“Stink!”
“Aww, crud!”
“Well, fudge.”
You’ve heard them: Christian Cuss Words. The VeggieTale-approved, socially acceptable form of lying we all use and love, so as to show off our holiness and not wound folks or cause our weaker brother to stumble . Like every other thing on the planet, we’ve made our own watered-down weaker version of some “worldy” thing we really wish we could partake of: the fully functional English language.
Is this a good thing? I think not.
First of all, there is an inherent arrogance in the idea that says, “Well, they are just too immature to handle it, so they shouldn’t be allowed to say those things.” But, the expression of forceful emotion via the use of an occasional bowling word is not sinful, in my opinion. Is it always appropriate? Of course not. Example: once, my youngest was getting ready for church. After telling him to change one shirt because it had a stain, he returned with another, which he had buttoned in a, shall we say, rather unique way. When I told him he needed to fix the buttons, he said, completely exasperated, “Aww, f*ck!” Oh yes he did. Twenty minutes before Sunday School. I asked him where on earth he learned that word, and he said, “At summer camp.” sigh… So, we discussed the appropriate ways to release our anger at age six and headed off to church. But there are times when only one word will do, and the use of any other word is just a socially acceptable lie.
The MPAA even refers to coarse language as “adult language” because they feel only adults can handle the undiluted speech of uncensored grown-ups. Sometimes, clever writers manuever around this. Fiction writers will pen things like, “he spewed out a string of profanities…” and we know the character who just had his leg crushed with a ball peen hammer is cussin’ a blue streak. Hemingway got around his censors by writing sentences like, “I obscenity in the milk of your mother.” (How’s that for vivid?)
"Good gracious me! What did she just say?!? Oh, my stars!"
Script-writers have to be a bit more clever, because their words are actually delivered vocally. Battlestar Galactica got around the dishonesty and the censors with the invention of the word “frack”, which they used as frequently as the military uses its well-known counterpart. Everyone knew what they wanted the character to say, and the fact that the character could express frustration in that cryptic but realistic way lended an honesty and realism to what was otherwise a world where the viewer needed to suspend reality in order to enjoy the show.
Where ya goin' with that hammer?
A word is a tool, and there are thousands of them in our English toolbox. I dare say that words wielded well are more powerful than any hammer, but one must learn how to use them, just as one must learn to use a wrench. When one is building a thought, one should use the right tool for the job.
Overkill much?
If one uses a chainsaw to slice a loaf of bread (or, in the case of words, use coarse language while attempting to discipline a child, for one example), the tool will cut more than the bread, and the bread will probably be needlessly wounded.
That all you got? Really?
The same holds true in reverse. When trying to saw through a 2×4, one will need more than a butter knife. In fact, the butter knife is a ridiculous choice. (Did any of you see “Misery”? Annie Wilkes perfectly illustrates this.) When you need to cut deeply, a strong blade is necessary, but be careful, and respect those big blades: they dull with overuse, and often their effect is so diminished by overuse that they only have the effect of a butter knife.
"You dirty birdie. Quit lying. Just say what you really mean."
I, personally, don’t see a mandate in the scriptures that forbids the use of certain words when expressing oneself. I do see the Lord admonishing us to be kind, and to place the needs of our brother ahead of our own. I also see a high premium placed on honesty. So often, I see Christians absolutely scald one another because they heard the word “pissed” escape the lips of a frustrated believer. They ignore the substance of the thought and only focus on the horrific “sin” of cussing. Even on this blog, this writer has been railed against as a “potty-mouth” for the use of the word “damn”. But, here’s the thing: when I use coarse language, the words still cut sharply, because they are used rarely. I believe this is the best gauge of the stewardship of such words: do they bite as they should when coming from you, or are the teeth so dull from overuse that the word has no effect?
Weigh your words carefully. Consider your audience. Be kind. Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. But, please, be honest. Don’t say “That’s a load of crayola” when you really mean, “That’s a steaming pile of …” well, insert profanity here. 