p. 115 | Slang Phrases by E. G. Burt

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 11, 1866

Slang Phrases.

By E. G. Burt

The other morning while reading our morning lesson, I was led to dwell upon and ponder over the words in 1 Pet. i, 18: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.” We often hear good, and well-meaning brethren catch up the vain and vulgar by-words and slang phrases which roll from the tongues of the children of this world, and which emanate from the lowest of sources, and use them in their writings and conversation. The following may be mentioned as a few of the most common: “I’ll bet,” “in a horn,” “over the left,” “played out,” “that’s what’s the matter,” “be blowed,” &c., &c. Is not this the vain conversation received by tradition from the fathers? These by-words are taught by the fathers, and learned by the children. If we were to get into conversation with a horse-jockey or sporting man of any kind, we should expect to hear more or less of this kind of language; but in the true Christian, and those, too, enlightened by the blazing light of “present truth,” we do look for such idle words to be laid aside.

It seems as though they are all wrong, and especially when coming from those who are looked to for an example. We have been redeemed from all such vain conversation. Then let us no more turn back to such things which are not convenient. These are a few of the thoughts that suggest themselves to the writer on this text. Much more might be said, and much more scripture produced against this manner of using the tongue. Reformers only desire to know the truth, to obey.

E. G. BURT.

Winfield, Mich.