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Salty Speech
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
In the US, "salty" speech is an idiom for vulgar or inappropriate speech. To the people Paul was writing to, however, this phrase had a very different meaning and it's important for us to understand it. In short:
"“Seasoned with salt” was used to refer to witty, amusing, clever, humorous speech. Their saltiness will prevent them from being ignored as irrelevant bores." [1]
If you're like me and not sure exactly what that means, here's a fuller explanation:
"The believers were to be wise in how they acted (4:5), but their witness should be more than actions alone. The spoken word would be the communication method; therefore, they should be wise in how they spoke.
Speech that is gracious is kind and courteous. Speech that is seasoned with salt is interesting (as opposed to dull), invites interaction (as opposed to refusing to listen and discuss), adds “spice” to a discussion (by penetrating to deeper levels), and is pure and wholesome (as opposed to “filthy language,” 3:8). According to the parallel passage in Ephesians 4:29, the salt symbolizes that which preserves our conversation from being corrupt. Believers who are “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34) should have speech that is tasteful. Believers should always be ready to answer questions about their faith and be ready to share words of personal testimony. As Peter wrote: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience” (1 Peter 3:15–16 NIV).
No Christian should have a dull, tiresome, know-it-all monologue of his faith. Instead, Christians, who have the most exciting news in the world to share, should be able to share that message with excitement, ability to invoke interest, an understanding of the basics, a willingness to listen and discuss, and a desire to answer everyone’s questions graciously." [2] (emphasis mine)
How can we make our speech more "salty"? Christian conversation seems many times to lack the excitement and joy that one would assume we should have if we truly believe what we say we believe. What do you need to change to make your speech more salty and Jesus-centered?
Salty Speech
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
In the US, "salty" speech is an idiom for vulgar or inappropriate speech. To the people Paul was writing to, however, this phrase had a very different meaning and it's important for us to understand it. In short:
"“Seasoned with salt” was used to refer to witty, amusing, clever, humorous speech. Their saltiness will prevent them from being ignored as irrelevant bores." [1]
If you're like me and not sure exactly what that means, here's a fuller explanation:
"The believers were to be wise in how they acted (4:5), but their witness should be more than actions alone. The spoken word would be the communication method; therefore, they should be wise in how they spoke.
Speech that is gracious is kind and courteous. Speech that is seasoned with salt is interesting (as opposed to dull), invites interaction (as opposed to refusing to listen and discuss), adds “spice” to a discussion (by penetrating to deeper levels), and is pure and wholesome (as opposed to “filthy language,” 3:8). According to the parallel passage in Ephesians 4:29, the salt symbolizes that which preserves our conversation from being corrupt. Believers who are “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34) should have speech that is tasteful. Believers should always be ready to answer questions about their faith and be ready to share words of personal testimony. As Peter wrote: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience” (1 Peter 3:15–16 NIV).
No Christian should have a dull, tiresome, know-it-all monologue of his faith. Instead, Christians, who have the most exciting news in the world to share, should be able to share that message with excitement, ability to invoke interest, an understanding of the basics, a willingness to listen and discuss, and a desire to answer everyone’s questions graciously." [2] (emphasis mine)
How can we make our speech more "salty"? Christian conversation seems many times to lack the excitement and joy that one would assume we should have if we truly believe what we say we believe. What do you need to change to make your speech more salty and Jesus-centered?
[1] David E. Garland, Colossians and Philemon, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 274.
[2] Bruce B. Barton and Philip Wesley Comfort, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1995), 229.
[2] Bruce B. Barton and Philip Wesley Comfort, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1995), 229.
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