Comments on: Forest, trees, arrogance and ignorance

By: sarah

sarah — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:11:45 +0000

I think you boys are missing three giant points. 1) language definition, 2) how those definitions impact one’s own generation, and 3) what Scripture says about that impact.

1) if I make up a word say for instance “purgy” and my generation acknowledges it to mean something vile and is put into the “strong language” category, then there is nothing you can do to change that meaning even though it is a made up word. The made up word is not evil because you made it up, but the fact that it now has a vile definition changes the nature of the word from a meaningless and non-offensive word to being vile. Now it has impact on the generation which understands its meaning. Anything that is vile in nature will have negative outcomes. Those negative outcomes present themselves in two ways. Either the negative outcome offends the person to whom it was directed thus causing sin or the negative out is a hilarity or joke amongst a group of people who think vileness can be funny in which case they are glorying in their shame…their sinning. How do we know this is true? Through Bible text. The Bible isn’t going to give you a list of words which are “bad” words because as I have already pointed out words come and go as do their definitions. The Bible teaches principles that can be used in all situations. The Bible teaches us to set our minds on things above and not on things of this earth. What does this mean? Well, it doesn’t mean not concentrating on our jobs, families etc, but instead on things that are contrary to God. It also tells us to admonish each other in the things of God which wouldn’t include vile things. There are many other such Scriptures which teaches us this principles of speaking in an edifying manner. So you see, God didn’t need to make a list of “bad” words because He in His wisdom knew that principles are constant and can be applied to our ever changing world especially to our ever changing world of language. Also, remember that Paul said that if eating meat offended someone he wouldn’t do it in front of them for that would be sinning. So even if you don’t agree with what I have said then surely Paul’s example of how you are to treat other brethren must be a guide to which you must adhere. Anyway you slice it you’re sinning and must repent.

By: Rev Enue

Rev Enue — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:20:52 +0000

coo coo

By: nate

nate — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:30:13 +0000

the songwriter posted that because the language may be too much for some people … it might be offensive to them … not because it is sin.

The issue of language is relative … not absolute. And as Chris L said, it has way more to do with our witness than our offending God.

Therefore, I don’t have a list. Neither should you. And that means that you can’t go around the blogosphere scolding people for using certain words. If you really believe it’s up to the Spirit, then let handle the lectures.

By: Tim Reed

Tim Reed — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:18:39 +0000

Chris L,
Legalists and modern Pharisees can’t let it go because they’ve added it to the work of Christ. The language issue has been elevated by them to the same status as the resurrection or the deity of Christ.

By: Chris L

Chris L — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:57:09 +0000

Sherry,

The point is that there IS NO LIST. While we are free to use whatever language we may without affecting our salvation, we should not flaunt our freedom in ways that might affect our witness.

It is when we lose sight of this and try to make up rules for God that we fall into the trap of legalism, forgetting that we have been set free…

Are there any words which are ontologically evil? No – none are identified within scripture, nor do we have an indication of such in scripture. Because the culture has defined certain words as “strong language”, we need to be sensitive to this for the purpose of our witness – not for the purpose of demonstrating our salvation (or lack thereof). Indeed, this is a ‘moving target’, which is why we should not be trying to set it in stone – nor should we lord our adherence to (or freedom from) this list over each other…

Good grief – can’t we let this die?

By: Sherry C.

Sherry C. — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:31:08 +0000

The songwriter himself posted a language warning. He at least knows what is offensive language or he would not have bothered to warn anyone. Nathan, since Holy Spirit convinction isn’t good enough, perhaps you could go back to the song and write down those words for your list. It will be a good start for you. And you will be in agreement with the songwriter.

By: T.J.

T.J. — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:39:20 +0000

no..not looking for attention….the whole” to cuss ” or “not to cuss ” is just a tired old debate. It should be a a no brainer..but it’s not…men want to please their flesh. So use the F word and “feel cool”….yeah….get your ear punched through with a mallet and an ear- ring and feel like you’re a ’slave to Christ’…get two arms full of tatt sleeves and tell us how you’re “witnessing” with them… it’s all just outer show just like an old Pentecostal woman with her hair in a bun. You’re just like her… only with more SHOCK VALUE…although she could probably spend MUCH MORE time in prayer than those short emergent attention spans would allow your crowd.

5 minutes of prayer….time to pop in a movie or start gaming now…..!!!!!!!!!!

By: Chris L

Chris L — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:14:06 +0000

Tamara,

Apparently you weren’t paying attention, but just LOOKING for SOME of your own…

Whatever…

By: nc

nc — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:07:16 +0000

Tamela,

Do you think women should teach men?

By: nate

nate — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:59:17 +0000

TJ,

That head Pastorâ€™s wife left him after 22 years of marriage and his son the youth pastorâ€™s preaching ops went OUT THE WINDOW

Please.

SIGHâ€¦â€¦â€¦.MORE JUSTIFICATIONâ€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦..this crowd of christianity would have us belive Jesus was a swaggering, swearing, drinking good ole boy who could cuss up a storm at â€œthose religious Phariseesâ€.

Nope. Sorry.

He did drink though. Go read your Bible. He never got drunk.

He also cleared out the temple, twice …

Did he “swear”? No clue, because the Bible doesn’t say. But then again, your definition of cussing and mine may be a bit different. Hence the futility of condemning certain words as evil/sinful based on culture. He very well may have said words that his culture thought were bad to say. But you can’t say whether or not he did. (John 21:25)