Pulpit Language Principles, 2 of 2

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God. - Ephesians 5:1-5 HCSB

Sexually frank, but not explicit: The Scriptures are quite frank about human sexuality. After all, wasn’t the very first command God gave humanity “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it”?[1] Anyone who has read the book Song of Songs lately probably blushed from time to time. The Holy Spirit inspired the writers to clearly and without equivocation describe both the positive and negative aspects of sex. It not only prohibits incest, but it gives us a vivid example of the long term effects of this banned activity in Lot.[2] It not only disallows adultery, it shows us the very real possibility that no one is exempt from this particular temptation in King David and Bathsheba.[3] However, just as the Bible stops short of describing their acts in lurid detail, we too similarly limit ourselves. We will frankly and unhesitatingly address issues that all of us face, but we will not abuse our freedom in such a manner that we will bring sin into the minds of our congregation.

Age and gender appropriate: Paul exhorted Timothy, “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.”[4]

We are creatures of our times. Those who were raised in the 50s have a different mindset and vocabulary than those who were raised in the 80s. Those who were born and bred in the farming communities of the Midwest give words different connotations than those who are denizens of the inner city.

Therefore, when we address older men, we talk to them as fathers, which means with respect. When we talk to the younger generation, we approach them as equals. We talk to them on their level and perhaps with more glibness than would be appropriate for the older generation. Obviously, in a mixed crowd, this becomes more difficult. In our church, we try to match the general tone of the message to the average age and culture being addressed. When speaking to a crowd that is largely composed of younger couples with only one or two elderly folk thrown into the mix, our primary target is the younger ones. When addressing a group in a nursing home, we shift not only language, but music and message so that in all things we may be useful to them and to our Master.


[1] Genesis 1:28
[2] Genesis 19:30-38
[3] 2 Samuel 11:1-3
[4] 1 Timothy 5:1-2