When is cussing really cussing? and do christians hide their head in the sand?

[Ian Gentles]

Ok on Facebook I posted a cartoon. Grandad is sitting in a wrecked room. Grandma says, "Oh my God have we been burgled?" Grandad replies "No, the grandchildren visited."......ok......An old friend, not on NazNet commented about blasphemy in the cartoon.
Now I'm not saying its right. I was a Police/railway staff chaplain. OK take the police, at a disastor or aftermath of a terrorist attack...yep laungauge was a bit colourfull. Should I have said to them, "Now guys no cussin"? What would that have done? Not any good I assure you.
Soo question is, in being politicaly/ ere spiritualy correct, on occasions, are christians actualy burying their head in the sand?

[Billy Cox]

Ok on Facebook I posted a cartoon. Grandad is sitting in a wrecked room. Grandma says, "Oh my God have we been burgled?" Grandad replies "No, the grandchildren visited."......ok......An old friend, not on NazNet commented about blasphemy in the cartoon.
Now I'm not saying its right. I was a Police/railway staff chaplain. OK take the police, at a disastor or aftermath of a terrorist attack...yep laungauge was a bit colourfull. Should I have said to them, "Now guys no cussin"? What would that have done? Not any good I assure you.
Soo question is, in being politicaly/ ere spiritualy correct, on occasions, are christians actualy burying their head in the sand?

I think that many Christians are overly uptight and thin-skinned when it comes to profane language. While I can understand tiptoeing around weaker brothers/sisters, I have never understood why anybody would aspire to be immature, much less why someone would take pride in being a neophyte.

[Ian Gentles]

I think that many Christians are overly uptight and thin-skinned when it comes to profane language. While I can understand tiptoeing around weaker brothers/sisters, I have never understood why anybody would aspire to be immature, much less why someone would take pride in being a neophyte.

Not totaly sure what your saying here.
OK I dont hold to cussin I have a better handle on the English language. But petty christians tend to make me switch off. We dont live in a perfect world, and some cussin, as in cartoon mentioned, in my thinking is very mild.

[Pete Vecchi]

Honestly, I had to look two or three times at the quote to find the cuss word. I was wondering about if "burgled" was a cuss word in someone's mind. Then I thought that we were re-defining cussing as speaking against grandchildren. Then I finally saw what the problem was most likely to have been, but I won't say it here; I'll see if others have a similar response to mine.

It's ironic that this should be brought up today. I was looking at the Lectionary for this coming Sunday, and it conveniently skips over a verse in Mark 7 that talks about when food enters the body and comes out the other end. The most accurate English translation I can find is that what goes in goes out into the "latrine".

I am not Greek scholar, but I have heard some people who have studied Greek say that the best translation for that is the vernacular for a bowel movement (and I'll let people fill in their own vernacular in their own minds). The point that the people who studied Greek said was that Jesus used the common, more "vulgar" word when he said it (but I guess that going from Aramaic to Greek to English loses something in the translation...)

[Peggy Gray]

Am I missing something? Is "Oh my God" not considered profanity anymore??

[Pete Vecchi]

Am I missing something? Is "Oh my God" not considered profanity anymore??

You found what I found, Peggy. It's just that I hear it so often in everyday life (although I personally refrain from saying it), that it took me three times looking at it to catch what Ian was talking about.

[Ian Gentles]

Am I missing something? Is "Oh my God" not considered profanity anymore??

I prefer not to use such phrases as its wrong. What gets to me is, a christian picking on me for posting this cartoon. I can hear none-christians say in response to such things, "Get a life", and actualy our witness is affected. The world needs the gospel, not to hear christians splitting hairs...this was what struck me.

[Peggy Gray]

You found what I found, Peggy. It's just that I hear it so often in everyday life (although I personally refrain from saying it), that it took me three times looking at it to catch what Ian was talking about.

How sad is that?

[Susan Unger]

You found what I found, Peggy. It's just that I hear it so often in everyday life (although I personally refrain from saying it), that it took me three times looking at it to catch what Ian was talking about.

I saw it right away. I never say it or even similiar sounding words like it. I really do not like it at all. But, being a former teacher, I am at the point where I feel like hyper-vigilance on my part prevents me from having a loving, non-judgemental witness.

[Susan Unger]

I prefer not to use such phrases as its wrong. What gets to me is, a christian picking on me for posting this cartoon. I can hear none-christians say in response to such things, "Get a life", and actualy our witness is affected. The world needs the gospel, not to hear christians splitting hairs...this was what struck me.

I can understand where you are coming from. A friend of mine often comments that so many Christians she knows will obsess over language but have no problems with violence towards others, esp with the bombing of Iraqi civilians. She hates it with a passion. I try to remember that when I see/hear others with poor language. Will me saying something about their language be nit picking or beneficial?

