John Piper is one of the people who teaches me much. I listen to his sermons on line, I read his books, and I go to his conferences. Recently, he apologized for using the a word sometimes used to refer to "a donkey" in a session of a conference. To read his apology and explanation, look here.
My question: What do you think? You know, pastors talk and teach and preach a lot. What language is out of bounds? When? Can you use the same terms in a pulpit as in a classroom? around a dining room table?
What is a bad word? What makes some words rude and others just edgy?
Thoughts?
9 comments:
maybe what you can "say" depends on the relationship you have with those you are "saying" to. Someone who does not know your character may be more quickly offended than someone who is sitting at your table and knows you. It may make a difference if the audience is all male. Ephesians 4:29 what is "unwholesome"? I guess what is not respectful, doesn't benefit those who listen...I would include the attitude it is spoken in. Crude, rude, or sarcastic (have good shock value) but may not be necessary and are sometimes hurtful. (Every pastor's wife knows that their husband will be corrected by someone about something) - makes me glad that I am not the one up there. :)...we are all human and have a long way to go to achieve Eph. 5:19-20...maybe we should be glad that the "Pastor" is not in our kitchens judging our every word, tone and pitch of voice, and attitude!
excellent point about relationship. so much can be understood if we know one another well.
rudeness is never loving. some words are certainly rude, even if not sinful in themselves, don't you think? I guess rude is in the ear of the hearer.
not being easily offended couldn't hurt either!
I know some people are more easily offended than others, and ultimately we do want people to like us. But we want them to like the REAL us. If we are careful not to say this or that around certain people, how do you begin to keep track of what to say around who?? I say be yourself and let people choose whether or not to like you based on who you REALLY ARE. We can't put on a different face than who we truly are. Sooner or later someone is going to find out!
What do i think? I grew up in a home where we kept our mouths clean, and so foul words aren't really something I ever struggle with.
Tell you what I think about what happened to Pastor John - talk enough... sooner or later something is bound to slip out. Can I get an amen from the preacher who owns this blog?
I think, poor John Piper. Who among us can cast "the first stone?" Especially where the tongue is concerned? I think that people should consider the point he was trying to make rather than dwell on the choice of word(s) used. He is an awesome pastor and preacher who's heart is that everyone would learn to really know and love Christ.
He is a man with integrity and I commend him for humbling himself, making no excuses, owning his impropriety and apologizing to those who look to him for leadership. He is an awesome Godly example, who like the rest of us, is still battling his own flesh.
Iknow that wasn't your question, but those are my thoughts on the matter.
This is something that I recently noticed creeping into the general Christian discussion. Last April I was in Nashville for Gospel Music Week and it seemed as if every session I went to somebody tried to shock the audience by throwing in a well placed "d#$n" or "Hell" into the equation for pure shock. It got so bad that the sunday worship service featured a speaker screaming "Shut-Up B#@@h" to amplify his point. The point was made, but it sucked the air out of the room and was highly unnecessary.
Do I think throwing an adult word into a "Christian" Speech or sermon is a bad thing? No! Was John Piper wrong? Probably not! But there are other ways to make a strong and even shocking point and resorting to adult language is too easy.
On the other hand...
Piper's use of the word Donkey got me thinking, what's up with this santized version of "What Child is This?" I kept hearing all christmas, no way would an OX and a lamb be in the samne stall feeding, an Ox and A Donkey on the other hand makes total sense.
WORD UP!!
Passafist, you make a great point about the creeping in of the "safer" cuss words. It's as if Christians are testing the verbal freedom that has come with the takeover to the contemporary form of worship that has swept our land.
We are free in Christ, however, I admit that these words are unnecessary. It is probably much better if we could consciously seek to speak otherwise.
I also agree with Nancy that we ought to consider the point made.
And with Keith. Sometimes, if you say enough, you'll say something you wish you hadn't said!
Wow, what a great post! I am agreeing with everybody! Hey, who am I and what I have done with my self?
Oh, and Passafist's point regarding the Ox and the Donkey, many people do not know this, but there was an entire vilage of hamsters in the stall also. they couldn't see much, being so low to the ground and all, and apparently they were missed by the hymn writer. He didn't see them down there. Yes, the hymn writer was there too. He was standing over next to the black wise man.
Wayne Grudem just jumped into the ring and slapped Piper around for it.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByTitle/1945_Wayne_Grudem_on_Offensive_Language/
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