Name Calling is Godly (Sometimes)

1. Though it’s not always appropriate, it’s not always wrong to call someone a name.
2. Calling someone a “name” can be just calling them what they are; ex.: a thief, a liar, a murderer.

III.   Some say it’s always wrong to call someone a derogatory name.

1. Remember, we must never think that we are holier than God.
2. Consider what God, Jesus, and the Apostles called sinners:

God called sodomites dogs.

            Deu 23:17 – There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

            Deu 23:18 – Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

God called the prophets dumb dogs and greedy dogs.

            Isa 56:10 – His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

            Isa 56:11 – Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Jesus likened hard hearted sinners to dogs and swine.

            Mat 7:6 – Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Jesus called Herod a fox.

            Luk 13:32 – And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Jesus called the Pharisees whited sepulchers.

            Mat 23:27 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Jesus called the Pharisees serpents and vipers.

            Mat 23:33 – Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Jesus called false prophets wolves.

            Mat 7:15 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

John the Baptist called the Pharisees a generation of vipers.

            Mat 3:7 – But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Paul said it was true that the Cretians were evil beasts and slow bellies.

            Tit 1:12 – One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

            Tit 1:13 – This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Paul called the unbelieving Jews dogs.

            Php 3:2 – Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

            Php 3:3 – For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Peter likened false converts to dogs and hogs.

            2Pe 2:22 – But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

1. There is a time and a place for calling sinners what they are or what they are acting like.

VII.            Don’t try to be holier than God.