Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday May 27, 2010

Over the years I have learned many interesting aspects of using language and I am attempting to learn even more. By nature I am direct and to the point, and you can take it or leave it. This saves time but often destroys networking attempts and often inwardly injures people. That I have made progress in overcoming this natural bent is witnessed by the fast approaching 46th wedding anniversary of the Great Blonde and me. She suffered much in the early days.

Speech and the manner thereof is given much ink in the pages of Holy Writ and also in the literature of all the peoples of the earth. It is a mark of erudition to be well spoken. Commenting on this a wag has written:

"If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague."

I try to follow this advice, but I am discovering that due to the dumbing down of our culture, vague fails to be grasped by more and people, thus the temptation to revert to type and graphically explain the vague statement, "You may report to subterranean caverns of torture." This statement has been judged by a few professorial type Christians as equally vague and cultured yet so easily understood that the person addressed can go to the place reserved for the Devil and his angels. Of course I have no power to send people to such a place, and that, is probably a good thing.

The Apostle Paul living in what would be called today a "Multi-Cultural society" gave instruction while under the power of the Holy Spirit that has application to today's offering. Notice his instruction Colossians 4:6:

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

We know that grace means in this setting to be conciliatory, understanding, with a tone of kindness. Salt means to make it as tasteful as possible with the understanding that salt is used primarily to preserve, heal and to enhance taste. Thus our words should be selected to make a lasting impression and to also be as pleasant as the occasion permits. I found it interesting that "salt" was used by the Greeks as the emblem for "wit." Simply put this means that while our words are given with grace it is okay to make them interesting, by the use of wit.

While talking with Dr. Phil Stringer I mentioned that I had received a regular Internet letter from a well known Professor in a well known Bible College and for some reason the missiles ceased. I inquired stating, "I am no longer receiving your letter." He wrote back; "I know." I was aware of the great gulf separating me from this well known heretic and took his response as given with grace and wit and thus it brought a chuckle as I am confident of my position on a subject which the professor insists he is the reigning authority. I would have replied with my well worn "subterranean caverns" bit, but I assumed this would be over his head; I did not want to appear churlish so I held back on the more graphic phrase with the same meaning.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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