Monday, 07 November 2011
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Profanity in the Bible
Growing up as a pastor’s kid and in a Christian household, I was always told to guard my mouth, meaning I was forbidden to use profanity in no circumstances. The verse Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right whatever is pure, whatever is admirable…think about such things,” always provided a justification for keeping a clean mouth. Also, it helped Christians remain set-apart from non-Christians who would use profanity as any adjective.However, as I have grown older I have realized that profanity has its role in society, as it has a role in the Bible.
Did you know that Paul used profanity?
In Philippians 3:8 (NIV), Paul states “Whatever is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ…”
The passage sounds neat and tidy yet what the average reader fails to know the true meaning of the word “rubbish.” English fails to convey true meaning of rubbish, what is really a vulgar term Skybalon which translates to dung or a certain four letter swear in the English language (hint it’s not shirt). Skybalon used in ancient manuscripts implying pure profanity! Paul’s usage is important because the word acts as a highlighted marker emphasizing the seriousness of his words. Everything in his past, his good works, his life as upholder of the Law, is considered sh-t compared to knowing Christ.
Paramount to our lives as Christians is knowing the right moments to act and the correct words to say. Paul knew how to attract the attention of his audience. In the same way, I believe that there are moments in our lives where profanity is justified. There are certainly moments in history, like the Holocaust, war, abusive relationships, poverty, when we could attach such evocative words to such situations. There are moments in our lives when swears are more than appropriate to release stress and anxiety. As Christians we have to be careful about not getting carried away and not using profanity not in context.
In the song “Little Lion Man,” the band Mumford & Sons, uses the F word proclaiming that he screwed up a relationship with someone he loved. Swear words give that extra impact and shock value. They are only powerful in a society that uses them sparingly and contextually.
“36,000 people die a day from malnutrition or water related illnesses and you don’t give a sh–t; what’s worse, you’re more upset that I said sh–t than you are that 36,000 people died last night, and another 36,000 will today."
-Tony CampoloWere you aware of the implications of what Paul said in scripture? Is there a place for profanity in our language? Do you use profanity sometimes?
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- From: MCTCanadian@xanga
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Comments (25)
Interesting that this post omits or censors all profanity.
MCTCanadian@xanga - Square what you wrote above with the following verses:
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." --Ephesians 4.29
"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." --Matthew 12.35~37
"But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." --Colossians 3.8
The only way for these seemingly opposite conclusions to make sense would be to tone down the interpretation on the original post-- (I don't think Paul intended to contradict himself-- "dung" = garbage waste --without the profanity).
It's funny to me that no one bats an eye for a translation that renders it dung, yet shit would unhinge some people.
I appreciate The Living Bible's rendition of Saul's bad-mouthing of his son. Instead of the awkward, "son of an evil and contemptuous woman," they call a spade a spade: "You son of a bitch."
ChrisRusso wrote a post on it a while back that, imo, says all that needs to be said: http://www.revelife.com/704232281/curse-words-in-the-bible/ I think the original at his site may have been longer, or maybe it was another post he did?
Regardless, I think our distinctions are arbitrary and not representative of critical thought. I generally watch what I say out of respect for other people's sensibilities, but realistically, it's what you say, not the words you use.
@SirNickDon@xanga - i guess I wanted to be sensible, but if it was on my blog I would have used it fully.
I actually wanted the post to be entitled "Shit in the Bible" but I don't think people would have liked that
@stuartandabby@xanga - I agree...I think it's the content of the words we use that is more important than specific words that are deemed taboo.
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i'm a pretty big fan of profanity. i used to be against it, but i noticed when i started cussing in high school that i stopped crying every day. i was one of those kids who got bullied a lot in my christian school, and in a way, using profanity gave me an agency i'd never had before. i draw the line at saying "God" and "jesus" as exclamations, though.
a friend made me think about something a few summers ago. she's on staff at a church at virginia tech, and we were doing a summer program. it was no secret that i cuss, and some students talked to her about it. she said, "yeah, joel cusses, but he doesn't denigrate women and he's not racist." i think people use verses about impure talk too often to refer to those four- and five-letter words, but they don't think about the sentences they can come up with that don't have those words that still hurt people. there are ways to be impure without the words the FCC says are wrong.
Interestingly enough, this past Sunday my pastor suggested that Jesus cursed. He was thinking "brood of vipers" in His day would have been equivalent to some other words in ours.
@kk_grayfox@xanga - i was thinking about doing a post about this. I think we often iron out Jesus as this really kind, loving figure, when in fact he was very critical of the religious elite. It kind of disturbs me actually that he uses those words since it doesn't really seem to benefit or cause the pharisees to change. Jesus says the truth, and rather bluntly. I see his language as the human side of him coming out. Often we down play Jesus' humanity and just remember his divinity. I think everyone should struggle with the image of Jesus, no matter how far we are in our walk with him.
What the fuck is the big deal? As a follower of Jesus, it doesn't seem to me that to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, has anything to do with using cuss words or not.
