Glorious Biblical Profanity

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.

First I want to start out by addressing issues of a wild tongue. I am a youth pastor. I also curse on occasion. I realize that it can offend some people, therefore I am careful as to whom I curse around…(generally men whom I am comfortable around.) I especially try to not curse around ladies, especially my girlfriend, because I believe that it can be disrespectful. Also, I believe that directly and maliciously cursing another human, one created by YHWH, one I’m called to love, is a sin.

Matthew 5:22 (NASB):

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.

In the Greek, the literal term used for fool is raka, transliterated “raka.” It is a term of abuse. We can conclude that it is sin to maliciously verbally abuse one of YHWH’s creations.

However, aside from the fact that I’ve always imagined Christ running through the temple dropping “GTHOs” at the Pharisees, there is other biblical evidence that there is appropriate times to use such words that might be explicit enough in meaning to carry a certain shock value. Enter Paul. I will insert a verse from the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. First, I’ll insert the English NASB version, then what the Greek New Testament says…for you biblical language scholars.

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.]

I call your attention to the underlined word skoubala. This word, translated in most English texts is the word "rubbish." I tell you the truth, the word that is used in the original Greek carries a larger shock value than the word "rubbish" does in English. The correct English word used to translate would have been the word "shit."

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.