Age Appropriate Filth

I've never seen a complete episode of the The Simpsons or Family Guy. I've seen enough commercials or snippets as I cruise past the channels to know pretty much what the premise of these shows are: rude, sometimes blasphemous (yeah, Todd, I said it), profane, disrespectful, etc. What intrigues me is that many self-proclaimed Christians watch these cartoons, as well as other television programming and movies with very little thought for their content.

"It's just a cartoon" or "hey, I don't talk like that, I just watch it" or "at least it's not as bad as some other shows; there's a lot worse stuff out there." These are just some of the excuses I've heard from folks that (a) claim the name of Christ AND (b) would never dream of letting their children watch the same fare...which brings me to my point.

Why do Christians --forget about the pagans; they're acting according to what they are--believe there's some kind of "line" where a little profanity or vulgarity is OK...as long as you're an adult?! I have relatives that are diligent to a "t" when it comes to monitoring their teen and pre-teen's television programs/movies, but after the kids are in bed or at least out of the room, they see nothing wrong with watching something that is FILLED with verbal or visual smut.

They reason that, as long as they don't actually use the "F" word (for example) in everyday conversation, there's nothing wrong with plunking down their hard-earned cash (or sitting in the "privacy" of their own home ¹) to listen to someone else do it. And it's not just profanity I'm talking about. Getting back on The Simpsons, why would any Christian think it's funny to hear Bart Simpson pray- "We paid for this ourselves, so thanks for nothing"? What's funny or cute about that? I thought as Christians we believed that ALL things have their beginning with God, including the food on our tables!

If it's inappropriate for children, it's more than likely not appropriate for adults either. Paul wrote:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. -- Philippians 4:8 (NASB)

If you don't agree, that's fine--you're entitled to your opinion. But...I don't want to hear about how you think I'm a prude or have my head in the sand or "you're just being ridiculous. I wouldn't let my 3-year-old watch The Simpsons, but my son is 17 years old and he knows the difference between right and wrong." Christians need to quit being gutless wonders that just aren't willing to seperate themselves from the world.

I know an individual that tells the story of when they were in junior high and her father caught her and her sister watching a questionable TV program. "There's only a little bit of cussing in it" was their defense. Later in the day, when they were called to the dining room for supper, they both noticed a small clump of dog manure RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR SPAGHETTI! "I'm not eating that!," they exclaimed. "Why not," their dad responded, "there's only a little bit of manure in it..."

¹ Maybe they should re-read Psalm 139:1-4 "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all."

Coarse Joking

...and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Eph 5:4 (NASB)

I read and heard it repeated numerous times that, upon his deathbed, W.C. Fields was caught reading the Bible. (Fields was known for his disdain for pretty much any type of religion.) When asked if he had reconsidered his opinion of religion he reportedly replied: "Just looking for loopholes." (Hold that thought for just a sec.)

The topic of profanity or "coarse" language has been the topic on at least two blogs I've read in the past week. Apparently, there are plenty of Christians (and pastors) these days that see nothing wrong with what many classify as profanity. Mark Driscoll, Senior Pastor at Mars Hill in Seattle has been called "the Cussing Pastor," a title according to Tim Challies, Driscoll "seems to feel is both funny and well-deserved." Althought I've never heard him use profanity, descriptions of Driscoll sound similiar in content to others I've run across on the internet.

So what does that have to do with W.C. Fields?! I think the drive behind the "cussing pastors" and those who agree with them is this idea that the Bible is full of loopholes.I've heard more times than once: "The Apostle Paul used the "S" word (cf. Php 3:8)! Or comments such as this one:

Don’t you find it the least bit absurd to think that documents written ~2k years ago by mostly Jewish men in ancient Greek would contain in them a list of English words that are forbidden?

It's this whole idea that because the Bible doesn't SPECIFICALLY forbid SPECIFIC words, then the door's open. Or if we can do enough linguistic gymnastics, we can claim that Paul was as much a potty-mouth as the next guy. Besides, "they're just words, right?"

Even though Paul didn't give us a list of words (similar to George Carlin's Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say on Television--which I won't repeat here), he is obviously making a point about SOMETHING when he refers to "coarse joking." James makes a similar appeal as to the language we use (James 1:26) Both writers, it seems, have something--either specific words or phrases in mind, don't you think?

One individual I was discussing this topic with stated:

...the key difference in “coarse joking” would point to the purpose of the conversation, and not the individual words chosen (going back to using particular topics specifically for the purpose of titillation or “for the hell of it”, which would fall under this description).

I doesn’t seem at all like Paul is suggesting that there are a specific list of “coarse” words, but that it is the topic of conversation which is being addressed and the manner in which the topic is being addressed.

I'm sorry, but that sounds like the biggest bunch of gobbledy-gook aka bovine excrement I heard in a while.

Why must there be a "loophole?" Why is is necessary that we supposedly have the liberty to use words that others may find offensive, simply because "Paul didn't give us a list?"

A Non-Biblical Defense

If you can't make your case from Scripture, just use crude language. It may not make your point, but it will certainly catch people's attention. WARNING: Very crude language for a supposedly "Christian blog."

Apparently, some of these guys (another Christian blog) think the "favorite song" is appropriate. I look forward to hearing how they work it in to a Sunday morning sermon.

PS: Todd (you know who you are), I tagged this one "blasphemy" just for you.