Sticks and stones
I would imagine anyone reading this blog is acquainted with the adage “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” And I am just as sure anyone reading this blog knows that the statement is wrong on several levels. I am not going to address the recipient of words but rather talk about the pronouncer of words in this blog. And specifically, Christian pronouncer of words.
I realize there is always a shifting or migration or even evolution if you will of all languages. And I am aware that with each succeeding generation the use of words change and evolve in meaning. What was once really good became “bad” in spoken language of many people late in the 20th century. Good could also be “hot,” “rad,” “righteous” and “radical.”
A host of words I learned in elementary school changed meaning by the time I reached high school and college. Most of them retained their original meaning while broadening out to include other meanings. And for the most part they were words that carried with them a sort of clique or following. To really understand some conversations one needed to be “schooled” in the broadening use of the words. If you hung out with the right or wrong crowd you'd become versed in new uses for old words.
But in this blog I want to address specifically what I feel are words that Christians really should not use. Again, this is my opinion and my stand. I refuse to let the use of these types of words jaundice my view of one's Christianity or spirituality. But it does hurt me when I hear people that claim to love God and claim to know Jesus using this type of language.
Nearly all of the words I find undesirable and distasteful are words that gentlemen and ladies did not use a few decades ago, regardless of their spiritual standing.
During my lifetime and my Christian walk I have been personally convicted that pretty much any word spoken in anger, frustration, panic and retort are words that mostly need to not be said. So many people, myself included for a very long time, resorted to using words similar in sound or structure to curse words or dirty words.
Dirty words I see as words that name body parts or body functions in a pejorative way. You know what they are.
I believe when we are suddenly angered or hurt or surprised or wronged in some way the very best thing to say is nothing. If necessary, bite one's tongue can have a much better outcome than yelling an expletive.
In my personal speech I have worked quite hard to eliminate words like, “dang,” “darn,” “dadgummit,” and more. Any word or phrase that includes a deity’s name or position or power is improper for a Christian unless that person in in the act of true worship. Words that employ synonyms and by words for intimacy should never be used by a Christian. Words that speak of body parts other than true medical words should not be in the vocabulary of a Christian. If you need to say something about a breast, as in sharing your own or a companion's situation with breast cancer, then use the word. Otherwise you most likely don't need to even be talking about breasts. And the words tit or boobs for breast are an affront.
While working in a hardware department I sometimes needed to use the words tit or teats to describe tools or hardware. I often got a funny look when I did. I knew the person who gave me the look had a different meaning in their tainted mind.
I have some very close friends who taught their three young children to use language like defecate and urinate to describe bodily functions, but only when it was necessary to speak of those bodily functions. I applaud them. They gave their children early on the ability to speak of normal things that happen to us all in an unembarrassing way that they can use their entire lives. I bite my own tongue when I hear parents ask their children if they need to poopoo or peepee.
I realize that the word bastard is a legitimate word and has an exacting descriptive meaning. But unless you are describing such a male animal or human it is very inappropriate.
I particularly dislike the shorten version of damnation in any of it's variations.
I do not like the vulgar word shit at all. It makes me mad in fact. To this day, January 29, 2013 if you look up the word in any accredited dictionary you will find it falls into the category of an English word that is considered “vulgar and profane in Modern English. As a noun it refers to fecal matter (excrement) and as a verb it means to defecate or defecate in; in the plural ("the shits") it means diarrhea.”
But the worse offending word in the English language vilifies the most sacred and intimate act male and female creatures engage in. If you would look up the etymology
of the word, and you consider yourself Christian, there is no way you can use or think it again. It means forced and abusive intimate relations with the additional intent of hurting, wounding and maiming. It is a word that can be traced back to Old German meaning among other things “to strike.” It's first appearance is thought to be in a poem written about 1475 accusing certain church officials of lewd conduct.
A similar word that needs to be expunged from Christians vocabulary is “suck,” as in “that sucks.” And alongside is the expression, “kissing up.”
I worked for several years in a place where cursing was the norm. I took such a strong
and vocal stand against it before I left most of the employees would not curse around me.
I did make a difference. You can as well.
Some scriptures you may want to think about. All KJV.
Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Healing Words Proverbs 12:18
Kind Words Proverbs 12:25
Gentle Words Proverbs 15:1
Pleasant Words Proverbs 16:24
Patient Words Proverbs 25:15
Thankful Words Ephesians 5:4
Encouraging Words Ephesians 4:29
Words of Truth Ephesians 4:25
Words in Love Ephesians 4:15
Words of Praise Psalm 30:4
Words Without Deceit Psalm 32:2
Words that Sustain the Weary Isaiah 50:4
I would imagine anyone reading this blog is acquainted with the adage “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” And I am just as sure anyone reading this blog knows that the statement is wrong on several levels. I am not going to address the recipient of words but rather talk about the pronouncer of words in this blog. And specifically, Christian pronouncer of words.
