Comments on: Misusing God’s Name

By: James

James — Sat, 12 May 2007 14:24:08 +0000

Thanks for this post, Mike. It’s good timing for me, because I’ve been surrounded by such uses of God’s good name lately and have been struggling in how to respond.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Thu, 03 May 2007 02:38:51 +0000

Mike, In my 20s I worked for MHMR and never a day went by that I didn’t say, “Man, I want to be like them.” No pretense just love. About 20 of my clients came to my wedding and hearing those “Beverlys” whispered as I walked down the aisle was priceless. I have a picture in my wedding album of me surrounded by these hearts that taught me so much.

Oh and by the way, you have talked about single parents lately and I thought I would hook you up with this blog written by this preacher in Hawaii. What he says is right on target from my own experience and those single parents I know…..www.beingselfish.com

By: Matt Elliott

Matt Elliott — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:42:54 +0000

Yes, Roland — something about wishing they would “go the whole way and emasculate themselves” (Galatians 5:12). I can think of a few profane names I’d rather be called than have someone say THAT to me!

By: Roland

Roland — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:55:29 +0000

I always liked the “seasoned with salt” line.

Paul used some pretty strong language at times to get his point across.

By: Clarissa

Clarissa — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:41:57 +0000

But how did the fellow react? inquiring minds …

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:22:16 +0000

Hi Scott,

I concede there is a distinction between using those words as expletives (devoid of their dictionary meanings) as opposed to using them in context as they are actually defined. I think the entirety of the former category is profane. There might be some cases in the latter category that would not be profane. I’m convinced that a lot of the common instances of the latter category are still inappropriate conversation (dirty jokes, sexual comments, ‘bathroom humor’, etc).

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 02 May 2007 00:00:17 +0000

Alan,
I understand. I too believe that a great deal of garbage is passed onto us via the “art” justification. However, Paul himself uses some very strong language when he talks about those who want the Greeks to be circumcized (he says that he hopes they cut their own ____s off) and he also calls his former accomplishments “manure”.

My point is simply that our comfort with our children telling us that they went “poo-poo” rather than using some other word doesn’t come from a difference in the “meanings” of the words–it comes from long-standing cultural associations that exist in our language and in our psyches. These things HAVE to be considered, but judging a man’s heart based purely on word choice is still judgement– and often times very much a mis-judgement.

Our language should build up and make truth stand out like a beacon. Paul does that–even when using some very harsh words.

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 01 May 2007 20:20:01 +0000

Hi Scott,

I’m not comfortable with taking the poetic license approach to profanity. Expletives made up of of words about sex and bodily excretions do not have redeeming qualities. How much more inappropriate when those things are combined with the name of our Savior and his Father! That kind of language should not come from the lips of a Christian. And I don’t think the speaker gets a pass when that language is used as “art”.

By: Candy

Candy — Tue, 01 May 2007 16:13:00 +0000

What an amazing story, Mike. Thank you for sharing it with us. I know one thing. The spoken word holds the power of life or of death. Adding a hug to words spoken - wow. Amazing woman. She is richly blessed. And I am greatly humbled.

By: Joshua Alkire

Joshua Alkire — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:41:28 +0000

We often say “no matter what I do, it won’t make a difference” after we have only considered two possibilities. We come to a door that doesn’t open if we push it and doesn’t open if we do the opposite and pull it. How often do we consider if we have the key, or if there is a button to push somewhere, or if someone stronger can pull it open, or if we can knock?

We can’t give up just because one strategy and its assumed opposite are both failures. Church needs ingenuity and diversity.

By: Justin Bronson

Justin Bronson — Tue, 01 May 2007 05:09:52 +0000

Thanks for sharing that story. That is one of the most beautiful things I have heard in a while, and its especially timely for me because I have recently been meditating and writing about hugs. It is great what we can learn from people who we often think need us to teach them.

By: reJoyce

reJoyce — Tue, 01 May 2007 03:22:42 +0000

You’re welcomed, Beaner!

By: Beaner

Beaner — Tue, 01 May 2007 01:40:24 +0000

Thanks reJoyce!!! I totally forgot about that post - I even commented that I needed to read that book. Now i get to use my own words to convict me!

By: reJoyce

reJoyce — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:25:47 +0000

For Beaner:

http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/18/ordinary-radicals

(Really an amazing book. A lot to think about and act on in it.)

By: brian

brian — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:23:25 +0000

We haven’t exactly spelled out a list for our pre-teen kinds, so we correct as we go (go to the pool, go to the sports team events, go to the grocery store …)

I’m trying to teach the kids (and myself) that our language should be God-honoring always. That’s a much higher bar than using a few specific choice words. So, if my kids say “darn,” “shoot,” “heck,” or “gosh,” I simply ask if God is being honored by their speech. I also try to help the kids understand that we dont expect that all other parents and kids at church will apply the principle in the same way as we have, and that that doesn’t make them any less saved by God’s grace.