A Peck of Gold

Well I try to err on the side of not sinning in a situation like this, because, well, who the f*** knows?

Ok, sorry, even though you were kind of asking for it with a title like that, you really weren't, so feel free to delete or censor that last post. I hope I didn't offend. I'll save the f-bomb for my own blog from now on.

Although I got a ginormous laugh out of my friend Matthew's comments, I'll try to play it straight. I think there is a difference, yes, in swearing (taking the Lord's name in vain) and cussing... if someone in my group drops GD that doesn't go over well at all... but other words, yeah, they can be funny at times, especially when used infrequently. If you hear someone who rarely, if ever, cusses say a "dirty" word, it can not only be funny, but also really get your attention. If somebody cusses constantly, it not only sounds tacky and can start to become very tiresome, it also just loses it's effect. The law of diminishing marginal utility definitely applies here as well. So in conclusion: cussing is like salt. Just a little sprinkle every now and then can certainly liven things up, making them even tastier. But too much certainly ruins everything.

The Bible says to refrain from coarse jesting.

The Bible says not to offend others.

I agree that they are "just words," but, for whatever reason, some people find them offensive. Like the infamous N-word. Just a word, right? But in the last 10 years, that one word has gotten a lot of people into a lot of trouble.

Most cuss words seem to dwell on private, intimate things: sex, body parts, and bodily functions. The world strives to expose intimacy and leave nothing sacred. That's why the most inventive, colorful phrases usually dwell on the most intimate of topics.

I do not think that saying the actual word is wrong. A word is a word, nothing more. BUT, the Bible does make it clear in one of the Corinthians that even if you are doing something that you know is not wrong really, but is accepted as wrong by weaker Christians or just by the norm, you should refrain from it as not to cause them to stumble. I think that cussing fits into this statement.

Right or wrong, I only know my opinion and that is this: I try to watch my mouth around people and I stopped cursing when I went to basic training because everyone else did it and I got tired of hearing it. Ever since then, I'll let an occasional obscenity slip out, but I still find myself reluctant to talk that way. I don't want my children using those words so I don't say it around them, I don't want certain people thinking ill of me, so I certainly don't use such language around them, so who's left? People I don't care about? Why would I want them to know I can cuss? I agree, that there is a time and a place-but it's usually with certain types of people and in very limited situations.
My point is this...Is it really necessary? I think that it's usually not, however, it does carry more weight in certain situations so be conservative in the use of it and noone should give you any real grief about it.

Nice thoughts everybody! I think we're all basically on the same page on this one.

Yeah what Andy said.

My only point of disagreement with what everyone else has said is that taking the Lord's name in vain has little or nothing (directly) to do with saying "God" or "GD." As Christians, we bear the name of Christ, the son of the Father and whose Spirit dwells in us. We take His name in vain when we live (and yes, speak) falsely, given our union with Him. Taking the Lord's name in vain is hypocritical unfaithfulness, not saying "God" or "GD" or some s*** like that. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Besides, even in English, G/god is a generic term for any divinity; it is not our Lord's proper name. Our Triune Lord has more than one name, and as we read through the Bible, the more He reveals, the more His (new) names teach us about Him. In the Old Testament, His name is Yahveh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. In the New Testament, we are given his name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

All of which is to say that taking the Lord's name in vain is much more dangerous than we legalistically and reductionistically tend to think - because taking the Lord's name in vain is hypocrisy. And all Christians are hypocrites at sometime or other - even the nicest granny who would never think of saying "GD."

I agree that:

"cursing" is calling down a curse on someone; it is trying to invoke supernatural power to do them ill.

"cussing" and "profanity" are the same thing and they are indeed culturally conditioned/determined. that doesn't mean that "profanity" should be disragarded entirely becuase "it's just cultural".

For example, do you really want your 4 year old running around saying "I don't give a d*mn!" or "What the f*#k is that?" Some might think it's cute at first, but probably not for long.

Or, next time you are at a job interview, add some sh*t, d*mn, f*#k, and bullsh*t to your resume and/or answers to the interview questions.

My point is simply this: Yes, "cussing" is culturaly conditioned, which means IT IS OFFENSIVE TO SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES. "culturally conditioned" does not mean "say it whenever you want and people should get over it".

I don't believe that "cussing" is something to condemn from the pulpit, particularly if "crap" is okay from the pulpit but "sh*t" is not. the only exception would be if "cussing" were to cause a young believer to stumble. in that case, don't do it around them.. .at least.

I agree that:

"cursing" is calling down a curse on someone; it is trying to invoke supernatural power to do them ill.

"cussing" and "profanity" are the same thing and they are indeed culturally conditioned/determined. that doesn't mean that "profanity" should be disragarded entirely becuase "it's just cultural".

For example, do you really want your 4 year old running around saying "I don't give a d*mn!" or "What the f*#k is that?" Some might think it's cute at first, but probably not for long.

Or, next time you are at a job interview, add some sh*t, d*mn, f*#k, and bullsh*t to your resume and/or answers to the interview questions.

My point is simply this: Yes, "cussing" is culturaly conditioned, which means IT IS OFFENSIVE TO SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES. "culturally conditioned" does not mean "say it whenever you want and people should get over it".

I don't believe that "cussing" is something to condemn from the pulpit, particularly if "crap" is okay from the pulpit but "sh*t" is not. the only exception would be if "cussing" were to cause a young believer to stumble. in that case, don't do it around them.. .at least.

I agree that:

"cursing" is calling down a curse on someone; it is trying to invoke supernatural power to do them ill.

"cussing" and "profanity" are the same thing and they are indeed culturally conditioned/determined. that doesn't mean that "profanity" should be disragarded entirely becuase "it's just cultural".

For example, do you really want your 4 year old running around saying "I don't give a d*mn!" or "What the f*#k is that?" Some might think it's cute at first, but probably not for long.

Or, next time you are at a job interview, add some sh*t, d*mn, f*#k, and bullsh*t to your resume and/or answers to the interview questions.

My point is simply this: Yes, "cussing" is culturaly conditioned, which means IT IS OFFENSIVE TO SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES. "culturally conditioned" does not mean "say it whenever you want and people should get over it".

I don't believe that "cussing" is something to condemn from the pulpit, particularly if "crap" is okay from the pulpit but "sh*t" is not. the only exception would be if "cussing" were to cause a young believer to stumble. in that case, don't do it around them.. .at least.

very sorry for the duplicate post guys