So I’m sitting here in the Library at HBU, and I’m thinking how I haven’t written a blog in a very long time. Not “Angelo Gonzalez” long…but long nonetheless.
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
Philippians 3:8 (NASB)
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
PROS PWMAIOUS 3:8
alla menounge kai hgoumai panta zhmain einai dia to uperecon thv gnwsewv Cristou~ Ihsou tou kuriou mou, di on tap anta ezhmiqhn, kai hgoumai skubala, ina Criston kerdhsw
[Feel free to notice and scoff at my lack of breathing marks and accents…that’s mainly because I haven’t figured out how to properly type them.]
Don't be mistaken. I am not saying that we are allowed to go around talking with filthy tongues. I am, however, saying that Christ and the apostles weren't the nice mannered, calm men that we are taught they were.
I heard a sermon one time that was on the character of Christ. Two contrasting video clips were used to portray Jesus. The first was of Mr. Rogers: nice old man with fun stories to tell, always in a chipper mood, always whistling an upbeat, inviting tune. The second was of Mel Gibson playing the role of William Wallace in Braveheart: wild leader of an army that is out to fight and overthrow the corrupt institution that was the English government, fighting for what is good, what is right.
Which one of these two would you say is more accurate?
God, I pray that we will see You for who you really are --a wild Lion that can't be tamed. You are not safe, but you are good. You are the king. Help us to live with the same grace you give to us so freely. Amen.
13 comments:
I may be off here... but those verses merely used the language to describe whatever was being talked about. The point of the Phillipians one isn't that he says "poo" but that anything that is not of Christ is crap. Yes?
no. out of the three options paul had for human excrement he chose the one that would be almost universally taboo - a cuss word. It would have gotten an R-rating (well, pg-13 now a days... heck, pg). Paul says all things are SHIT compared to knowing Christ.
Paul also wishes his enemies would emasculate themselves (literally: castrate yourselfs.. cut off your balls) in galatians.
he had quite the mouth.
as well as alot of other biblical men (enter Luther..and, well... just read luther.. haha)
Michael I think you are right on, I only have one comment for you. You say that you curse, and I don't believe that's the right terminology, according to the Bible. There are no good or bad words, just the meaning behind them. Words are just symbols, it's the way we use them that is good or bad. In the case of the word hell, we have no problem using it in church in the "right context," but once someone uses it to describe something besides the eternal damnation (there's another "cuss word,", lol) then it becomes a "curse." We have used the word "curse"and put different meaning to it, words that are unacceptable to use. You are totally correct to put your liberty aside for those who find offense to it, just as all should. I don't know if that's comprehendible or not...lol
i follow you, Derrida
so we just get rid of verses that talk about taming the tongue and unwholesome talk coming from our mouths?
Luther may have used vulgarities... he was also, if i recall, an anti-Semite.
it seems like you are just trying to use scripture to gratify your carnal desire to use vulgar language that is not fitting for a Christian to use. call me old fashion. but are we to abstain from the very appearance of evil?
well here are some verses that i think should be taken into consideration: James 3:9-12; Colossians 3:8; Ephesians 4:29; 5: 4; I believe these few verses(and there are many more)clearly point God's view on profanity.
James 3: 9-12 speaks in the context of cursing a human. I believe I covered that at the beginning of the discussion.
Colossians 3:8 speaks of ridding yourselves of "filthy language." You're correct in pointing this out. However I would call into question what is "filthy." Who makes "filthy" what is "filthy." I have to agree with Angelo when he said that true profanity extends beyond the bounds of any language.
Ephesians 4:29 speaks of using only wholesome language. Correct again. But now what is "wholesome?" What is building others up? Were the Philippians not encouraged by Paul saying that his religious credentials were all shit compared to knowing the victory in the cross?
Ephesians 5:4 says "foolish talk and coarse joking." ...i'm not even going to comment on that.
Ryan,
we are to abstain from every appearance of evil, but what is evil? Who has the right to define "cuss" words as "cuss" words? Like Angelo said, "words are just symbols, it's the way we use them that is good or bad." Verbally abusing someone is bad. I'll agree to that.
I don't know if anyone is reading these comments anymore, but I saw this and it was so wonderful, I had to join in!
Michael, you know that I completely agree with you, both Biblically and Philosophically. So, what I wanted to say was in reference to the "flee from the appearance of evil."
This is one of those many verses that we continually misinterpret because we never actually go to scripture. (ouch!) Show me where in the Bible it says "Flee from the appearance of evil." You know what? Unless you are using the KJV, you can't show me. The more modern and accurate translations state "Stay away from every form of evil." or "Stay away from all kinds of evil."
Paul's command to us is not to flee from some appearance of evil, but to abstain from it! Jesus didn't do flee from the appearance of evil! He was called a glutton, a drunkard, and was accused as working for the devil! He hung out with all those dirty sinnners, not concerned with what the religious right would say.
So, yah, the argument that we shouldn't use certain words because we are to "flee from the appearance of evil" fails.
What's has been left out of this discussion however is one of the most important concepts of Christianity. You can go to alot of work to prove that Paul supposedly "had a bad mouth" and give a great argument for it as well. Whether a person believes that argument or not is up to them, but that does not change the fact that we are upheld by God's standard to be in this world but not OF this world, and to show to this world that we are not like them. In Corinthians it is read:
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."
