDT
Brian,
You've also given me some things to think about! Are you complaining that I gave you the wrong Scripture reference? :) J/K
I've been thinking about what you are saying. Perhaps in English the term "complain" is too broad. For example, is telling a grocery store manager that there is a spill in aisle 11 considered "complaining"? I would say no, if the purpose is to prevent someone from falling.
I think it comes down to the heart. I would define complaining as pointing out something negative out of selfishness. Pointing out something that needs to be corrected for the purpose of building someone up - I would not define as complaining. (I think that's rebuking - which is quite biblical!)
And with that definition, I'd say we should never complain. However, what really matters is what Paul meant...so I checked.
The Greek word he uses in Philippians 2:14 is "goggusmon" The plural noun form of the verb "gogguzo" which means "to mutter" or "to grumble".
The NIV translates it as "complain" and the NASB translates it as "grumbling".
A.T. Robertson in his "Word Pictures of the New Testament", says that the word is onomatopoetic. (A word that sounds like it's definition.") It could also be translated "murmuring".
That same Greek word is also used in Acts 6:1:
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
A.T. Robertson says, "It is the secret grumblings that buzz away til they are heard."
About the use of the word in Philippians 2:14, he said, "the grumblings led to disputes".
The same word is also used in the following places:
John 7:12
11Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?" 12Among the crowds there was widespread whispering (goggusmos) about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." 13But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
I Peter 4:9
8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
So I think the conclusion we can draw is that the sort of "complaining" that Paul is talking about is the gossipy, selfish, whiny, grumbling sort that spreads through a body like gangrene and divides people.
Of course, by that definition, a lot of us would say, "Oh that's not me." Because we always think we have good reason for complaining, not like those "other" people. This calls for wisdom and discernment.
I think it's better just not to complain at all. Because "It's too cold in here." or "that sermon was boring" or "Vacation Bible School was poorly organized." can become grumblings almost as fast as the words can be spoken.
So Brian, I think that your point about this being about unity is right on.
I also think that if we follow Jesus' instructions, then we will be able to avoid the sort of complaining/grumbling/muttering that Paul is talking about.
15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
Leave a Comment:
OK, I'll agree that gossip is wrong. Criticism is probably wrong most of the time, but it can be constructive. Complaining, however, is probably OK most of the time. If it's only a matter of expressing displeasure or pain, or making a formal protest, it seems to me that one shouldn't say this is wrong. I suppose this depends on what's in your heart at the time...