sonofthunder,

It's obvious something has hit a raw nerve in you, because you just can't leave it. What's the problem? What has been said has been said. You seem to be making a big deal over the wrong topic.

Instead of constantly posting, why not just edit a thread?

Just a thought.

By the way, who mentioned the 'f' word?

Seriously, my goodness, lay off the guy. Unless you haven't struggled with any sin whatsoever since the time of conversion, now isn't the time to be picking up stones.

I remember Keith Green speaking on this topic one time "back in the day".

He had a great insight on this it seemed. He asked why we felt God thought it was wrong to use a "cuss word". However, we often also felt God would be fine with us using a different word in the same context. For example...if I were to get mad at someone and call them a (censored..beep censored bleep) why would it be any different if I called them a "dirty low down egg sucking dog" if I did it with exactly the same malice, anger and hatred in my heart. There really was no difference. The key line he then asked was this , Do you really think God is concerned with the order of vowels and consonants in your words? Do you really think he thinks that to use an "a" in place of and "i" in a word changes things? He is looking at your heart... what is your heart toward the person or situation."

Now, lest I, or Keith, be misunderstood. He was in no way endorsing "cussing"... cussing is for the most part a purely cultural event. Outside of the culture that understands what a word or phrase means it would not be considered vulgar.

In conclusion I believe the issue is this...it's not about cussing..its about cursing. Not cursing as equivalent to cussing. Cursing as in the desire for someone to be cursed, or bad to be brought upon them. If we check our hearts toward others and God it seems apparent that we will neither be cussing or cursing our fellow man. We will be blessing them.

Along that line..blessings to all you SI readers and posters. I pray you have a day marked with peace and joy.

Solomon101

Good word, Solomon.

What I think I am addressing is this movement in the church for men to be MEN. And I am down with that. We should be MEN. But... along with it I see a lot of worldliness, as if our model for what a man's man is comes from the world. From Hollywood.

And I see in particular foul language. As if a real man cusses... but thats not what the Bible says.

I see it as a sell out.

Krispy

I'll agree with you Krispy, and I think those are really good points. I think one of the main problem is that most of these "men" who are toting this "Man's Christianity" bit aren't really all that masculine themselves.

Most of them seem to suffer from severe short-man's syndrome, and confuse testosterone with masculinity. King David was a man. Paul was a man. Most of these new "tough guy" foul-mouthed dudes resemble neither of those two. They just represent insecurity repackaged for the modern day equally confused Christian man.

I don't think name dropping is necessary, but I figure you know the sorts I'm referring to.

Yea, no need to name drop... John MacArthur (a real man, in my opinion) has already call a number of them out publicly.

Krispy

KK, are you sure this is a national trend in the church? Maybe it's just those Blue Ridge Mountain hillbillies doing it? Haha. Man I've heard stories about small town NC churches from home group pastors here in Ft. Worth who used to pastor out there.

Anyway, I think it is amazing how certain sins just fall off of us when we get saved. Like the 2nd poster said, cursing just fell off me when I became a Christian. But in your case, it is something you struggled with. I hate profanity, and I especially hate profane jokes--no matter how innocent they may seem. But other things we have to struggle with to get free of. Why is this? Only the Lord knows for sure, but in the words of Jack Hayford maybe because "He's buidling sons and daughters". What didn't just go away when I got saved? Yep, the sexual stuff. What a nightmare of a battle that has been in my life. I made a lot of bad decisions which didn't help either.

Thats the thing about this part of NC... you have some backwoods fire breathing fundamentalists, contemporary charismatics, seeker sensitive churches, mega-churches, etc etc... we got everything.

You can be in downtown Asheville with all the gays and liberals banging on a drum at the park and singing praises to communism... and 15 minutes later lost on a single lane dirt road in the mountains wondering if you're going to see a still.

Cant judge people on where they are from.

Krispy

Eph.4:29-30
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Eph.5:4
Nor should their be OBSCENITY, foolish talk, or coarse joking which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

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

Luke 6:45
The good man brings things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Seems like the scriptures are quite clear on the issue of 'cussing' among God's people. I heard somplace that cussing is the inability of a weak mind to express itself strongly.

May our prayer be that of the psalmist when he said

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeem

---------------
Blaine

Amen, Blaine!

Krispy