Earlier this week, on Way of the Master Radio, a listener asked Todd, "Who deemed that words are foul? Why do we consider curse words to be curse words? etc."
Todd explained that society dictates what is coarse. The Bible didn't set out a list of what's not okay to say, because it changes with culture and even changes within society over time. There are words that young people say today that he would never have said as a young person, but they've changed. He even gave the example that it was not until 490 BC that Greek men began wearing their hair short. Before that, long hair was masculine. Society made that change.
Until society determines throughout that a clothing is now a man's/woman's garment or a word is acceptable, Christians shouldn't jump into wearing or saying those things.
Okay. All that to say that that conversation was on my mind as I was listening to Ephesians 5 on the way to work this morning and this verse jumped out at me:

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:4

Todd had referenced it, but it is one of those I've always wanted to look into further. In a class in college, the professor asked, "Does God have a sense of humor?" Being at a staunch Fundamentalist institution, no one wanted to touch it -- except, of course, me. I said, "Look around the room. If He's seen this crowd, He at least laughs."
As a kid, I'd get to this verse, though, and sometimes wonder of the comedic was excluded from the Christian life.
Well, let's take a look at it.
"No filthiness." That's pretty easy. The Greek is aischrotes and means "obscenity, filthiness." No using obscene words or even discussing obscene subjects. Obviously, if you are in a counseling situation some discussion may be necessary, but this shouldn't be our day-to-day conversation. Oh, and this would include obscene gestures, too. You represent Christ on the interstate, too.
"Foolish talk" is morologia, which means, "foolish talking." Anything look familiar? This has the word moros in its etymology - as in, moron. According to Vine's the word denotes "dull, sluggish." But consider Matthew 5:22. Here, fool (moros) is an attack on the person's character, not his intellect. Paul describes himself and his helpers as fools in 1 Corinthians 4:10. Here he's refering to how they appear in their opponents' eyes. The world may see you as foolish for sharing the gospel. That's certainly not what we are to avoid here. In the South, we might say one was talking like an ignoramus. Don't be a moron for foolishness' sake. Think before you speak. Hey, here's another thought: as the Bible considers the atheist a fool, ask yourself if what your are about to say reflects a belief in God or practical disbelief in God.
"Crude joking" is eutrapelia which actually has a positive and a negative definition. In the positive, it means "pleasantry, humour, facetiousness." It comes from eu- "well" and -trepo "to turn." It originally meant quick-turning, witty jibes. But eventually it was used to describe a more negative use, and so it is used here. In the negative, it means, "scurrility, ribaldry, low jesting." There's nothing wrong with being witty. You'll find several examples of this within Paul's own writing. He even goes so far as to make others look ridiculous with his words. But I think here he's pointing back to Ephesians 4:29, which would connect it to the other two words he uses.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Be witty, but let your wittiness be for the good of building up and full of grace.

On a separate note, I was listening to "How Great is Our God" on the way to work this morning (after Ephesians) and as the song switched in medley to "How Great Thou Art," I was just turning the corner. With the lines, "Then sings my soul..." I was smacked in the face with the most glorious, flamingly brilliant sunrise. Very cool worship moment.