Tag: talk

“Coarse Jesting”: Jokes That Cross The Line

Neal Pollard

The word εὐτρᾰπελία (eutrapelia) is only found in a single New Testament verse, where Paul says, “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:3-4). Notice that Paul’s warnings are against immoral behavior in verse three (immorality, impurity, and greed) and immoral speech in verse four (obscenity, foolish talk, and “coarse jesting”).

In classic Greek literature, especially Aristotle and Plutarch praise clever wit as a social grace. It seems εὐτρᾰπελία indicated a quick witted and charming conversationalist. It was predominantly a positive trait in the ancient world. Yet, in the New Testament, it is speech “involving vulgar expressions and indecent content” (Louw-Nida, 392). Many lexicons define it as “ribaldry” (referring to sexual matters in an amusingly coarse or irreverent way). So, what is Paul’s point?

In essence, Paul seems to be warning about misusing that gift of intelligent and clever speech. Given the verbal vices Paul includes with this word, it seems that coarse jesting points to jokes that contain sexual innuendo or suggestiveness–especially what will cause others to laugh or be amused. There are comedians and actors who are associated with this kind of humor. Perhaps we think of classmates, coworkers, or friends who come to mind, too. But Paul says that this is going too far to get a laugh or impress the people we are speaking to. In fact, he calls it improper and not fitting!

So what does that mean for you and me? Watch those words and phrases with double meanings, that are open to two interpretations one of which is risqué or indecent. Avoid jokes where you depict ideas and thoughts which cross the line of decency. If in doubt, don’t say it. Such words and conversations are unnecessary to have a good time. Laughing and humor are extremely enjoyable, but never should we resort to ungodliness to generate it. As His ambassadors, God wants our speech to be decent, pure, and wholesome. No one should ever leave our company feeling any further from Christ, and jokes and sentences that rely on sexual suggestiveness will not accomplish righteous representation of our Redeemer!

The Weight Of Words

Words carry a lot of power, revealing the core of who we are. Each year, the average person speaks about 11 million words—roughly 30,000 daily, enough to fill a short book every two days. If your words were laid bare for all to see, would they reflect a story you’d stand by?

Carl Pollard

Words carry a lot of power, revealing the core of who we are. Each year, the average person speaks about 11 million words—roughly 30,000 daily, enough to fill a short book every two days. If your words were laid bare for all to see, would they reflect a story you’d stand by? In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus delivers a warning: “Everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every idle word they have spoken. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” The Greek term for “idle,” argos, refers to useless, fruitless words that fail to honor God. Luke 6:45 reinforces this: “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Our words expose our hearts and will one day testify for or against us. Every word we speak is directed toward God and those made in His image. To move from empty speech to words that give life, we can follow three steps: tighten your lips, tame your tongue, and transform your heart.

The first step is to filter what comes out of your mouth. Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” David recognized that words can escape before we think, often causing harm through gossip, complaints, or lies. Consider Job, who, despite losing everything, refused to curse God (Job 2:9-10). His restrained speech reflected deep faith, unlike the Israelites in Exodus 16:3, who grumbled at minor hardships, saying, “We should’ve stayed in Egypt!” Their careless words revealed weak trust and cost them greatly. With about 20% of our day—4 to 5 hours—spent talking, we have millions of opportunities for idle words. A simple test before speaking: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? By guarding our lips and seeking God’s help, we can ensure our words build up rather than tear down.

Guarding your lips is a start, but the tongue itself is a force. James 3:7-8 calls it a “restless evil,” capable of sparking destruction like a wildfire. Peter’s life shows this vividly. In Matthew 26:74, under pressure, he denied Jesus, even cursing to make his point—words that exposed his fear. Yet, after Pentecost, his tongue preached boldly, leading 3,000 to salvation (Acts 2). The difference was divine transformation. A 2018 incident proves the point: a single 50-word social media post from a well known figure tanked a company’s stock by 20% in hours, costing billions. One reckless word can destroy; one intentional word can build. To control your tongue, ask: Will this honor God? Will it uplift or harm? With the Spirit’s guidance, replace fruitless words with those that speak life.

