I have been blogging so long that I can’t remember if I have talked about this already or not. Maybe I am just getting older.

The thought of definitions keep coming to my mind. Every time I hear a word used in a new context, it makes me think, “Who created this new definition and who joined in on the movement?”

Our language is evolving, especially with each younger generation. They are constantly inventing new words and changing the definition of older words. Example: gay meant: ‘happy’ 45 years ago, now its predominant definition is ‘homosexual’. (please this blog is not about gay or being gay). Example #2: ‘Tight’ means squeezed together in a small space. To others, it also means cool, something of value.

In our minds, we have definitions filed for each word we comprehend. When someone else uses that word in a new context we are confused. Unless, the sentence has great context clues, then we can’t figure out what they are saying. The scenario gets deeper when we talk about funny and profane words.

At what point did a word become profane? At what part did another become funny? Who defines profane words? While growing up, I said “stupid”, now it seems worse. More importantly who de-profanes words? It seems the trend is that words become less profane the older they get. Growing up, I couldn’t say “butt”. Now, it doesn’t seem too bad. There are many other examples here that I could use but I am not sure what your position is on them.

Here are questions for you…

• If you say a word that is not offensive to you, but is to someone you are with, are you responsible for its fallout?
• What if someone is blasting words that are offensive to you, and they have no clue?
• Is it ok for a word to lose its “profaness”?
• At what point do you elevate a word to “we don’t say that word around here”

=pastor