[Ian Gentles]

I can understand where you are coming from. A friend of mine often comments that so many Christians she knows will obsess over language but have no problems with violence towards others, esp with the bombing of Iraqi civilians. She hates it with a passion. I try to remember that when I see/hear others with poor language. Will me saying something about their language be nit picking or beneficial?

You have put it well, thats my thinking also.

[Nate Pruitt]

I saw it right away. I never say it or even similiar sounding words like it. I really do not like it at all. But, being a former teacher, I am at the point where I feel like hyper-vigilance on my part prevents me from having a loving, non-judgemental witness.

When running various childcare programs I would have kids exclaim the phrase as a response to being reprimanded. I never got frustrated about it, but did typically respond with a very calm, "Thanks, but you don't have to call me that." Typically I would get a puzzled look as they reflected on what they said, but with a calm, non-lecturing approach we did eventually change such speech patterns in our setting, at least. Thankful for small victories.

Also, "blasphemous" seems like a pretty harsh response to the comic you posted, Ian, even though the phrasing does tend to keep me from laughing as I otherwise may.

Of course the phrase, in itself, isn't necessarily bad- context in this instance means everything. Case in point:

[David Stevens]

May I add 2 cents worth?
First, "to curse someone", (my definition) the act of stating that someone is going to be eternally punished in hell.
Definition of 'cuss'
verb (without object)
1. to use profanity; curse; swear.
verb (used with object)
2. to swear at; curse: He cussed the pedestrian for getting in his way.
3. to criticize or reprimand in harsh terms (often followed by out ): The coach cussed out the team for losing.

The use of the term OMG seems to best fit as profanity or profane language. Profane: "irreverence for God or sacred things." However, in popular culture this term has become acceptable, at least in the mainstream media. I'm afraid that no one has explained to the tweens, teens and young adults that this is "taking God's name in vain." (definitions came from or adapted from dictionary.reference.com.)
In some cases the use of the term is sincere prayer, calling upon the name of the Lord in a time of stress.
Is the use of OMG going to send someone to hell? If I say it or quote a cartoon with the expression in it will my testimony be so damaged that I might offend a weak believer and cause him or her to turn away?

Like the Apostle Paul (when he was dicussing meat offered to idols) I choose to avoid the activity at all, so that I do not offend a weak Christian, or give the enemy's people ammunition to use against us.

On the other hand I will not condemn someone else who uses it, because that is God's business.
What do you think?

[Ian Gentles]

Must admit, thought behind my posting cartoon was my little grandsons imminent visit. Now he has discovered walking he is into everything. Give him a broom and he sweeps at everything, including two very nervous dogs lol.

[David Stevens]

There is nothing in the world like Grandchildren. There is no explaining it. "OK, honey, sure. Where do I sign? Bring me my checkbook..."

[Mike Smiley]

Right on Pete. Loved you when you came to our church in Texas. As an old retired soldier I have heard my share of cussing. I know it when I hear it. Most of it is not what christians percieve it to be. But as Paul instructs us, I refrain from it cause I don't won't to cause a weaker brother to stumble.

[Roy Richardson]

I think that many Christians are overly uptight and thin-skinned when it comes to profane language. While I can understand tiptoeing around weaker brothers/sisters, I have never understood why anybody would aspire to be immature, much less why someone would take pride in being a neophyte.

Which is why I have never shown this video in church despite the obvious ministry benefits

[Roy Richardson]

When running various childcare programs I would have kids exclaim the phrase as a response to being reprimanded. I never got frustrated about it, but did typically respond with a very calm, "Thanks, but you don't have to call me that." Typically I would get a puzzled look as they reflected on what they said, but with a calm, non-lecturing approach we did eventually change such speech patterns in our setting, at least. Thankful for small victories.

Also, "blasphemous" seems like a pretty harsh response to the comic you posted, Ian, even though the phrasing does tend to keep me from laughing as I otherwise may.

Of course the phrase, in itself, isn't necessarily bad- context in this instance means everything. Case in point:

I have used that video. The title is more of a lament than a profanity. I love that song

[Pete Vecchi]

Which is why I have never shown this video in church despite the obvious ministry benefits

Did I miss something? Great video, but I heard no profanity. Or are you simply saying that there are things in there that would possibly offend the "self-appointed offendees" if this was shown in church?

EDIT: OK, I listened a second time and heard a very quick and relatively mild "profanity" in one of the flashback clips.

[Wilson Deaton]

What gets to me is, a christian picking on me for posting this cartoon. ....

What gets me is a Chrisitan who reprimands someone for using such language and then considers having done so to have been "witnessing."

Wilson

[Roy Richardson]

Did I miss something? Great video, but I heard no profanity. Or are you simply saying that there are things in there that would possibly offend the "self-appointed offendees" if this was shown in church?

EDIT: OK, I listened a second time and heard a very quick and relatively mild "profanity" in one of the flashback clips.

and there you have it