Words don’t start at the tongue—they flow from the heart. Matthew 15:8 says, “The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” When life’s pressures hit, your words reveal what’s inside. David’s heart transformation in 2 Samuel 12:13, after his sin with Bathsheba, led to honest repentance: “I have sinned against the Lord.” Unlike Saul, who deflected blame, David’s words reflected a renewed heart, restoring his relationship with God. A 2021 study found 64% of online comments carry negative or hostile tones, often from unrenewed hearts. To speak purposefully, ask God to transform your heart, as David did in Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Through prayer, scripture, and worship, fill your heart with God’s truth, and your words will reflect His love.

You speak 30,000 words daily, 11 million yearly—each a seed that bears fruit, good or bad. Matthew 12 and Luke 6 remind us our words will judge us, revealing our hearts. This week, commit to intentional speech: guard your lips like David, control your tongue like Peter, and renew your heart through Christ. Careless words can destroy relationships and hinder the gospel, but purposeful words can heal and point to eternity. 

What do your words say about you?

Three Things That Will Rebuild Healthy Communication

Internet technology in all its forms has become such a helpful aid in so many instances. But as with every blessing, Satan stands ready to use it to undermine relationships, destroy community and civility, and wield it to wreak havoc on our mental, social, and spiritual health.

Neal Pollard

In 2024, Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and professor at NYU, wrote The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring Of Childhood Is Causing An Epidemic Of Mental Illness. While the book is written from a secular, evolutionary world view, it is incredibly insightful and masterfully observant of an extremely troublesome transformation many of us see happening in our world. An entire generation has reached maturity having known and used only smartphones and tablets, consuming the readily available and easily accessible contents of their virtual smorgasbord. This has radically reformed communication at the most basic levels.

Haidt points to four epidemic issues accompanying the mass retreat into the virtual world of a phone-based (versus real life) communication. Online communication is characterized by :

  • Being asynchronous–Not in real-time; Delayed (Building anxiety as one wonders why the other is silent or non-responsive)
  • Lack of embodied signals–Emojis and likes instead of facial expressions and body language (an inadequate substitution)
  • Performative interaction–Posts that perform, project perfection, and are artificial instead of honest, genuine intimacy.
  • Social comparison–Interaction built on comparison which devastates one’s own self-esteem and self-worth

In so many cases, we have lost the ability to communicate and build authentic relationships “here in the real world.” What Haidt suggests for Gen Z will actually help us all, from the oldest living generation down. This technological world, with all its benefits, has assaulted our communication skills.

Practice Face-To-Face Communication. Opt for the face-to-face, or at least the phone call, rather than relying on chats, text messages, and other communication that is not occurring in real time. Think of how much of what God has created us for in this world requires real-time interaction–evangelism, worship, marriage, childrearing, friendship, correction, etc. Biblical passages and principles assume the give and take of people in the same space talking and listening to each other. As the One who made us, He knows how we best operate (Eph. 4:29).

Put Away The Phone. It is simple and seems like eminently common sense, but because our phones are addictive (Haidt and others provide crushingly incontrovertible proof) we lean on them like crutches. Real-time, real connection requires full presence and complete attention to the person in front of us. Conversation and communication can be difficult and requires intentionality, at best, and the massive distraction of our devices fairly cripples our ability to courteously, thoughtfully value the one with whom we’re interacting.

Postpone Online Responses. My wife enacted a policy several years ago to answer social media messages only once per day, early each morning. Her logic is that before the advent of the internet, people had to wait for returned phone calls, snail mail letters, and face-to-face conversation. We’ve become such instant gratification junkies, wanting and needing to stay connected constantly. Ironically, we tend and nurture these virtual communications to the neglect of people we know well in our everyday lives. Do we have to answer those texts (all 50 of them) this very minute? Or can (should) it wait?

Internet technology in all its forms has become such a helpful aid in so many instances. But as with every blessing, Satan stands ready to use it to undermine relationships, destroy community and civility, and wield it to wreak havoc on our mental, social, and spiritual health. Perhaps investing in a bit of old-fashioned, real-life communication skills can help us stem the tide of our massive crisis in connection.

Watch Your Mouth!

Neal Pollard

When a people are described with “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6), they are apt to say whatever comes out of such a heart and mind. We cannot be surprised to see the hero as well as the villains in this account getting in trouble through their words. Back at the very beginning of Judges eleven, the Gileadites foolishly speak words rejecting Jephthah because of his unseemly origins (11:2). They would eventually have to eat those impetuous words (11:7-8). The events involved in turning back the Ammonite oppression would lead to words with deadly consequences!