If you read that carefully, the question is posed: "What does righteousness and wickedness have in common," and "What does a believer have in common with a nonbeliever?" This doesn't mean that Christian-boy Jack doesn't like to play football while Drunkard-Joe Bob does. What Paul was referencing was our actions and how we live our life. That's exactly why the Bible says to "Live in the world but not of the world." When we, as believers, lower our standards, and attempt to justify that cursing is alright, we show to the public that we don't mind expressing ourselves just like them. We show them that it's alright to keep the same old habits that we had when we were living in the world, in sin - without a second thought. We are supposed to show an example to the people of this world, and that example is corrupted if we don't lead a proper role as a Christian.
As far as your questions: "'Who makes 'filthy' what is "filthy," there is a simple answer that you have seemingly overlooked. Overall, God decides what is filthy and what isn't. However, our society is the one that determines the true meaning behind a word. When we see the world cursing in anger, and using certain words, we are to look at that and learn from it. Hopefully one would learn that the REASON they are saying it is to express extreme disgust at something, and if that is the case it is obvious that in the as Christians, our own expressions should not reflect those that the world - (might I remind you those that are drunkards, harlots, and the like) uses.
In conclusion I will say this. If you will live life through the spirit, your desire to curse and do other wordly things will diminish. Paul said: "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature." Ask God to help you examine your life, and if there is anything unlawful and unpleasing to God, to transform your life. Above all, ask God to help you live by the spirit.
Hope it helps,
Eric P.
(thesanealien@gmail.com)
Myspace: myspace.com/thesanealien
WOW! Eric P.
dawg, i was reading all of the comments and i was gonna talk about the fact that we, as Christians are to be in the world but not of the world. the sanctification thing. about: why would the world want what we have if we are the same as them kind of thing...
but i got to the end and my homie Eric pretty much summed it up.
well lemme just add a personal experience.
i am 16 years old. a sophomore in high school.
my school is my mission field
it is the place that God has put m in to let Him shine through me and be a witness to all i encounter.
i am working hard to be blameless.
now in my freshman year(by the way, i had pretty much gave my life to Christ in the beginning of 8th grade) i was going to school and trying to live like Christ did.
and it is a hard thing to do in high school cuz u dont wanna look uncool and stuff. nowadaze i dont care because Jesus is enough for me and i dont care if the world dont like me.
well i cussed a few times that yr at school, mostly playing basketball or if i dropped something or another.
and i was convicted by the Spirit because i am called to be Sanctified! which means to be Set Apart. so i apologized to the people that heard me .
So being a youth pastor, you should be leading by example right?
if you saw me walking down the street and you were riding your little blue bicycle and you looked away because you thought you saw marry poppins and accidentally ran into me.
i am not hurt but only startled(and as a christian i know that every encounter with someone is a chance to change a life or at least plant a seed) and i say "what the H***?!?! d*** that scarred me!!!! I could have died!!! that was some close S***!!! ay dude, God bless you and have a great day!!"
First of all, how hypocritical does that sound? i dont think you would guess that i am a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. and that i am a christian rap artist who on his songs talk about living like Christ. and that i go to church and preach, or that i give Godly advice to friends going through a hard time.
but what if i said:"ahhhhhh. wow that was close. are you ok? thank God that did not end up bad. Well God bless you man, have a great day!"
1 cor 10:23 bro
God bless
I must agree with Tytus totally. The Bible talks so much about what comes from our mouths. One is we will all be responsible for every idle(useless)word that comes out of our mouths. Especially as a leader you will be held even more accountable for what you teach. I suggest that you do a study on the book of Titus before you lead someone astray. I pray that you would desire holiness so that you may pass this on to the kids that are allowed under your leadership.It doesn't mean you have to be perfect but you must be reaching for it. We are all in constant need of grace, but let's use that grace to grow and not as an excuse to do what we want because we don't want to be challenged to righteousness.To be a Christian is to be Christ like in every sense of the Word not just the parts that make us feel 'good.' Judge a tree by the fruit which it gives.
Ok i know i am a year or two late here but this is why i do not curse(cus). I am a young pastor but here me out it wont take long. There are three points i have.
God said that what comes out of a man defiles him. Obviously what we say comes out of us. Your words have the power to do a lot more then communicate and as a minister i have no doubt you are well aware of this. So i end that without going into to much depth.
Second the bible says that if i view something as sin and participate then i am sinning. Again there is the other side as well but i again understand as a minister you recognize the rest of the verse and what it says. For me i have been convicted both in pursuit of Holiness and effectiveness to watch what i say carefully... even with friends.
Thirdly remember that the Bible says that he who teaches will be judged more as others follow his example.
To be honest i don't look at this as a biblical issue to debate and struggle over. But rather a issue of how far i want to go. And what i can or cannot do while desiring the spirit of God to utterly change me.
2 Samuel 11:21 - Why would we go so close to the wall? We want to live so close to the line when God instructs us in SO MANY SCRIPTURES (want a reference...read the WHOLE book) to live different than the world. Yet, we make every excuse to live just like them.
Amos 7 - God doesn't measure us up to the world's standards...but to His. Do you really think God would say WTF?
Post a Comment