I'd appreciate the sources for the ancient manuscripts which use "Skybalon" in a clearly vulgar sense as opposed to meaning rubbish, garbage, animal waste/feces. None of my Greek Bibles, lexicons, readers, or other resources make it seem more vulgar than the word "poop." Do you have any sources that point to the manuscripts? That'd be cool to see. I've heard this before but I always wonder if it is mere rumor.
The word "shit" is an Old English (aka Anglo-Saxon) word). The describes animal waste matter and what is wrong with that? True profanity is hate-speech, not simple words which have normal origins.
It is the intent that matters, not what is said.
can you please state your sources? i've combed through my greek bible, lexicons, study bibles and anything else i have available and all my references make the translation out to be no less vulgar than 'poop.' personally, before i became a christian, hearing christians swear made me more turned off to their 'religion' than anything else. in my thinking i thought christians were supposed to be set apart 'letting no unclean word pass through their lips.' why would i want what a bunch of hypocrites had? they seemed no different from me, only they just had more rules.
Whenever I think of using crude language (which includes more than "curse" words), quite a few passages come to mind:
James 3 (controlling the rudder of a ship/your tongue, how can blessings and curses come from the same mouth?)
Proverbs 18 (power of life and death in the tongue)
along with the verses that @JandJinJapan@xanga
Is it wrong? I'll leave that to your own convictions.
The reason why I {usually} don't say "frick!, darn, this sucks, crap, etc...along with the "cuss words"" is the same reason why I don't drink alcohol.
It's not that it's a "sin", I don't want it to limit my influence.
If a youth in the church saw me sitting in Chili's drinking a beer and telling my friends, "My boss treats me like shit!" because "swears are more than appropriate to release stress and anxiety." How well do you think their heart would be open to hearing me talk at church about how should be of the world, anyone who loves the world the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15-17)
But then you can make the argument of being all things to all people :)
There is a time and a place for serious, straight forward communication. AND there is holy ways and evil ways of doing so.
Ehp. 4:29, Matt 12:35-37 & Colo. 3:8 bear that out (as mentioned above.)
And taking words "in context" and translating them into the most vulgar words possible to prove your point is dangerous business.
We are not just talking about Paul's words here. We are talking about taking The Word of God. Making it vulgar to justify your desire to cuss is down right sinful.
If you think the Lord is gonna let this just slid under the rug you have another thing coming.
God is Pure and Holy! His Word is Pure and Holy! He is gonna have some Words with you sooner or later if you don't repent of this.
I mean this in the most blunt and holy way possible:
Don't be putting Filth in the Lord's mouth!
I'm just say'n!
Stair and step are the same thing. So are shit and poop. And fuck and intercourse. Who cares? "Bad words" cannot be bad unless they're used for devious means.
@KateeLee1@xanga - What does it matter to you what happens to the author or anyone else in their afterlives? You're not going to be affected by what other people do if it's truly going to be between you and God in the end.
Also, isn't it some sort of blasphemy to suggest you know the ways of God?
@day_of_the_dead@xanga - Why would that make you more turned off to the religion? Christians have never said to be perfect. They're normal human beings too.... How is it hypocritical??
@Wake_up_Fashion@xanga - i think you mistook my comment as all
encompassing and pertaining to accidental slip ups as well. (i am guilty of the accidental swear word every now and then, especially in traffic. lol) that's not
what i meant, im sorry if it was confusing though. i absolutely know
christians are not perfect, i myself included; what i was talking about
though was christians who continually swear, on purpose, to 'get their
point across.' before i became a christian i had a friend of mine who
did that and it made me question the validity of the faith because he
claimed to believe and follow the bible, yet i saw no difference in him.
even as a non-christian i was familiar with the verse 'let no unclean
words pass through your lips.' and yet he made no effort to follow it.
if we as christians claim to follow christ, why would we not try to
follow his word?
@Mangonese@xanga.com-First of all "Blasphemy" means- the rejection of the God or Claiming to be God.
Second, it is God's desire for us to know His ways - so we can walk in them. That is the whole point of scripture to begin with.
Third,What do I care about another believer's actions? He asked! That is why we are posting here!
@day_of_the_dead@xanga - Ok. that more-so answers my question. It is something that I struggle with on a constant basis because in my age group, its common for people to speak with swear words all the time. I am trying to cut down on it actually. Its insane how hard it can be once you form a habit of it.
@Wake_up_Fashion@xanga - yeah sorry if it was confusing! i totally know what you mean as well. i am married to a marine and my husband and i both know how easy it is for the words to slip out sometimes when one is constantly surrounded by people who curse. lol
That's a very interesting theory. It makes sense to me, because I often feel the need to use profanity when I'm speaking very passionately about something, because I have a hard time getting the attention of those close to me, or getting them to listen to me at all. I don't swear often, so throwing in a few choice words sometimes makes them listen (though I don't think it ought to take that much effort). However, I never feel justified in talking like that, even when I'm completely furious about something, even when that something is really horrible and making a complete mess of my head and sense of justice. I don't judge people who swear a lot, (or even once in a while)- being guilty of it myself, I understand- but I don't think we should need to. Jesus' words were powerful and full of conviction enough that He never needed to resort to that. I think His is the example we should follow. It goes a long way for us to make an effort to speak the truth plainly and only say the things that need to be said.
Talking about myself here, too.