Jephthah spoke reckless and rash words (11:30-31). On the one hand, his vow demonstrates a faith in God that made him throw all caution to the wind. He so desperately wanted victory over God’s enemy that he vowed to sacrifice the first living thing that passed through the door to meet him. While many ancient cultures, including Israel, frequently kept livestock in their houses (cf. 2 Sam. 12:3), Jephthah at least ran the risk that it would be a loved one or at least a servant who met him upon his return. Yet, in apparent passion, he vowed to offer whatever it was as a burnt offering to the Lord. God did not ask for or expect human sacrifice; in fact, His strongest words of condemnation were reserved for false worship that included it (Deut. 12:31; 2 Ki. 17:17; Jer. 7:31). God granted this deliverer victory and upon his return home, his only child, a daughter, came out to greet him celebrating his great victory (34). Both the daughter and her father understood the absolute seriousness of his vow (Num. 30:2; Ecc. 5:4-5). There was no breaking it, so Scripture says he “did with her according to his vow that he had made” (39). How many words have been spoken in the heat of passion, anger, or zeal that were not carefully thought through and went on to hurt God, ourselves, and others? How many promises have been made that proved costly to keep? We ought to taste our words, chewing on them before we say them, to make sure they are words thoughtfully and wisely spoken. Otherwise, they may prove to be bitter! 

The Ephraimite spoke words that betrayed them (12:5-6). This started with their threatening and taunting speech, viciously (and apparently dishonestly, 12:2-3) accusing Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire” (12:1). They also insulted the Gileadites, whom Jephthah led, calling them “fugitives” rather than brethren (12:4). The Gileadites took control of the Jordan River, monitoring all who sought to cross it. Any Ephraimite who tried to cross, they killed. In the end, they killed 42,000 Ephraimites. How could they distinguish them from everyone else? Their speech. The Ephraimites’ speech led to their downfall. They could not pronounce “Shibboleth.” They said “Sibboleth.” It was literally a dead giveaway! What about our speech, on the job, at school, at home, or out with our friends? Do those words proclaim to others that we are followers of Christ, or do we sound just like the world? We are wise to listen to Jesus’ words of warning about our words: “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mat. 12:34-37). We don’t need anybody’s affirmation or approval so badly that we would neglect this warning!

Those of us who are prone to think out loud or practice “ready, fire, aim” with our speech do well to remember Jephthah and the Ephraimites. Let’s watch our words. Let’s make sure they are pure and profitable, not poor and pitiful! 

SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS

Dale Pollard

The sound of devils crying in the night reminded early colonists of Tasmania of mythical hellhounds. As terrifying as their screams sound, Tasmanian devils aren’t much of a danger to humans— but they are to each other. 

Not so long ago a vicious cancer began killing these animals and the initial cause of the disease was a mystery. As scientists began studying them they discovered that the cancerous tumors were self-inflicted! It’s not uncommon for the Tasmanian devils to fight and bite one another over a carcass or the rights to a female. 

The devil’s ears will burn a bright red color when they’re upset but when they lash out at one another they  further their own extinction. The bite wounds develop into a mutating cancer that will grow until eventually they succumb to the disease— or starvation. 

At times people can also be guilty of destroying one another. Not with teeth, but through gossip and sadly the church isn’t immune to this disease, either. It’s no wonder that God warns us about the dangers time and again through His Word (Proverbs 11:13; 20:19). 

“But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” – Galatians 5.15 

Three Ways To Guard Against Gossip 

  1. Avoid being a spreader. It will build your integrity and trustworthiness. 
  2. Make it a point to speak highly of the person being slandered. 
  3. Offer biblical solutions instead of contributing to the gossip. This assumes the person spreading the gossip is genuinely concerned about the person(s) they’re talking about. Have they confronted the subject of their gossip (Matt. 18.15-20)? If they’re unwilling to act but willing to talk— avoid them. 

Loose Lips Sink Ships

Neal Pollard

When I thought about the phrase, I wondered if it might have an origin connected to war. It was the product of the War Advertising Council’s public service ads in World War II to prevent indiscreet communication which might give away secrets to the enemy (click here ). My shop teacher, Chief Canady, used to admonish us with a variation: “Lippity lip sinks the ship!” 

