Salty Language

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Col 4:5-6)

The Bible teaches that Christians should use salty language. Okay, that would be an example of a cultural language problem. You see, "salty language" today means more like "swears like a sailor", but when Paul wrote that your language should be "seasoned, as it were, with salt", he didn't have that version in mind. So what did he mean to say?

Well, we can conjecture because we don't have a "Paul-to-21st-century English" dictionary. First, whatever it is, there is a clear parallel. "Let your speech always be with grace." Whatever the "seasoning" of "salt" is, it is grace. And we can find other parallels from Paul that might help further. Whatever that "salt" is, it is not "unwholesome words" (Eph 4:29) or "filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting" (Eph 5:4). I think that all pretty much rules out foul language. And this gracious speech is both truthful and loving (Eph 4:15) and "good for edification according to the need of the moment" (Eph 4:29).

After that, we have to figure it out on our own. Salt, for instance, is a preservative. Use language that preserves rather than tears down. Salt obviously adds flavor. Use language that means something rather than dull words. Proverbs 27:6 says "Faithful are the wounds of a friend", and salt, rubbed into wounds, can sting.

You will note that the verse on salty speech follows a prior thought and, as such, is likely part of the same thought. "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders." These "outsiders" are most likely those outside the faith. The New Testament is full of places where believers have a special bond with believers. Jesus said they (those who are not His) would know we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35). So these outsiders would be unbelievers. How do we conduct ourselves with wisdom toward them? Well, the way that Paul highlights is to make the most of every opportunity. In what sense? In your speech. Thus, the primary focus of this gracious, salty speech is the way you talk to outsiders.

You can see this in Jesus. He was gracious to the lost and sinful and sick around Him. To the "insiders", the Pharisees who should have known better, He was not so gracious. (Describing them as "white-washed tombs" and "hypocrites" is not "gracious".) To those who at least believed they were on the "inside" He was relentless. But to those outside, He was gracious in His speech.

In the end I don't think we can definitively say what it is. We can clearly eliminate some possibilities. It is not foul language. It is not misleading or dishonest language. It is not coarse or filthy language. It is not aimed at tearing down, but at building up. It is not gossip or backbiting (Prov 25:23). I think, on the other hand, that it's safe to say that it is aimed at "flavoring" the conversation to get their attention. (Again, without foul language.) It makes for a lively dialog. It gives grace to those who hear.

Let me give a couple of examples of how this does not work. It does not work by using intentionally inflammatory language to describe those with whom you disagree. I know of some who inflexibly use the term "sodomite" to describe those who commit homosexual behavior. It doesn't matter that the term from the King James English no longer means what it did then. It doesn't matter that this intentionally and unnecessarily creates tension between the speaker and the listener. This is not "wisdom toward outsiders", speech with grace, or the salty language Paul commanded. Likewise, people who use foul language to express their views when they know such language is an offense cannot be classified as speaking with grace. The Scriptures specifically rule out this version of speech "seasoned with salt".

Christians, I know that the heresies and confusion and the assaults on the faith and the lies and the outright sin classified as "good" and "loving" is a problem. I know that such things can create tension, even anger. And we ought to be diligent for the truth and for the glory of God. But it isn't necessary to use intentionally inflammatory language to do that. We are commanded to make the most of every opportunity by speaking with grace. The anonymity and lack of accountability afforded by the Internet is not an reason to ignore the clear command, and, frankly, complaining about people who defy Scripture by defying Scripture makes no sense. We can do better than that, can't we?