Should we use simple words when we share our faith?
Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NKJV) 2 "Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few."
Titus 2:7-8 (NKJV) 7 "in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you."
Proverbs 25:11 (NKJV) 11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver."
"The youth may be a power for Christ, if they will maintain their simplicity, and not seek to present something startling something original, but teach the precepts of their Lord. But to invest the simplest truths with novelty and singularity, is to rob them of their power to win souls to Christ."
"The greatest Teacher the world ever knew was admired for his simplicity; for he presented divine truth in such a way that even children could comprehend his words, and at the same time he drew the attention of the best educated and deepest thinkers of the world. By the use of familiar illustrations he made truth plain to the minds of the common people. In simplicity he sowed the seed of the gospel truth in the minds and hearts of his hearers, and it sprang up and yielded a harvest unto everlasting life."
"How much need there is that the youth who are to be witnesses for Christ, learn how to labor for those who know not Jesus. How necessary it is that they should understand how to make the lessons of Christ clear and conclusive. The use of long words and soaring eloquence is not essential to success. What you need is a living experience in the things of God and simplicity in presenting the love of Christ to the lost."
"The truth will need to be presented and made as simple as the A-B-C of the alphabet is made to the primary pupil. Take the simplest truth, bringing Christ before the mind, and angels will cooperate with you in making the impression upon the honest inquirer. You are to be the agent through whom God will speak to the soul. Precious things will be brought to your remembrance, and with a heart overflowing with the love of Jesus, you will speak words of vital interest and import. Your simplicity and sincerity will be the highest eloquence, and your words will be registered in the books of heaven as fit words, which are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. God will make them a healing flood of heavenly influence." Youth's Instructor, May 4, 1893
People are too enamored with long words and eloquence these days. From what I read, real success comes in using words that are so simple that even a child will understand them. Too many individuals believe they are unable to share their faith or preach a sermon because they only know simple words. Be encouraged and use the simple words you know. They are the ones that God will bless. In saying this I am not throwing stones at those who have richer vocabularies and can be eloquent, only cautioning on the one hand that the long words used and the eloquence isn't necessarily that which reaches the heart, and on the other hand encouraging those who feel inadequate. Jesus could have amazed his hearers with a vocabulary and the use of multiple languages like they had never heard. But he shunned all of that to reach humankind. Perhaps we should follow His example.—Dan