Is “infestation” Biblical language?

[JohnH]

I was mostly asking if they systematically teach what the Bible teaches, based on those Scriptures and taking them seriously. I have been surprised by the length of this thread.

I don't know what triggered the political turn on a question about biblical teaching.

Can we please have a discussion instead of a fight, and keep our eyes on the subject?

Well, the NT makes it clear that using rhetoric like "All Cretans are liars" (a well known Greek saying), but then using it as part of an exhibition on why Cretan teachers in particular should be suspected of being false teachers, is an entirely reasonable thing to do.

That's extremely different than modern expectations, so I find anyone claiming that the NT teaches the opposite of what, it will, just does right out in the open to be suspect, and to be an infection of politics into what should be a study of biblical teaching.

The Bible simply does not teach speech codes against generalising about groups of people.

[temporal1]

boot:
I prefer to avoid strong language like this.

Excellent. Most do. Certainly most of the time. It’s important this happens at scale.

The wrinkle comes when attempting to force one’s individual choice on others, whether by force of the sword, or societal pressures.
Often, both, and more.

Most are jarred, possibly the intent, then move on. To repeat, scriptures intend to do some jarring.
Being jarred is important to the human experience.

Words can hurt, without question. i have been hurt. i have hurt. i’m specially sorry about the latter.
This seems to be 1) tolerated and used in scriptures (beyond JH’s use) - and, 2) the Constitution protects free speech.

i’m guessing JH may be thinking of PRESENTISM just above.
i think it’s a new term for a real problem in human reasoning - esp attemptng to grasp history in context.
including scriptures.

https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.ph ... 0&start=10
https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php?t=5045

[QuietlyListening]

In Colossians, chapter 4 vs 5&6 it says
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Whether we are speaking about a person or group or to a person or group of outsiders/unbelievers we are well to speak with grace. We never know if others will hear us if we are speaking about a group or a person or if what we way will be repeated. But I do feel we need to be careful in our speech. Avoid labels and dehumanizing words. We can still call sin- sin but be careful in how we speak.

[temporal1]

In Colossians, chapter 4 vs 5&6 it says
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Whether we are speaking about a person or group or to a person or group of outsiders/unbelievers we are well to speak with grace. We never know if others will hear us if we are speaking about a group or a person or if what we way will be repeated. But I do feel we need to be careful in our speech. Avoid labels and dehumanizing words. We can still call sin- sin but be careful in how we speak.

Excellent. Most do. Certainly most of the time. It’s important this happens at scale.

For Christians, grace is like a magnet to the world, esp when juxtaposed against jarring language.
i don’t believe it’s an accident in scriptures. humans are infamous for their need to “learn the hard way”.

i recall the Book of Hosea. no one chose the hard way more than Gomer. she eventually fully+lovingly converted.

i see a symbiotic relationship involved between jarring and grace.

[Bootstrap]

I suspect it would be better to create threads for specific Bible passages on speech and study them one at a time to see what they say.

[JohnH]

In Colossians, chapter 4 vs 5&6 it says
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Whether we are speaking about a person or group or to a person or group of outsiders/unbelievers we are well to speak with grace. We never know if others will hear us if we are speaking about a group or a person or if what we way will be repeated. But I do feel we need to be careful in our speech. Avoid labels and dehumanizing words. We can still call sin- sin but be careful in how we speak.

Do you think it's wrong to refer to, for example, "thieves", in order to avoid offending thieves?

[temporal1]

In Colossians, chapter 4 vs 5&6 it says
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Whether we are speaking about a person or group or to a person or group of outsiders/unbelievers we are well to speak with grace. We never know if others will hear us if we are speaking about a group or a person or if what we way will be repeated. But I do feel we need to be careful in our speech. Avoid labels and dehumanizing words. We can still call sin- sin but be careful in how we speak.

Do you think it's wrong to refer to, for example, "thieves", in order to avoid offending thieves?

a lot of academics+politicians are loving it.

[Bootstrap]

In Colossians, chapter 4 vs 5&6 it says
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Whether we are speaking about a person or group or to a person or group of outsiders/unbelievers we are well to speak with grace. We never know if others will hear us if we are speaking about a group or a person or if what we way will be repeated. But I do feel we need to be careful in our speech. Avoid labels and dehumanizing words. We can still call sin- sin but be careful in how we speak.

Do you think it's wrong to refer to, for example, "thieves", in order to avoid offending thieves?

Let's discuss the passage itself here:

https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.ph ... 55#p308955

[Valerie]

In Colossians, chapter 4 vs 5&6 it says
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Whether we are speaking about a person or group or to a person or group of outsiders/unbelievers we are well to speak with grace. We never know if others will hear us if we are speaking about a group or a person or if what we way will be repeated. But I do feel we need to be careful in our speech. Avoid labels and dehumanizing words. We can still call sin- sin but be careful in how we speak.

Do you think it's wrong to refer to, for example, "thieves", in order to avoid offending thieves?

I do not think this passage applies to the situation JohnH is referring to. This is talking about how we talk TO people outside the faith. If I’m not mistaken, that is not the concept or use of the word JohnH was talking about- that’s a different topic altogether imo.

[Bootstrap]

In Colossians, chapter 4 vs 5&6 it says
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Whether we are speaking about a person or group or to a person or group of outsiders/unbelievers we are well to speak with grace. We never know if others will hear us if we are speaking about a group or a person or if what we way will be repeated. But I do feel we need to be careful in our speech. Avoid labels and dehumanizing words. We can still call sin- sin but be careful in how we speak.

Do you think it's wrong to refer to, for example, "thieves", in order to avoid offending thieves?

I do not think this passage applies to the situation JohnH is referring to. This is talking about how we talk TO people outside the faith. If I’m not mistaken, that is not the concept or use of the word JohnH was talking about- that’s a different topic altogether imo.

Different passages speak to different situations. I hope we will spend time looking at the actual texts that contain these commands in threads like these:

https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=9026

https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=9027