It’s hard to make it out sometimes. Everyone sees it differently. Some might say it’s absolute and set in stone only to find that others find it to be relative to specific situations. What I’m talking about is the line that is sometimes crossed between what should and shouldn’t be said in conversation. What might be an appropriate conversation between friends might not be the best use of language in front of a larger group of people.
There are public speakers and even preachers who choose to use crude language in their speeches and sermons. They use excuses like wanting to meet people where they are or relate to their situation. Preachers might even quote the apostle Paul, saying they want to be “all things to all men so that they might save a few.” It’s just as easy to proof-text the other way from the book of James saying that those teachers will be “judged more strictly” and his tongue “corrupts the whole person.”
I’ve seen youth leaders use swear words to convey a point to students in a way that they may have never seen otherwise. I’ve had professors in college use swear words while interpreting scripture in class because they said the alternative words you would normally read are not strong enough. I’ve heard sermons that sounded more like a conversation at the bar than a preacher from the pulpit. I not only remember the language that was used in those moments, but also the entire talks because I was caught off guard and listening barriers were broken. I wasn’t offended by any of these situations, but I had friends right beside me who were. Those friends put barriers up and only heard the words that were offensive to them from that point on.
How does anyone decide what is an appropriate way to speak or not? Should the goal be to not offend anyone with our speech or to break down barriers for the majority of those we are speaking to? Is there a firm line that should never be crossed or is it more of a fine line that can be bent for the situation? These are questions that I don’t have an answer to because I see validity to both sides.