I’ve got a problem. I am increasingly grieved by 2 things in the realm of communications issuing from and to Christians.

In addressing these, I want to leave room for the fact that I am child of the 50’s, and the cultural milieu of that era. No, Leave it to Beaver was not reality. It was a thin veneer over the gross corruption that was (and always has been) just below the surface. But even in that, there was some sense, even in the World, that some things were a shame to talk about or drag about in public – or in “polite company” as we used to say. A sense of what was acceptable for public consumption and what was not. And I mourn the loss of that feature.

But now we are in the 21st Century. Starting with the like of Phil Donohoue, perversions of all kinds became mainstream curiosities to be gawked at and talked about everywhere. We went swiftly downhill toward Maury Povich, Jerry Springer and a host of others – making the seamiest acts and attitudes of humanity fodder for entertainment.

Aside from our cultural plummet – what troubles me more is how these things have seeped into Christianity. This, in a host of ways – but only 2 of which I want to consider here.

As I read afresh this morning in Paul’s letter to the Colossians: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:5-6)

It seems that for the Apostle writing under the inspiration of the Spirit – salty speech isn’t risque – it is wise and useful in making Christ known.

So here’s my 2 areas of concern.

1 – The way crude words have become more and more acceptable even among Believers.

The street slang for body parts, biological functions, expletives and curses (mild to extreme) seem to be almost as popular in the everyday parlance of Christians as in the World. Such speech lacks grace. It shows favor to no one. It especially shows no favor toward the Christ we serve as one who is above the gutter.

I’ve watched this trend with increasing horror since the early 80’s. Back then, singing with my wife and our wonderful pianist Cecil Van Houten, we were asked to participate with several other Gospel musical groups at an outdoor festival. Lots of good, Gospel music.

After our set, a singer from one of the other groups came up to compliment us. He was especially enamored with Cecil’s keyboard skills. And forgive my recording his words verbatim here – I do so only to illustrate this issue: he said to me: “Man! Your keyboard player is bitchin!”

It was seriously jolting to me. In a Christian gathering, where we were all there to lift up the name of Christ in song – unblinkingly, and thinking it was an appropriate approbation – this young Christian thought nothing of it.

I, was wounded. It was so unfitting. It is not the language of Zion, as my generation was wont to say.

I won’t belabor this. I know certain words and expressions come in and out of vogue and popular use – even in the Church. But I do make a plea for us to consider passages like the one above to draw us each to consider whether or not our speech patterns communicate – or fail to communicate – Christ and how he has translated us out of the kingdom of darkness into his domain.

Are we different in our speech? Should we be? I believe so.

2 – Is how we converse in person and online especially.

I get it. Folks love to point to Luther’s sometimes crude language to justify their own. As though someone else’s foibles should ever be an excuse to adopt them for ourselves. And yes, in one place Paul used σκύβαλον, once. But these are not patterns to emulate.

Sometimes shocking language is needed for the sake of confronting and stirring the soul.

What differentiates that from what Paul is guarding us against here is found in Jude 9.

And, we need to remember that Jesus as God CAN speak in ways we cannot. He is God’s appointed judge of mankind.

The idea in our text seems to be that we are not to use words in an attempt to punish others – with the aim of hurting them by virtue of what we say. Lange says this refers to “giv[ing] a sentence of condemnation against one.”

2 Peter 2:11 – (Lange) “words of insult, anger, or words of satire and mockery.”

More to the point here, is how our speech is to be guided when around unbelievers. They need to be exposed to soundness and grace, not our roughness and rancor.

Christians who are crass and abrasive and who are always criticizing government officials, other Christians and the such, leave no place to give the lost a reason to hope – nor any evidence that WE do.

May we (as a theme of Colossians emerges) seek to walk more and more “worthily” of our place and calling.

How would you choose to speak to others before the throne of God? For that is exactly where we all are even at this very moment – corem deo.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Some who cannot divide between meekness and weakness will think this milk-soppy. So be it. But may we labor to reveal Christ, and not our spleens.