Slanguage

Christians are to be guided by Bible admonitions, yet many are guilty of the habitual use of expressions the dictionary terms as minced oaths. These are taken from the New Century dictionary. "Gosh, golly" are softened and euphemistic forms for God. "Gee" is a minced form for Jesus. "Heck" stands for hell. "Duce, dickens" are short forms for the devil. "Dawgone, dawgonit" are not Christian terms. "Darn, darned, darnation" are colloquial euphemisms for damn, damned, damnation. Those who frequently use "gosh darned" would be shocked if they fully realized its true meaning.

Someone has said that a Christian's "gosh" is as strong as the miner's oath. A preacher's "pshaw" or "phooey" are as strong as the drunkard's "damn." May the Almighty help us to realize these truths and endeavour henceforth to be careful in our speech. Amen.

Some wonder why they cannot use goodness and gracious. These are attributes of God and would therefore be a violation of the third commandment. Millions of Christians are guilty, never having given this a thought, but will be willing to walk in the light.

The term reverend belongs to God and man has no right to use it in either the short or long form. "Reverend and holy is his name." Psa. 111:9. There are those who would shun the original form of profanity as they do dirt, debt, disease and the devil, yet with no compunction of conscience use the milder forms.

The use of "slanguage" in any form certainly does not become a Christian, nor is it conducive to a high plane of living. What a sad indictment this is against those who have forgotten the language of God and are resorting to the language of the street. Present day speech has fallen far below the standard which Christ set for His disciples as the New Testament pattern for all His followers. Careless and useless speech in this common use of "slanguage" will certainly weaken one's testimony and dull his spiritual effectiveness. It is impossible to convince our fellow men that we are citizens of heaven, when we indulge in the language of the sinner.

Jesus said in Matt. 5:34-37, "Swear not at all . . . let your conversation be "Yea, yea, or nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." This last clause suggests the use of an exclamation which is defined as something added merely as a filling. How awesome are the words of Christ in Matt. 12:36, 37, "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment . . . for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

James says that man's religion is vain, if he cannot bride his own tongue (Jms. 1:26). "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." Jms. 3:10. ". . . Let your yea be yea . . . lest ye fall into condemnation." Jms. 5:12.

"For the Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

An excellent motto for the Christians should be "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Oh, Lord, my strength and my redeemer." Psa. 19:14.

By C. H. Mooshian

Editor's Note:
Slang words come into common usage, but such should not infiltrate the vocabulary of the child of God, who is not of this world. Let not these terms or any such be found upon our lips– “cool,” “awesome,” “hey, man,” or “cool, man.” Nor let us follow the pattern of the world by referring to our children as baby goats–“kids.”