Thoughts from Pastor Tim - December 2

Dear Church Family –

I’ve noticed a troubling trend over the last 10 to 20 years.  It’s the trend of public speakers and authors, even Christian preachers, using profanity and coarse language. 

The trend is noticeable enough that it caught the attention of the New York Times, which in turn caught the attention of World magazine online, which in turn caught my attention this week. 

Ruth Graham (not Billy’s wife) is a religion writer for the New York Times.  Last year she wrote an article titled, “Piety and Profanity: The Raunchy Christians Are Here.”  In that article, she shows the increasing use of vulgarity by Christian politicians and pastors.

Why?  In my observation from the books I read and sermons I listen to, the thinking (erroneous thinking, I would say) seems to be that using profanity and vulgarities shows that…

You are a man.  You can relate to men.  You’re one of the boys.

You are manly in your demeanor.  Tough.  Unafraid of what others think.

You are serious and strong against the tide of our culture.

You are serious about getting people’s attention and shaking up the status quo.

You believe the stakes are high enough to warrant tough, belligerent talk.

In Ruth Graham’s article she says, “for some conservative Christians, the stakes of the moment are now high enough that a certain amount of vulgarity is not just tolerated, but also required as a form of truth-telling worthy of the prophets.”

The problem is, we seem to have forgotten that the Bible says,

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.” – Ephesians 4:29

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting. – Ephesians 5:3-4

There is a deeper problem when we begin to think that the badness of our times is a license to “fudge on,” or ignore, clear teachings of Scripture. 

What it means to be a man is not coarse talk, it is self-mastery; mastery of your impulses and urges, mastery of your strength and powers for the good of others, and mastery of your mouth. 

Russell Vought is the White House Budget Director.  The New York Times recently did a profile on him and do you know what other White House staffers said about him?  “He regularly quotes the Bible and never curses.

When a man determines to master himself out of allegiance to Christ, it captures attention, and gives the man a platform to speak and credibility when he does speak. 

Or as Hudson Taylor is reported to have said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s support."

Because of Christ – Pastor Tim