WHAT THE HECK IS MEANT BY "OBSCENE TALK"?

I'm in a pickle.

This coming Sunday I will be preaching on a passage from Colossians 3 which commands believers to "put away":

• Anger
• Wrath
• Malice
• Slander
• Obscene talk from your mouth

It's the last item on that list that makes me nervous. 

I have to admit that now and then - usually for comic effect or shock value or after stubbing a toe - I let a choice four-letter word slip from my lips. I'm just being transparent here.

And I can work on it, but honestly I'm not sure I could eliminate them entirely. (Especially upon toe-stubbing.)

More to the point, I'm not sure that is what Scripture has in mind.

Does the Apostle Paul have a zero-tolerance policy on bad words?

Afterall, there is quite the continuum of cuss words. Some strike us as rather mild. And others are absolutely unspeakable. Where would Paul draw the line?

My seminary roommate once pondered breaking up with a girl when she said that she had "gotten screwed" on a test in one of her classes!

Consider, too, that the taboo level of particular words may change over time. Anyone my age or older has to admit that the F-word is much more shocking to the older generations than it is among young adults these days. 

Tolerance for the "n-word", on the other hand, has gone the opposite direction. 

(For the record, that's one I can claim complete innocence of!)

I have much study yet to do on this passage, but two thoughts for now on the "vice list" offered by the Apostle in Colossians 3:8:

1. Paul is obviously speaking of serious, ongoing patterns of behavior here.

2. At least one commentator speaks in favor of the final phrase being translated as "abusive speech" rather than "obscene talk" since "this list points to expressions of anger that prevent one from participating in the community of God's people, which is characterized by unity and love." (David Pao, p.224)

So maybe Paul has in mind something like cussing someone out in their front yard more so than screaming "Sh*t!" when you smack your thumb with a hammer. 

If so, I'm sure I can claim to be 100% free of "abusive speech" in good conscience. 

What do you think? 

Am I just finding a way to justify my own speech or is there something deeper going on with Paul's list.