The Cussing Pastor

Comments

[marilyn ortiz]

This is just what was on my heart today and I feel I found this blog for just the right reason. I know as Christians we are not perfect. I do have higher expectations of people in ministry. I pray preachers of today see that God is so simple and so precious to be shared and we Need preachers that are prepared not only with their sermons, but their hearts. God bless and thank you for sharing this blog. Marilyn from Arizona.

[Rod Bezanson]

Thanks for holding the standard up

[Sam Duffy]

I really like what you are saying here Ed. I am a 21 year old girl who is in love with Christ. So, with that, I'm sure you can guess that I have a lot of growing to do STILL. BUT, i do have an opinion on this matter. If i am in a group of christians AT church, of course I'm not going to say any of those words except MAYBE sucks...and the reason for this is because i know the people i am around are not offended by that word because i've heard them use it before too. Now, if i am at school, i should watch my mouth then too because i never know if the stranger i sit next to is going to be offended by the words that come out of my mouth. Now, when I am with my boyfriend and close friends that i know won't be offended by certain words, then i might chose to use them. Of course these words are not used in context such as if i say "damn" i'm not going to be saying "DAMN YOU" which i feel would be completely wrong because i'm cursing that person. I would use damn out of context and yes i'd have to agree, probably quite unnecessarily. BUT it's the thought that counts. i do watch what i say and make sure to never cuss or offend parents, elders, leaders, strangers, new christians, non-christians etc. BECAUSE i care about how they perceive my walk with Christ. :) Thanks for this blog :)

[Janae]

Great Blog!!! Amen!!!

[Andy]

Randy - I'm sad that you missed the point of what Ed said at the Wave Conference. You misheard what was spoken. Ed never cussed. He simply said that Christians need to get off our "as". Remember the Scripture he quoted just before? That's what he was referencing. "Get off your as" is a play on words, which is much, much different that cussing.

[Randy]

I wonder as I watch this video for the second time, the first several weeks ago, and the second time now, after having attended opening night at Wave Conference, why a pastor would curse from the pulpit. I was shocked tonight when Ed, in front of a packed conference crowd would say that we, as Christians, should "get off out a$$." Was it really worth it Ed? You made this pastor question how you could post such a video and then go and use the very same "cool" idea yourself?

[John Silver]

This is kind of a part two to my previous post. When Paul speak os filthy language he is talking about content...not the means with which the content is delivered...words. Jesus said some very harsh cultural things. White-washed tombs, sons of the Devil, den of vipers. These were extraordinarily culturally offensive words. Much worse than damn or sucks. Paul said some have throats like open graves. Given the strict censure of phrases and words in the first and second centuries in Palestine and surrounding areas this would have been really shocking. So I strongly disagree with the assault on mild color in the English language. There are off-limits words which I won't list here because their very meaning is filthy. Damn and sucks are not among them.

[John Silver]

I disagree. Words are words. I prefer to talk to a pastor who is unpretentious and real when he is upset. I distrust people who stifle the full spectrum of language. Content is an altogether different matter. Filthy stories, tasteless jokes, things like that are unacceptable. But people who scrutinize every single word they say are hiding something. Or several somethings. It's not an effort to "be cool" it's an effort to be honest. I have seen young people come to Christ and live vibrant Christian lives having been lead there by an honest pastor who dared to open his heart...his REAL heart...to them.

[Dale Baker]

Thanks Pastor Ed,

Yep, we sure have let things slip lately. Time to clean it up! to think about how dirty our tongues are. Hey, what if we all carried a cow tongue for a day? To emphasize "holding your." I think we'd get the idea then right?

[Pastor Jim]

My basic rule of thumb

If my mama would have slapped my mouth for saying it, I don't say it.

I weary of language being used for shock rather than truth being used to awaken hearts.

[Paul]

well can you guys pray for me.. I'm Paul in Colorado.. and lately, i have had the unfortunte expierence of rejection after rejection.. and I did not handle it well, in fact I did what the devil wanted.. i gave up and got depressed and so bitter at people.. my bad language got the best of me... so I guess I'm asking for anyone to pray thet I get my reltionship with God back on track.. like it was before I got hurt.. Thank you so much

Paul in colorado

[Linda]

Thank you. I just heard a sermon from a pastor in Dallas that used these kind of words. It really made me wonder how can the people in his church take him seriously.
Who is he trying to lift up, himself or Jesus??

