Chuck and IFL was a significant part of my formative Christian years.

Fortunately VCY represents only a handful small of stations in the midwest--
and only one major market: Milwaukee.

I’m pleased to see that for the most part, there is support for Chuck Swindoll’s ministry, despite the criticisms that have been raised concerning his choice of words, in particular.  I’ve heard his broadcasts a number of times, and generally find his ability to connect with people on a human level to be very encouraging.  I’ve been personally inspired by his messages.

It is indeed unfortunate that those among us who would be better to have a spirit of unity with other believers despite our differences of opinion on some issues, instead choose to create disunity.  I don’t doubt that this was not their intent, but I also don’t doubt that they fully realized that it would be the result.  It would be very naive not to realize the attack on the unity of believers that their decision represents. 

I’m sure also that they genuinely believe that the disunity issue is the lesser of two evils.  But I personally don’t believe that censoring words such as “heck” or “crap” from Christian broadcasts is more important than the command to love each other.  I believe that knowingly creating disunity and causing harm to any part of the Lord’s work is a far more serious sin than an issue of using the language of the common people in relating and reaching out to them. 

The unfortunate fallout from this negative position on Swindoll’s choice of words has perhaps not yet been fully considered, however.  Once you start on the path toward censorship, all that is left to determine is the degree to which words must be censored.  You can no longer agree not to censor, without reversing your original position.  All that remains is to decide how far to go.  And the degree of censorship will change with the sensibilities of each future censor.  At this point in time, based on VCY’s decision, there are certainly already a number of passages of scripture which would be inelgible for reading on the airwaves due to this hypersensitive decision.  To allow these passages of God’s Word to be read now would be hypocritical on the part of VCY.....unless of course, they were to also recant their condemnation of Chuck Swindoll as well.

And this is precisely what enemies of the Gospel, and all those who oppose the message of the Bible want.  They want to be able to censor some passages as being politically incorrect for our society.  Censorship is a two-edged sword, as noted well by American Author Ray Bradbury in his 1950’s novel “Fahrenheit 451”.  Will Christians soon have to have their own dictionaires of acceptable language, in order to ensure that words from secular dictionaries such as Webster’s don’t creep into Christian broadcasts?  And will each Christian group soon have to have their own revised version of these dictionaries, to meet individual preferences?

I live near Toronto, Ontario, and in Canada, the “language police” mentality of the Quebec government has many of us in other parts of Canada shaking our heads in disbelief at times.  It does little to foster respect for the French culture.  It creates resentment and disrespect instead.  And Christians on both sides of our border don’t need to embark on similar insanities when it comes to the Lord’s Work. 

If we divide among ourselves whenever we disagree, there will be endless divisions, and we will all be the poorer as a result.  The real issue at stake isn’t maintaining purity and holiness.....but maintaining freedom of Believers to carry out the great commission in a spirit of unity and without outside interference. 

Let’s pray that a desire for unity comes out of this and that VCY considers the merits of a spirit of greater tolerance for the individual styles of those who speak the Lord’s word to audiences of great diversity.  If we were all alike in our stylistic approaches, apart from becoming very boring, cookie-cutter clones, we would soon be unable even to do as the apostle Paul did in Athens in relating in a unique and fresh way to a pagan society.

Oh bah-ruther!  That’s utter “sku-balon!” Pharisaism is alive and well.
How about a review of Matthew 9&!0; Luke 15; Acts 17 and Romans 14 while we’re considering the subject of what is “Christian behavior.” Do we really understand the tension needed for shrewdness and innocence - to be distressed and yet see that “in every way” people are searching and hungry - to grasp the depth of Christ’s advent based not on the calling of the “righteous but sinners.?”
VCY is running out of Brasso polishing the outside of their shiny cup.

Hi Susie:

I agree that we need to base all of our views on the Bible.  And consistent with that and your views on Mr. Swindoll I’m sure you’ll join me in removing some parts of the Scripture from our cannon because they are crude.

