Right speech, plain speech.

I think what you're referring to is a practice of the Society of Friends (Quakers). As far as I'm aware, it's not widespread in other Christian groups.

There are extensive instructions around what I might describe as the ethos of our speech - truthfulness, grace, humility and so on - but less detailed prescriptions (or proscriptions) on content. That said, there is great diversity in how instructions are interpreted; for example, some Christian denominations call their clergy by titles like "Father/Mother" and others take Jesus' words to mean we should avoid such terms of address.

I certainly take carefulness with speech as a serious part of the way I live my faith. Again, not so much in the way of thinking I must or must not use particular terms or phrases, but more about whether the way I speak to others is truly loving and so on.

Tellyontellyon said:

Hello,
I was reading the other day about some Christians who practice plain speech... One of the things is that they practice was that they don't use titles, e.g., Mr, Mrs. Sir, etc. etc., And that could get them into trouble sometimes. Something about not treating anybody as higher or lower?
There seems to be parts of the Bible that warn against lying and gossip ..

How extensive are the instructions in the Bible about how Christians should use speech or not? How are they interpreted?

How much are you treating these instructions as a serious part of your practice?

Thank you?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure who you mean when you say "some" people or another. I'm sure there are differing views on titles, but nothing to do with Christianity. It's probably more social custom than religion.

Titles within the Church are normal. Priests are referred to as "father" for example. There is a misunderstanding of Jesus's instructions to his apostles not to call anyone by the title of father or teacher but it applied only to them. The bible is quite clear on a hierarchy. The writer to the Corinthians is explicit:

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

As far as speech in general goes, there are a number of verses from the new testament that might help:

Mat 12:36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

That is a warning against "idle talk", i.e., useless chatter. The writer to the Romans warns against it also:

Rom 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

A "whisperer" is a gossip. Someone speaking idle words. James is also clear:

Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

All I know re this is Matthew 5:37 ( fwiw).

Tellyontellyon said:

Hello,
I was reading the other day about some Christians who practice plain speech... One of the things is that they practice was that they don't use titles, e.g., Mr, Mrs. Sir, etc. etc., And that could get them into trouble sometimes. Something about not treating anybody as higher or lower?
There seems to be parts of the Bible that warn against lying and gossip ..

How extensive are the instructions in the Bible about how Christians should use speech or not? How are they interpreted?

How much are you treating these instructions as a serious part of your practice?

Thank you?

Click to expand...

I once visited a church where the man who gave the sermon simply went by his name, rather than taking a title like "pastor" or "reverend." That didn't bother me. What bothered me is that they used the same logic to forbid anything that the New Testament did not explicitly mention, such as instrumental music, while at the same time they met in an established church building and wore ties to church and utilized an overhead projector and microphone, which the New Testament also did not explicitly mention. By the way, the New Testament doesn't mention that rule of interpreting Scripture, either.

So, to answer your question, I believe that approach is a misinterpretation, and what you mention is an extreme form of holding to that misinterpretation. It's wrong.

I believe that in our society, using proper titles like Mr, Mrs, etc are ways of conveying respect to people. I believe that conveying respect to people is a Biblical value.

Tellyontellyon said:

Hello,
I was reading the other day about some Christians who practice plain speech... One of the things is that they practice was that they don't use titles, e.g., Mr, Mrs. Sir, etc. etc., And that could get them into trouble sometimes. Something about not treating anybody as higher or lower?
There seems to be parts of the Bible that warn against lying and gossip ..

How extensive are the instructions in the Bible about how Christians should use speech or not? How are they interpreted?

How much are you treating these instructions as a serious part of your practice?

Thank you?

Click to expand...

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That's the golden rule. Our speech should reflect that.

The biblical teachings we have are about common decency, and not acting like a complete jerk

-CryptoLutheran

Tellyontellyon said:

Hello,
I was reading the other day about some Christians who practice plain speech... One of the things is that they practice was that they don't use titles, e.g., Mr, Mrs. Sir, etc. etc., And that could get them into trouble sometimes. Something about not treating anybody as higher or lower?
There seems to be parts of the Bible that warn against lying and gossip ..

How extensive are the instructions in the Bible about how Christians should use speech or not? How are they interpreted?

How much are you treating these instructions as a serious part of your practice?

Thank you?

Click to expand...

I am recently in the USA (sorry for the English), and the first thing I did after settling in was the next day I went to church. And I immediately noticed this, the way they fell on me. I am from the Czech Republic, and we do not have a direct address sir or mister to a parishioner. Therefore, I myself do not know how to relate to this. And I have a counter question, but how to freely address your father in America?

Darel Aranovski said:

I am recently in the USA (sorry for the English), and the first thing I did after settling in was the next day I went to church.

Click to expand...

Welcome.

Darel Aranovski said:

And I immediately noticed this, the way they fell on me. I am from the Czech Republic, and we do not have a direct address sir or mister to a parishioner. Therefore, I myself do not know how to relate to this.

Click to expand...

I'm not exactly sure what happened, the way you're describing it. Also, there are many different churches in the US with different norms. Some are formal, some are very informal. And some other ones still will have people addressing each other as Brother and Sister all the time (i.e. Brother Tom, or Sister Anne) but that is more rare.

Darel Aranovski said:

And I have a counter question, but how to freely address your father in America?

Click to expand...

Biological father? I call mine Dad.

Thank you!

Sketcher said:

I once visited a church where the man who gave the sermon simply went by his name, rather than taking a title like "pastor" or "reverend." That didn't bother me. What bothered me is that they used the same logic to forbid anything that the New Testament did not explicitly mention, such as instrumental music, while at the same time they met in an established church building and wore ties to church and utilized an overhead projector and microphone, which the New Testament also did not explicitly mention. By the way, the New Testament doesn't mention that rule of interpreting Scripture, either.

So, to answer your question, I believe that approach is a misinterpretation, and what you mention is an extreme form of holding to that misinterpretation. It's wrong.

I believe that in our society, using proper titles like Mr, Mrs, etc are ways of conveying respect to people. I believe that conveying respect to people is a Biblical value.

Click to expand...

sorry, you wrote in a post about instrumental music. I didn't fully understand. Do you mean that in the church there is no music without vocal accompaniment?

Darel Aranovski said:

sorry, you wrote in a post about instrumental music. I didn't fully understand. Do you mean that in the church there is no music without vocal accompaniment?

Click to expand...

That particular church forbade music played by any instruments, and only allowed singing.