In my younger years, I had Sunday School teachers who not only taught against cussing, but even taught against using our Christian cussing alternatives. Anyone who grew up in Church knows the Christian cuss words: freakin', frappin', darn, crap, heck, shoot, dad-gum-it (huh?!), and a whole host of other creative terms. These were our acceptable alternatives where a cruder person would insert a cuss word.
In my later years, where I have had a broader exposure to varied types of Christians, I have encountered both those agree with the teaching of my youth, and those who freely insert cuss words where they are appropriate. Experiences in seminary brought this into stark contrast. On the stricter side, I had a fellow student tell me that one of the first things he tried to achieve in discipleship was cleaning up someone's language. This, he said, was one of the easiest and most tangible ways that a person can experience the transformative power of Christ. On the free side of things, I had a professor who, over the course of a semester used the word $#!t no less than 10 times. The first couple of times there was an audible gasp in the room.
Some issues that I think are pertinent here are balancing Christian freedom with Christian witness, the standard of Ephesians 4.29 (does this verse ban cussing as many claim?), and balancing our culture's expectations of Christians (non-drinking, non-cussing, family-values-oriented conservatives) with Christ's expectations of Christians.
So what do you think? Is it wrong for Christians to use words considered crude by our culture, or is it OK to use them when appropriate?
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At this point with our children, we've told them that using cuss words is simply a lack of imagination and vocabulary. In other words, they can do better.
ReplyDeleteI used to think it was all about register (subsets of language that are appropriate in a given setting, e.g. courtroom language different than sporting event different than classroom different than delivering a sermon) but I got so much guff for my F-Word tract idea that I just don't know anymore. Envision being on the jobsite or a dock (where I used to spend lots of time) and telling a dude, "Romans 3.23 says 'Everyone's f*cked up and treated God like he was full of sh*t.' That's right man, God speaks your language too. Wouldn't that blow some minds and bring some repentance!? Maybe, who knows...
ReplyDeleteRandy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!
It is interesting how, once those choice words are let in, they seem to take over our vocabulary in strange ways. I agree that in most instances we could do better. Cuss words often seem to be a substitute for true creativity and thoughtfulness when someone wants their words to have punch.
But I wonder if there is ever an instance where they really are the best we can do? I don't know.
Bern,
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember talk of your F-word tract. I wonder what the effect of that would be. Would it make God relateable, or degrade him in the eyes of some?
I understand what you mean by registers. It would seem at least that there are scenarios where these words are not acceptable, e.g. in a research work (wouldn't that be amusing) or a business presentation. The question I guess, is whether this is fundamentally a moral issue or a cultural one.
I think sanitized language is an easy sign of how Christ has changed a life and can be a powerful witness. I certainly noticed when a co-worker stopped talking like the rest of us. When my life hit the skids and I finally realized I needed to get back right with God, that was the person to whom I reached out. And my language was the first thing that changed following my re-dedication.
ReplyDeleteI was going to make a very funny point about how I could not picture Jesus cussing while throwing over the tables of the money changers. Then I thought how most folks have a Santa Claus image of Christ as a jolly old soul who never got angry and now I wonder just what the Lord said while flipping tables and busting up the place.
I understand that the cuss words we have now are not the "bad" words from Christ's physical time on earth and so I want to give us all a free pass to use whatever words we choose but I find that I cannot with a clear conscience for some reason. I dont know if it is a moral thing or a cultural thing but it still "feels" wrong to me. And this is from a guy who would much rather have a logical, intellectual reason for what he does and does not do.
Ray,
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, there is something inside that cringes at cussing. It does just feel wrong.
I agree as well about the power of the witness. It is a very visible change. I think that was my friend's thinking in addressing in discipleship. If the person can have really tangible changes, it will encourage them to continue in Christ. And it will give them an opportunity to share with those who observe the changes.
This is a bit of a slippery topic, one of those that most people really cannot find a good reason why they don't like, but nonetheless don't like it.
Sorry this is long but picture attending the most conservative bible institutes were cursing can get you expelled definitely disciplined and the practice of separation is in place. Until the day I am about to tell you about I hadn’t cursed a word in over a year not even the alternative. I was walking with one of the other students and my son who at the time would have been 4 almost 5 years old he wanted to walk on a wall that was about 6ft. I carefully watched every step in preparation of a fall so I could save face when I got home. Then it happened he tripped forward did a running fall and fell 6ft bloody mouth and all. I said “Oh S$!t” did not use the Lords name inappropriately at all. However a dear sister in the faith I think stopped breathing for a minute and was in shock that such a word would come from a person of faith. As I flagged down another student driving by I took my son to the house for moms evaluation, he was ok just banged up. I have also heard my children repeat those slips of tongue and I would have to admit it not only reminds me of the bar hopping sailor lifestyle I once lived and was saved from but is embarrassing also. I never feel right about the slips of lips and trust the feeling inside is the correct one however I am walking a progressive walk and perfection will not come on this side of eternity. The Christian bubble upbringing does not exist in my past. I believe we have a calling to be a good witness; it is good to practice self control. For me cussing and its equivalents are unwholesome habits and undermine the character of the One I love and am in. However a person could say that about tats also and since I have so many already I have no plan of stopping I only use good judgment and try to be a good steward of my finances so free tattoos are awesome and in a couple weeks I will get 1 maybe two new ones at a price I can afford FREE.
ReplyDeleteMiles,
ReplyDeleteTattoos is an interesting comparison. So many people are against them, in my opinion, as a matter of emotion and upbringing. They feel wrong because we were taught that they were wrong. I wonder if cussing fits a similar category? Do we feel bad about it because it is bad, or because we were taught to feel bad about it?
ReplyDeleteYeh there is some truth to a developed filter given to us from our surroundings and that filter is adding to how we feel about it. However I had an undeveloped filter in place at salvation and cussing, porn, heavy metal, and poor decisions with money (buying pot) did not feel good then either. I think we need to be in a position to receive the answers we are looking for. Those practices definitely were distracting
Although I am not a fan K. Barth he had this to say,
When we are at our wit's end for an answer, then the Holy Spirit can give us an answer. But how can He give us an answer when we are still well supplied with all sorts of answers of our own?
I was still well supplied with much of the world view answers. Even to the point shortly after conversion were I traded belongings for drugs because I wasn’t spending money I felt it was alright at least until my mind was altered by the drug then I felt horrible.
I needed a very clear head to receive the teachings of Christ, I believe the Spirit gave me a filter so I could take in all that He wanted to teach me. Since then I do agree more has been added to that filter. Some filters are in place early on example my children have heard it from birth so they are starting with it. Christ definitely funneled that filter into my head and heart in a moment for me.
Great post Ryan. I think so much of it has to do with culture and how we are raised.
ReplyDeleteI think in my upbringing smoking, drinking, cussing, and dancing were the 4 deadly sins. But we never talked about gossip, pride, lust, and our lack of love for the poor as big deals. As long as you didn't do the big 4 you were okay.
Sometimes a good swear word does just hit it right and can express what we are feeling about a situation. But we need to be careful with who we are around.
I think like all things we need to use our Christian freedom wisely. Because our culture has deemed certain words as "bad" then we ought to submit to that so that we can represent Christ well and not cause others to stumble.
I think sometimes Christians like to use their freedom to do things that they normally wouldn't do. Just because we are free to go out and drink does that mean we ought to be doing that. I think we are free to swear but does that mean we ought to. I think we can do this with many things. Angie and I are free to go out to clubs and dance but I don't know how beneficial that would be for my mind and state of purity.
Ultimately some of these issues aren't black and white but we should always use our Christian liberty with great wisdom.