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"Name-calling" in the Bible

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peaceful-forest

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I hope I have this in the right forum (if it's not, feel free to move it).

Is "name-calling" biblical?

I ask because I ended up witnessing an argument on another website. Person 1 name-called Person 2 for their beliefs. They were having an argument on whether women can be pastors or not [I'm not here to debate this part; please do not start a debate over this topic.] Person 2 tried to reason with Person 1 over the unnecessary language he used, but Person 1 argued that "name-calling was biblical".

I have been bothered by this statement and believe that Satan is trying to deceive me on what is godly behavior and what is not.

I remember John the Baptist saying "you brood of vipers" and recently read in Acts where Paul tells a sorcerer "you are a child of the devil".

So the question is - why did people in the Bible "name-call" others (if it can be accurately called that)? What is the purpose of their words?

Thank you.
 
jacks

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I believe there are different levels and purposes of name calling. If some one is just name calling to insult the other person, it is different than John the Baptist calling them a "Brood of vipers." In his case it was used to shock them into recognizing the true state of their hearts. For us mere, flawed mortals name calling rarely serves a higher purpose than merely being an insult. Best to be avoided.
 
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RDKirk

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jacks said:
I believe there are different levels and purposes of name calling. If some one is just name calling to insult the other person, it is different than John the Baptist calling them a "Brood of vipers." In his case it was used to shock them into recognizing the true state of their hearts. For us mere, flawed mortals name calling rarely serves a higher purpose than merely being an insult. Best to be avoided.
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Jesus did some of that, too.

“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” -- Matthew 23.

This passage was one of the scariest epithets recorded of Jesus. He was throwing "woe grenades" across the room. Listen, when the Lord of All Creation commands, "Woe be unto you!" the universal forces of woe stand at attention.
 
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peaceful-forest

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Since I've posted this, I've had a thought - "descriptive, not prescriptive".

Also, on Person 1, I've witnessed him teach and promote more unbiblical things. One of them resembled Islam.

I've decided that the incident I saw, Person 1 doesn't understand what God expects of him and is practicing false Christianity. I don't believe that the insult was said out of love or out of conviction.
 
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RDKirk

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peaceful-forest said:
Since I've posted this, I've had a thought - "descriptive, not prescriptive".

Also, on Person 1, I've witnessed him teach and promote more unbiblical things. One of them resembled Islam.

I've decided that the incident I saw, Person 1 doesn't understand what God expects of him and is practicing false Christianity. I don't believe that the insult was said out of love or out of conviction.
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One thing I'd point out is that when Jesus called someone by a metaphorical term, it wasn't mere opinion--He had seen into the heart of that person, and His characterization was a true fact.
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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peaceful-forest said:
I hope I have this in the right forum (if it's not, feel free to move it).

Is "name-calling" biblical?

I ask because I ended up witnessing an argument on another website. Person 1 name-called Person 2 for their beliefs. They were having an argument on whether women can be pastors or not [I'm not here to debate this part; please do not start a debate over this topic.] Person 2 tried to reason with Person 1 over the unnecessary language he used, but Person 1 argued that "name-calling was biblical".

I have been bothered by this statement and believe that Satan is trying to deceive me on what is godly behavior and what is not.

I remember John the Baptist saying "you brood of vipers" and recently read in Acts where Paul tells a sorcerer "you are a child of the devil".

So the question is - why did people in the Bible "name-call" others (if it can be accurately called that)? What is the purpose of their words?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Christians do not need to follow every example seen in Holy Scripture. There is Good Wisdom in this proverb:
Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth. (RSV)
 
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ViaCrucis

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peaceful-forest said:
I hope I have this in the right forum (if it's not, feel free to move it).

Is "name-calling" biblical?

I ask because I ended up witnessing an argument on another website. Person 1 name-called Person 2 for their beliefs. They were having an argument on whether women can be pastors or not [I'm not here to debate this part; please do not start a debate over this topic.] Person 2 tried to reason with Person 1 over the unnecessary language he used, but Person 1 argued that "name-calling was biblical".

I have been bothered by this statement and believe that Satan is trying to deceive me on what is godly behavior and what is not.

I remember John the Baptist saying "you brood of vipers" and recently read in Acts where Paul tells a sorcerer "you are a child of the devil".

So the question is - why did people in the Bible "name-call" others (if it can be accurately called that)? What is the purpose of their words?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

In a proper context imprecatory language is meaningful and biblical.

However, Scripture also says "let no unwholesome speech come out from you"--our words ought to be constructive, not destructive.
 
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ViaCrucis said:
In a proper context imprecatory language is meaningful and biblical.

However, Scripture also says "let no unwholesome speech come out from you"--our words ought to be constructive, not destructive.
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Can in anyway describe those words as redemptive in purpose, if there's still a bit of chance?
 
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ViaCrucis said:
Can you unpack that more?
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While we were yet sinners God demonstrates His own love toward us sending Jesus to die for us.
God's redemptive purpose to mankind. (Rom 5:8)

Imprecatory prayers like Psalms 58:6, can we in anyway are to abide God's redemptive purposes, that is if there's still a bit of chance as we don't have foreknowledge of everything Whom God only possessed.

Psa 58:6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
 
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RDKirk

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Capbook2 said:
Psa 58:6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
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Good to pray against our enemies, but keep in mind who our enemies really are.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
-- Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)
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"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
-- Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
Click to expand...
 
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