I realize there is always a shifting or migration or even evolution if you will of all languages. And I am aware that with each succeeding generation the use of words change and evolve in meaning. What was once really good became “bad” in spoken language of many people late in the 20th century. Good could also be “hot,” “rad,” “righteous” and “radical.”
A host of words I learned in elementary school changed meaning by the time I reached high school and college. Most of them retained their original meaning while broadening out to include other meanings. And for the most part they were words that carried with them a sort of clique or following. To really understand some conversations one needed to be “schooled” in the broadening use of the words. If you hung out with the right or wrong crowd you'd become versed in new uses for old words.
But in this blog I want to address specifically what I feel are words that Christians really should not use. Again, this is my opinion and my stand. I refuse to let the use of these types of words jaundice my view of one's Christianity or spirituality. But it does hurt me when I hear people that claim to love God and claim to know Jesus using this type of language.
Nearly all of the words I find undesirable and distasteful are words that gentlemen and ladies did not use a few decades ago, regardless of their spiritual standing.
During my lifetime and my Christian walk I have been personally convicted that pretty much any word spoken in anger, frustration, panic and retort are words that mostly need to not be said. So many people, myself included for a very long time, resorted to using words similar in sound or structure to curse words or dirty words.
Dirty words I see as words that name body parts or body functions in a pejorative way. You know what they are.
I believe when we are suddenly angered or hurt or surprised or wronged in some way the very best thing to say is nothing. If necessary, bite one's tongue can have a much better outcome than yelling an expletive.
In my personal speech I have worked quite hard to eliminate words like, “dang,” “darn,” “dadgummit,” and more. Any word or phrase that includes a deity’s name or position or power is improper for a Christian unless that person in in the act of true worship. Words that employ synonyms and by words for intimacy should never be used by a Christian. Words that speak of body parts other than true medical words should not be in the vocabulary of a Christian. If you need to say something about a breast, as in sharing your own or a companion's situation with breast cancer, then use the word. Otherwise you most likely don't need to even be talking about breasts. And the words tit or boobs for breast are an affront.
While working in a hardware department I sometimes needed to use the words tit or teats to describe tools or hardware. I often got a funny look when I did. I knew the person who gave me the look had a different meaning in their tainted mind.
I have some very close friends who taught their three young children to use language like defecate and urinate to describe bodily functions, but only when it was necessary to speak of those bodily functions. I applaud them. They gave their children early on the ability to speak of normal things that happen to us all in an unembarrassing way that they can use their entire lives. I bite my own tongue when I hear parents ask their children if they need to poopoo or peepee.
I realize that the word bastard is a legitimate word and has an exacting descriptive meaning. But unless you are describing such a male animal or human it is very inappropriate.
I particularly dislike the shorten version of damnation in any of it's variations.
I do not like the vulgar word shit at all. It makes me mad in fact. To this day, January 29, 2013 if you look up the word in any accredited dictionary you will find it falls into the category of an English word that is considered “vulgar and profane in Modern English. As a noun it refers to fecal matter (excrement) and as a verb it means to defecate or defecate in; in the plural ("the shits") it means diarrhea.”
But the worse offending word in the English language vilifies the most sacred and intimate act male and female creatures engage in. If you would look up the etymology
of the word, and you consider yourself Christian, there is no way you can use or think it again. It means forced and abusive intimate relations with the additional intent of hurting, wounding and maiming. It is a word that can be traced back to Old German meaning among other things “to strike.” It's first appearance is thought to be in a poem written about 1475 accusing certain church officials of lewd conduct.
A similar word that needs to be expunged from Christians vocabulary is “suck,” as in “that sucks.” And alongside is the expression, “kissing up.”
I worked for several years in a place where cursing was the norm. I took such a strong
and vocal stand against it before I left most of the employees would not curse around me.
I did make a difference. You can as well.
Some scriptures you may want to think about. All KJV.
Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Healing Words Proverbs 12:18
Kind Words Proverbs 12:25
Gentle Words Proverbs 15:1
Pleasant Words Proverbs 16:24
Patient Words Proverbs 25:15
Thankful Words Ephesians 5:4
Encouraging Words Ephesians 4:29
Words of Truth Ephesians 4:25
Words in Love Ephesians 4:15
Words of Praise Psalm 30:4
Words Without Deceit Psalm 32:2
Words that Sustain the Weary Isaiah 50:4
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