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Cussing – a self convo

05/12/2009

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This post is going to be awesome as sh**.

Easy tiger! You just cussed.

Oh sorry.  I forgot that offends you.

Oh, don’t pin that one one me.  You know you shouldn’t say stuff like that.

Says who?

Says… um… the Bible.

The Bible says I can’t say “sh**” but it uses the word “ass” and “penis”

Ok.  I see where this is going.  You’re the edgy, culturally relevant christian guy now.

If that were my goal, I’d be wearing expensive tight jeans and a cause t-shirt.

You shouldn’t use “coarse language” okay?

Why is “sh**” coarse? …. Don’t take that the wrong way.

Because it’s a dirty word.

Dirtier than the word “poop”?

Poop isn’t a cuss word.

See, that’s what I don’t get.  Who gets to decide which words are cuss words?

No one.  They just exist.

But they only exist here.  I could say “sh**” all I want in Germany and no one would know what I was saying.

Yes they would.  Lots of Germans know English.

Ok. Smarta…..  ypants.

People in other places don’t matter.  What matters is that you are offending the people you’re with.

So, it’s not ME saying the word that makes it wrong.  It’s YOU being offended.

Sort of.

And if everyone stopped being offended by these words, then cussing wouldn’t even exist.

It already doesn’t exist in some languages.

So then the word “coarse” in the Bible can’t be referring to a list of words.

Right! The literal translation of that sentence is referring to words that hurt people.

And I hurt you?

No, you didn’t hurt me.

Be honest.  Were you really offended? Or do you just feel like you have to act that way because for most of you life you’ve believed in the “list”?

I see your point here, but that doesn’t make the word “sh**” okay to use freely.

Aaaaahhhh my ears!  I’m melting in offense.  JK

I’m serious.  You wouldn’t walk into a room full of 8 year olds and scream it over and over.

That is true.

And why do you think that is?  Because 8 year olds would be offended?

No.  I guess it really comes down to their parents being mad, and all the other people that would freak out if the kids started repeating the word.

Well guess what.  There’s nothing you can do about that.  If you want to respect people then you just have to play by their rules – EVEN if you can prove with logic that their rules aren’t necessarily right.

So, I’ll start watching my mouth, and I’ll work on being more respectful of people.

And, I’ll stop judging people by the “list” and feeling guilty about things that aren’t inherently wrong.

Great.  Now what about all the people reading this conversation.  What if I offended them?

I think it’s okay.  You were making a point.

I think I’ll go back and replace the “it’s” with “**’s”

That’s a da** good idea.

Hey!

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  • http://beaconhillnw.com Jim

    it’s amazing how we can take the bible out of context and use it as a WMD

  • http://www.thebeautifulsurrender.com/?p=942 Cussing at The Beautiful Surrender

    [...] to me telling you that I have a potty mouth except to point you towards this shockingly insightful post by Tripp about cussing. [...]

  • http://tylerstanton.com Tyler

    just came across this article about a new derek webb song. pretty fitting.

    http://www.patrolmag.com/scanner/1658/new-derek-webb-album-too-scandalous-for-release

  • http://www.DeadlyViper.org mike foster

    that was rockin. and whats even more amazing is that i followed the entire logic and conversation. nice post!

  • E-dub

    I think, for the sake of argument, that the problem with Cussing Christians is that the general population of “The World” sees (hears) those words as cuss words.
    And if Christians are not only called to refrain from “course language” but also to be different than the world, then maybe we should find other vocabulary?
    That’s just my reasoning. Bleep.

  • nate

    smartassy pants? really? you wouldn’t want to go with smarty-ass pants? or just a simple smartass pants?

    i cant take the rest of your post seriously when you make a decision like that.

  • Me

    I guess I just wonder why those who have a problem with profane words being considered profane WANT to use them? What’s the real intent here? That’s the sin. Look in the heart

  • http://www.stephenbateman.com Stephen Bateman

    I mean who cares about some cussing, but like anything, too much is a bad thing.

    I’ve met people who cussed because it was the only way they could express themselves. It wasn’t cussing that was the problem, it was poor vocabulary.

  • http://www.robshep.com Rob Shepherd

    Great post.

  • http://somekindofrandom.blogspot.com Sara

    I’m’ just amazed how creative people can be with cussing. I’ve heard one word be used as a noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, article…Apparently the possibilities are endless.

  • Rinda

    I was in New Zealand when I realized how much culture influences the Christian walk. In some countries it’s considered ‘carnal’ for women to wear make-up. I had a pastor show me references in the bible to substantiate it (prostitutes wore makeup in the OT) Thank God that never made into the US Christian Culture because Lord knows I need my makeup! Since then I’ve looked at smoking, drinking, cussing (the US Christian NO-NOs) in a totally different light. Great Post!

  • http://trippcrosby.com Tripp

    Different how?

  • http://trippcrosby.com Tripp

    I’d love to know what country has the weirdest cultural christian No-No’s.

  • http://www,foodtruthandbeauty.wordpress.com amanda hindson

    FRICK

  • http://receshbreak.wordpress.com Lokate

    really clev, man.

    i lived in an apt. full of christians (and one jew) where cussing was just the norm, but i wouldn’t let one particular roommate say poop, because i couldn’t stand the way he said it, like he loved the word a little too much, special emphasis on the p’s.

    words only have as much power as you let them.

  • http://trippcrosby.com/?p=894 trippcrosby.com» Blog Archive » it’s never good enough for the emcee

    [...] Get off the @#$%* stage!!!  (we all said it, but to him it’s just crowd [...]

  • http://twitter.com/LlamaSheepDuck Mary Kate Watson

    “So, it’s not ME saying the word that makes it wrong.  It’s YOU being offended.”  - you
    But isn’t your motive in saying that what makes it wrong? You idly saying it doesn’t seem sinful, but even if you innocently use it (without purposefully bothering others), you are neglecting consideration of what would offend the one with you, right? 

    Colossians 3:8 says “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth,” and there are other verses similar to that one. Do you not think that applies to curse words? (I say this in curiosity, not accusation)

    I appreciate the thought-provoking post and I only aim to provoke even more thought. :)