Vulgar Language

When did cussing become common place? When did obscene talk and explicit language become the norm? Right now I work at UPS in Louisville, KY in the Worldport and every day at work I am amazed by the things that people unabashedly talk about. Some women brag in graphic detail of their latest sexual exploit. Some men speak of the most grotesque acts of violence without batting an eye. I have even heard two young girls talking of their abortions as flippantly as one would speak of going to get her eyebrows waxed. And the profanity! Cussing has lost all significance. Swearing has no meaning. It is no longer reserved for moments of extreme emotion or even to provide emphatic superlatives. Dirty words have now replaced fillers such as "like," "um," and "you know" in those times when they just can think of what to say. Immorality and impropriety of words and actions has resulted in meaninglessness and triviality. I must say I'm shocked by the shamelessness of it all.

Yet with all the obscenity becoming ordinary, I have found that there is one word that still remains offensive. It's not H-E-double hockey sticks, or the S-word, or even the F-bomb. It will result in heads turning, faces reddening, fists clinching, and blood boiling. You could talk about any manner of racy subjects using an obscenity every other word and you'll have an audience, but if you say this one word, the conversation will end. That word is Christ. Not in the taking the Lord's name in vain sense, but as in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The name of Christ has always been offensive but in a country that in which 70% of its citizens claimed to be Christian, it used to be held in honor. Now IT has become obscene.

Here's a few examples to prove my point. I have had a conversation with coworkers about the philosophical system of Zen Buddhism and they found it fascinating. They didn't care that I pointed out a few of the deficiencies of its worldview. But when I began to talk about Christianity, the topic was changed. I've told others about my trip to India and what I have learned about Hinduism and they eagerly listened again until I began to speak of Christ.

But the most blaring occurred today. I was in the break room reading Albert Mohler's Culture Shift. The chapter was entitled "The Post-Truth Era: Welcome to the Age of Dishonesty." As I read I noticed my unbelieving friend peering curiously over my shoulder. He openly commented that he found the title interesting, so I asked him if he'd like to read it. He agreed and quickly began to peruse the pages while I sat back and watched him. I noticed that though the book retained his interest, there were times where he would wince or turn his head. So curiously I began to read over his shoulder. I soon realized he was flinching every time the book mentioned Christianity. He finished the chapter, thanked me, and handed the book back.

I was a little dumbstruck. I've heard this guy talk about any manner of offensive subjects using every profanity known to man and here he was miffed by Christ's name being written in a book. He looked like I would have looked reading a Danielle Steele book, or an autobiographical account of someone who endured extreme physical suffering, or the lyrics to a rap song by 50 Cent. What I would see as crude, he would see as common. What I saw as glorious, he saw as profane. It was in that moment that I realized that an almost complete shift has occurred. What was once indecent and extreme is now ordinary, commonplace, meaningless. And a Name that was once respected in our culture is now considered to be an obscenity. When did the name of Christ become vulgar language?

Joey's Epiphany

I have a friend at work named Joey who I have been witnessing to for about a year. Despite having heard the gospel countless times throughout his life, Joey is an unbeliever. He knows what the Bible says, but finds himself unwilling to take up his cross and follow Christ. Well, he just got back from bootcamp for the Army Reserves, where he told me of an "epiphany" he had. He said, "In bootcamp, they take away everything from you, except your training. All the stuff you rely on, all the things that you do or distract you are gone, and you are left with who you really are." Then Joey said to me, "I got a look at myself and I didn't like what I saw." I was stunned. I immediately began to ask him questions about his realization of himself and what he thought he should do. But despite catching a glimpse of who he really was and the depth of his sinfulness, Joey is not yet ready to respond to the gospel. He's not ready to admit his wretchedness and utter need for Christ. He is still unwilling to fall on his face before God to respond in repentance and faith. Rather than being broken, he is attempting to cover over his epiphany. He would rather think he's not that bad.

All of us have experienced those times in which everything is stripped away and we find the reality of our hearts laid bare. The sight of it can be frightening. It may come in the dead of night or in the middle of the day, when were are alone or in the middle of a crowd. But there we are...there we REALLY are. And in those moments we catch a glimpse of the wretched, black, malignant, putrid hearts within each of us. We can see our transgression. We feel the guilt. The yoke of sin and death are tight around our necks, and we realize the futility of our insatiable lusts. In that instant, we must make a choice. We can attempt to bury deep within the recesses of our minds, or we can let it break us. We can hide it away and lie to ourselves, or, in honesty and earnestness, fall on our knees in contrition and appeal for mercy.

For those of us who have responded to the free offer of the gospel by repenting and trusting in Christ alone for our salvation: Let us never forget that image. This is who we were apart from Jesus. This is who they are who don't believe in the Son of God. We must remember so that we never attempt to rip ourselves from our recognition for the need of God's continual, sustaining grace.

For those who may have stood in Joey's shoes as an unbeliever: If you have not had an epiphany like his, it will come. But if you have had those times in which you caught a glimpse of the true nature of your heart, REMEMBER! Don't try to cover it over. Don't try to deceive yourself into believing that you are okay. Repent. Turn to the only one who can free you from your bondage to sin. There is no lasting satisfaction in this life apart from Christ. Seek the one in whom true joy comes, trust in Him, and seek out Christians who can help you know more about the Christian life. But do not delay. You may stuff this vision for a while, but it will come back time and again to haunt you. And every time it does, it beckons you to God. Receive the hope that comes only from Jesus.

In closing, I beg my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for Joey. I believe he is not far from the kingdom of God. And to all of you, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope!" - Romans 15:13