Ezekiel makes Mr. Swindoll look like a choir boy.  How dare he use the words and language that he did to describe the lustings of the Samaria and Jerusalem!  I refer to Ezekiel Chapter 23.  They loved to have the “breast fondled (v3).” They lusted after their lovers (v5.) She never gave up her prostitution of her youth when men caressed her vigin bosom and “poured out their lust” upon her.  Hmmm ...  And that was only Samaria ... Jerusalem was even worse!  She saw pictures on the wall of the great warriors and and lusted after them (v16.) She carried on her prostitution openly, exposing her nakedness (v18.) And this is the real bad stuff .... she lust after her male lovers who had “genitals like those of donkeys and who emissions were like that of horses!!!!”

I think you should get VCY to stop the church from dirtying our minds with such filthy street talk because Chuck Swindol was never that bad!

"WOW”........Thanks Phil.  I knew that the Bible never pulls a punch........but it was amazing to read those words “straight” from the Word Of God!!  Thanks so much for being a man of God, one can be proud of, who would rather walk in the truth than set in the seat of judgement.  Funny, the Word Of God talks about our “righteousness being as filthy rags”..........wonder how many intelligent Christians even understand what that......."VERY USED STATEMENT IS IN REGARDS TO?” Think menstrual pads ladies!!!!  Yep, that’s right!! Back in the day, before Kotex was invented, women used rags during their menstrual cycle.  They would wash out these rags, dry them out in the sun (this helped to naturally bleach them) and use them again during their next cycle.  I’m a little confused here, if this information doesn’t offend those of you who are enjoying bashing Pastor Swindol, you have some twisted ideas on what is an exceptable metaphor/description; he didn’t even come close to making such a disgusting statement!!  Preach on Pastor Swindol.

Hi Phil,

Oh one cannot argue that there is graphic and often explicit language in the Bible; Song of Solomon being the perfect example.  However, to my knowledge (I’m sure people will correct me if I’m wrong) the book of Ezekial is not meant for entertainment.  He was very clearly stating the acts of immorality that people were taking part of.  And I don’t think there is an easier way to state the obvious.  What I question with Dr.Swindoll is his need to “amuse” and “entertain” the audience.  To ‘come down to the average man’s mentality”.  Can you honestly compare Ezekial and Dr. Swindoll in their use of language?  Ezekial is talking with disgust and with a righteous condemnation.  Dr. Swindoll seems to do it for pure fun and entertainment.  What saddens me most is that so many believers scoff at having a desire for holiness.  To be holy as He is holy.  Instead we joke about it and call those who question those statements ‘righteous hypocrites who have nothing better to do than judge’.  Well, it is the duty of every believer to question those in the church (I Cor 5:12 makes this very clear) .  I’m sorry, the excuse that the Bible has vulgar language isn’t enough to justify crude remarks.  We would do well to remember the context in which they are spoken.  Sincerely in Christ.

DanielR, Christ never told us to change the world he said to go into the world and preach the Gospel.  We know the world will not get better, look at Revelations and all the evil and horror yet to come.  Our responsibilities involve living a holy and just life so that others will see Christ in us and repent of their sin for the glory of God.  Yes we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, so to be using crude language that the world has made so common would lessen our ‘saltiness’ (sorry couldn’t find a better word).  I just can’t get past the crudeness so easily.  This whole issue hits a little close to home for me.  I heard a pastor say ‘holy cow’ from the pulpit, and I felt so uneasy.  I really wonder if he knew how that sounded.  Always seems worse coming from a pastor.  But then I realized I had been guilty of saying the same thing, talk about a double standard.  I was expecting more from a pastor than I was from me.  This was a pastor that I really respected, and I still do.  What really hit me was a passage of scripture I found a week later “there is none Holy but I”.  I have had to make concessions in my conversation because the Lord showed my sin to me.  I am not condemning Mr. Swindoll; I’m not jumping on that wagon, but no one one question him if he refrained from such talk.  We wouldn’t realize it was missing and we wouldn’t care.  Sometimes we just like a little justification from a respected leader for our own faults.  In Christ alone.

Unbelievable..