Unguarded talk. No filter. In the brain, out the mouth. There are different ways to say it, but so often it is a destructive weapon that torpedoes relationships and fractures trust. It can also be blind to the circumstances and experiences of others. When we’re so eager to express our opinions and vehemently state our positions, our words can cause blunt force trauma! Proverbs repeatedly warns about this. In fact, it is one of the major themes of the entire book. Consider just a sample: 

  • “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise” (10:19).
  • “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing” (12:18). 
  • “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin” (13:3).
  • “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly” (15:2).
  • “The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness” (16:21).
  • “A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire” (16:27).
  • “He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent” (17:27-28).
  • “A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul” (18:6-7).
  • “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles” (21:23).
  • “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (29:20).

This is just the hem of the garment of all God through Solomon, Agur, and Lemuel have to say about the power of words for good or evil (18:21). Let us be careful about how we talk in the presence of the impressionable, new Christians, children and young people, those with a sinful past, and the hurting (Luke 17:1-2). That does not mean constantly walking on egg shells, but it also does not mean constantly cavorting like a bull in a China shop (Eph. 4:29). Let us give thoughts to our words from private conversations to water cooler topics to Bible class comments. When we combine self-awareness with others-awareness, surely this will color our speech and produce lips that do not sink ships (or souls!).  

“Do As I Say, Not As I Do” 

Thursday’s Column: Captain’s Blog

Carl Pollard

At the 1993 annual meeting of The American Heart Association, 300,000 doctors, nurses, and researchers met in Atlanta to discuss, among other things, the importance a low fat diet plays in keeping our hearts healthy. Yet during meal times, they consumed fat-filled fast foods such as bacon cheeseburgers and fries at about the same rate as people from other conventions. When one cardiologist was asked whether or not his partaking in high fat meals set a bad example, he replied, “Not me, because I took my name tag off.”

Seeing hypocrisy in the church has caused many people to fall away. Sadly there are some who claim to be Christians, and it’s in name only. These people often give the church a bad reputation. Many in the world look at the church and say that it runs rampant with hypocritical people. 

Being a Christian means following Christ all the time. No natter the circumstances. We can’t just “take our name tag off” so to speak. People are always watching. They’re looking to us on how to act. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 reads, “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.” 

Paul and the other apostles showed the Christians at Thessalonica, by example, how to act. Notice what Paul says: “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship.” The Thessalonians could look back and remember the example that the Apostles gave for them to follow. Are we like this? Or are we all talk? People will follow the examples that our actions portray. 

The example that our actions set are powerful. 

So the question is, “what kind of example are we setting?” We can have only two types of example–good or bad. Our example, whether good or bad, can decide the eternal fate of those that see our actions. Paul and the apostles set a great example for the church at Thessalonica. 

Paul writes in Philippians 4:9, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” We see from this how Paul’s example was so good that he tells the Philippians to practice it and God would be with them. Are we confident enough to say this to another Christian? We must be careful that we show by the way we live that we truly believe what we preach to others. 

My Mouth’s Motivation

Thursday’s Column: Captain’s Blog

Carl Pollard

In Psalm 19:14 David says, “may the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight.” In the previous verses of this chapter David writes about the perfect law of the Lord. Moved by the knowledge that the author of scripture is God almighty, David hopes that the words he speaks would be impacted by his knowledge of the Law. This is something we must long for as Christians. We know who the author of the Bible is, we understand the way we are called to live and speak, and that should influence our words. The Bible is very clear on how we are to speak.

Our words are a direct reflection of our faith. James 1:26, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Do we call ourselves Christians but fail to control our words? James would say we are deceiving ourselves. Our speech is directly impacted by our religion. Our faith should change our speech and make it stand out from the world.

The Bible also gives us a very sobering warning in Matthew 12:36. Jesus says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” On that day will we find justification or condemnation from the words we have spoken? We should use this knowledge to help guard our speech.

Scripture also tells us in Luke 6:45 that, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” We can know the condition of our hearts by what is contained in our words.