[claudia finn]

..... love this and totally agree. I would add that Christian visual artists are also putting out there images that lead many to question their salvation and desire to bring attention to a holy God. Just as a word cannot be taken back, a visual image leaves a mark on others minds.

[Mrs Thea Feliciano]

Yes Pastor ~ amen in Jesus

Colossians 4:6-7
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

[Gene Wolfenbarger]

Praise the Living God!!!

Truly Inspired By the Lord...

I remember the Lord convicting me of this very thing...

Some do Not Struggle with there PUBLIC SPEAKING but with there PRIVATE SPEAKING...

What we are IN PRIVATE DETERMINES WHAT WE BECOME IN PUBLIC...

gene wolfenbarger
knoxville tn

[Doug T]

You know what? If Jesus were on this earth today, he would be accused of having a potty mouth. Not trying to give us an excuse to do it, I'm just saying....

Take a very close look at the life of Jesus on this earth. It was much less of the nancy boy that Hollyweird and, unfortunately, most churches portray him as being & much more of the passionate individual who drank partied, and yes, even cussed. Again, not trying to give us an excuse to flippantly go about like this, just sayin'....

[Kelly]

I hear a great deal of arguments that seem to be more of a defense of each individual's behavior. I also hear judgement. I believe Mr. Young's purpose here is for you to look inside your own heart and decide if the way you are expressing yourself is truly how you wish to be perceived. There are a wealth of words... choose the ones that fit you. Language does not have to be one size fits all!

[Shane Jackson]

Amen Pastor. It's amazing what to me what people (and pastors) will say and do to be relevant. How bout this for relevance....love? Let's spend a little less time trying to be "cool" and a little more time showing a little love to the unloved. If you're saying this kind of stuff, then you're no different than the world.

Just my thoughts.

Beginning my life in full time ministry in two weeks. BE PRAYING!!!

[Brad Ball]

Great video blog. I totally agree and thanks for taking the time and the courage to address this issue.

[Pam Sarles]

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. I know they truely came from God.

[ampraises]

I completely agree with this. I attend a Baptist college where dirty language is used all of the time. It frustrates me to know that fellow Christians are so willing to throw their language around and not think of the impact they have on people. Using bad language is just one of the many ways that Christians are choosing to be of the world, rather than simply living in it and being a witness as God commands us.

[C.A. Phillips]

Exactly. I don't think that cussing was what Paul had in mind when he said he would be "all things to all people." Unfortunately, pastors use Paul's words to justify their behavior. "I'm just trying to relate to them," they say. "I'm meeting them where they are."

Pastors - and anyone in general - who must use slang and profanity to communicate put their ignorance on display for all to see and hear.

Great video blog. Thanks for sharing!

[John Cross]

Amen!!

[Brent Diggs]

I think that there are two extremes that people often find themselves drawn to.

The first is the "chasing cool" mindset critiqued in this post, where in trying to make their message relevant, good intentioned people end up saying and doing things antithetical to the very message they are trying to convey.

However in reacting to this approach, equally well intentioned people often run to the opposite tack, where every word is filtered and scripted and double checked for any hint of impropriety or unfortunately, passion.

The result to this approach is often a well thought-out and scripturally correct message that nobody listens to because it sounds like a marketing pitch.

I believe there is a balance, where people can be authentic and relevant and righteous, but its going to be different for each person.

If it were a formula or an easy answer, posts like this wouldn't garner so may comments.

----

P.S. Let's not link profanity and bathroom humor too closely together. As a humorist I often judiciously use the second without resorting to the first.

To imply that the biological functions we all experience are not occasionally funny or "appropriate" for a good christian to talk about is, to me, taking ourselves too seriously and coming across as fake.

Let's not forget Elijah's stand off on Mt Carmel in which (in some translations) he suggests to the priests of Baal that perhaps their god cannot answer their prayers because he is off relieving himself. (1 Kings 18:27)

Until I get a lift in a sports car of fire, I'm not going to take myself more seriously than Elijah.

[Steve Whipple]

Good word Ed! Glad to see more people standing up on this issue. Like my mom used to always say, "If you can't come up with any other words t express yourself, you are just showing your ignorance."