Language

[sammyphoenix]

The Life Group I am apart of with my church is suppose to be winding down as far as the current topic goes, granted I think it was suppose to be done two weeks ago but the guy leading keeps missing days thanks to his kids sports. This has had hubby and I thinking about future topic ideas. We have a few ideas that we would like, but we aren't sure if we should suggest them since we don't really know this group too well yet.

One of the topics we'd like to cover is conversation/opinion based of gray topics in the Bible. Now, this is a very broad topic itself and could cover things like drinking, hair length, language, abortion, etc.

We had a conversation this morning about the language stuff. It first started off with people who get Chinese tattoos (hope I don't offend anyone with one of these). Why get a tattoo of a word/character that you don't even speak? It doesn't make sense in my mind, and I have read and seen too many insentience that the character that is tattooed doesn't actually mean what the person thinks it does.

That got me then thinking about musha168's blog on the change in Chinese characters meanings. All languages go through this type of thing. We have our words, slang words for those, and slang becomes the new common word. Language is always changing. Unless it is a word or phrase that is important to you, in your own language, why would you get it tattooed?

Anyways, I'm kind of getting off topic (it's my blog, I can do that right?). The whole idea of changing language made we think of a couple at my Life Group and verses in the Bible that state to refrain from fowl language. First, let me say that I have nothing against people who swear, I don't do it myself very often, and I hope to touch on that later here. But it really bothers some people. So much so that they won't see rated 'R' movies because of it. I personally won't let that stop me from seeing a good plotted movie. I certainly don't judge people because they enjoy a movie that may have too much fowl language just for having fowl language (though it can ruin a movie from time to time).

Gah, getting off topic again. Point of blog. Where do we draw the line on fowl language? A lot of our common insults, "You suck" "You're a dick" "Idiot" were all once considered fowl language. Yet they get passed around now as any other word. Instead we have "fuck" "shit" "cunt" "damn" "piss", but even these are starting to become part of common language for some people. They have even made it onto prime time TV shows and few are offended by it. So as far as public media goes where do we draw the line. When does it become okay from being fowl?

As I already said I don't have anything against swearing, the only time I tend to cringe is when I hear "God damn" and that's more of taking God's name in vain type thing. The problem I have with fowl language is when it is used fowly. For me, personally, I find that when I am out of control with my anger, not feeling well, or being hateful is when I am most likely to swear. I am over all a calm person, so when I start swearing I know it is time for me to take a step back and calm down because I am getting out of line. It is these moments that I think the Bible is referring to, using words to be angry and hurtful. Even when in rage someone chews someone out and calls them an idiot over something, I see it as fowl, and I avoid within my abilities to keep myself from getting to the point with people. That is when I see it as being sinful.