Our tongue has a way of getting us in trouble. Ever heard the saying, “keep your words soft and sweet because you never know when you may have to eat them”?We can do a lot of damage if we aren’t careful. On every car there’s this handy little device called a fuel filter. A fuel filter is in between your car’s engine and the gas tank. Its job is to keep all the sediment and dirt that accumulates in the gas tank over time from getting to the engine. Basically it keeps impurities from destroying your engine. Our words need a fuel filter between the mind and the mouth. Think about what we are about to say. Is it impure or harmful in any way? Then don’t say it.

President Calvin Coolidge was famously known as a man of few words. His nickname was “Silent Cal.” His wife, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, told the story of a young woman who sat next to her husband at a dinner party. She told Coolidge she had a bet with a friend that she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her he quietly retorted, “You lose.” Coolidge understood very well the value of using only carefully considered words—and those being few in number. We filter our words and carefully choose them because like David, we understand who we belong to when we are Christians. God now owns our words and we use them to glorify Him in everything.

Psalm 19 is a beautiful tribute to the perfection of Scripture. Like David, each one of us should strive to let God’s word motivate us to live more like Christ in every way.

7000 Chances

Friday’s Column: Captain’s Blog

carl emily truck

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Carl Pollard

Research shows that the average person speaks at least 7,000 words a day, while many (you know who you are) speak much more than that. Think about what that means. 7000 words that will leave an imprint on those who hear. That’s an incredible opportunity that we are given…or maybe it’s a bad thing?
 
How do we use our words? As Christians those 7000 words should help us fulfill the command given to “make disciples” (Mt. 28:18-20). That begs the question, what should those 7000 words contain? Even more, what am I saying with those words?
 
We have the responsibility to share the good news with others, so what are my words doing to help accomplish this goal? Colossians 4:6 tells us what our daily speech should consist of. But first, notice the context. Colossians 4:5 says, “walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
 
We have been called to make the best use of the time. Ephesians 5:15-16 reads, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” How do we do this? Colossians 4:6 tells us it’s by talking the right way. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
 
If we want to walk with wisdom and be effective towards those in the world, we must use the proper words. As Christians, our speech should be attractive. “Let you speech always be gracious.” Gracious is defined as, “A winning quality or attractiveness that invites a favorable reaction.” What does it mean to look attractive? We use this word to describe someone or something that has favorable qualities that we enjoy. Applying that to our speech, it must ALWAYS be described this way. There should never a moment where we stop.
 
Ephesians 4:29 says, “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.” We want people to leave conversations feeling better than when they first saw us. We want people to see Jesus in our speech.
 
We must always try our best to use attractive words. Always look for ways to encourage and help others with our speech. This means on the internet or in person. Our words are attractive when they are sincere and honest. We are called to have attractive speech, and the words we use must be genuine and real. Not saying them to sound holy or to look good, but out of love and concern for the souls of those who hear.
Got to see these two Huntsville area preachers and their lovely wives Wednesday night.

The Art Of Conversation

Neal Pollard

With conversation, when both are active listeners, you are exchanging ideas. Along with this, there’s body language and tone of voice which give clues to what the words mean to the speaker. You negotiate, reason, affirm or deny, and continue through these patterns while discussing any number of subjects. This process is invaluable to building relationships, working together, and even evangelism. For all its advantages, social media lacks almost all of those dimensions.

MIT professor and psychologist Sherry Turkle, in the book Reclaiming Conversation (New York: Penguin, 2015), makes the case that we are talking more than ever but we’ve lost the art of conversation.  Turkle observes, “From the early days, I saw that computers offer the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship and then, as the programs got really good, the illusion of friendship without the demands of intimacy” (7).  What demands? Paying attention, building trust, having empathy, and giving thoughtful responses (as opposed to rude, reckless ones). 

I’m not trying to militate against the use of social media platforms, texting, or emailing. But the more we gravitate toward those to do our “communicating,” the less we successfully navigate the more difficult, yet more rewarding, art of conversation.

When we read the Bible, we are struck–from beginning to end–with the pervasive importance of dialogue and conversation. From Genesis one, where we read the Godhead’s conversation, “Let us make man…,” to Jesus’ conversation with John in Revelation 22, conversation is indispensable. Not only did God create interpersonal relationships and the vehicle of conversation to build them, but He models it throughout the pages of Scripture.

This article seeks to inform, teach, and even persuade, but it is only one dimension of communication. One might argue that other forms of communication are not only necessary, but in many cases will be more effective. The snippets and soundbites of social media postings, much more condensed and lacking context, while being pithy and thought-provoking, are no substitute for what happens face to face in the tension, hard work, and unpredictable dynamic of conversation. Conversation necessitates practice, attention, and mental engagement. 

From the dawn of time, God observed that it’s not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). As suggested by the title of another book by Turkle, Alone Together, we find ourselves increasingly isolated from others and more ill-equipped for building real life relationships. The antidote to that is simple and so attainable.

Let’s engage people more. Let’s resort more to making real life connections and less to hiding behind screens. Let’s look for opportunities to do this with friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Let’s connect more in real life. As with anything, the more we practice the better we’ll get at it. 

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Photo credit: Michael Hite

 

Bad Breath Babbling

Neal Pollard

You want to do some appetizing research?  Go to the Mayo Clinic website and read about what causes bad breath. The harbingers of halitosis include food that gets stuck in your teeth, tobacco, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth (this occurs most frequently when sleeping at night, thus “morning breath”), oral infections, and many similar pleasant precipitators (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bad-breath/basics/causes/CON-20014939).  Now isn’t that a joyful matter to ponder!

Well, have you considered the very graphic imagery Paul uses in Ephesians 4:29 to describe improper speech?  He says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth…”  That word “unwholesome” is an interesting word (ESV—”corrupting”).  It is from a Greek word meaning “to cause to decay” (TDNT).  The footnote of my Bible says “literally, rotten.”  The Greeks used the word to describe what offends the sense of sight and smell, but it came to describe even offensive sounds as an ancient fragment from Theopompus Comicus used the word to describe the “unpleasant sounds of flutes” (CAF, I, 746). They used the word to describe bad vegetables and rotting fish (WSNTDICT).

Notice what the Holy Spirit through Paul does with the word.  In guiding the Ephesians in how not to walk, Paul gets graphic by warning against “smelly speech.”  Get the picture by considering the descriptive word.  When you talk, does what you say have the figurative effect of compost, fish carcasses, and the like?  Or, let us come at it by way of contrast, as Paul does.  Instead of uttering waste dump words, use “only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Throw away trashy speech through uplifting, timely, graceful talk!  Is what you say helpful to others? Does it build them up? Does it bring them closer to Christ? Is it just the right word at the right time?  If so, it’s like moral mouthwash!

If not, then let God’s diagnosis hit home!  Clean up your conversations.  Make sure what you say to others is to them a breath of fresh air!

Is It Clever Or Just Coarse?

Neal Pollard

What do a fantasy football service and a seafood restaurant have in common?  Maybe the advertisement firms they both hired and they felt proud of their play on words that made the commercial viewers hear one word but think of another, extremely vulgar and profane word.  Is this perhaps part of a linguistic trend in our current culture that seems to love to give a good shock to anyone who might still have sensitivity toward foul language?  Hopefully it isn’t, but it seems like a trend to twist speech in the apparent interest of the salty and salacious. Is it imaginative or just plain impure?

You hear it with these pun-like, substitute words that are like euphemisms only more edgy.  You hear it in drug references, referring to behavior, good or bad, as likened to one smoking, inhaling, or intravenously taking something illegal (or in the case of marijuana in Washington and Colorado, now legal). You hear it in crass references to body parts. You hear it in sexually suggestive and charged words, anywhere from “hot” and “sexy” to the more vulgar in an attempt to describe a project, product, or person.  How many of these cross the line of being sinful is difficult to assess, but so many of them flirt with crossing into inappropriate territory.

In Ephesians 5, Paul is in the middle of telling Christians how to “walk.”  Apparently, the walk includes the “talk.”  The chapter begins with his commanding us to imitate God and walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Then, Paul deals negatively by saying how we should not walk. He begins with actions of the mind and the body, then in verse four says, “…Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” To put an exclamation point on the discussion, he says that those practicing such things have no inheritance in the kingdom.  That’s pretty serious!  Bratcher and Nida sees all three nouns as referring to indecent, inappropriate speech, from sexually suggestive words to “shameful, shameless talk of every kind” (A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, np). At least the second two, “foolish talking” and “coarse jesting,” should cause us to give closer examination both to what we say and how we say it.

Our speech is powerful.  One wise word may result in a soul’s salvation.  As death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21), let’s heed the advice of the children’s song—”Be careful little mouths what you say!”