Yeah, a little ironic....

He should hear Tony Campolo’s talk about how so many 10’s of thousands of children die every day, but we don’t give a $%*@. But, then follows it up by saying, “and what’s worse is that most of you are more concerned about the fact that I just said %$*@ than you are the fact that so many children are dying every day!” Slam!

I agree though, we should be cautious about using foul language in order to sound relevant.

Ed is right in that there are a lot of words we can use instead of curse words.  I think too much cursing is done form the pulpit these days in a lot of churches.  I might not agree that all the words Ed thinks are curse words are curse words, some are just the vernacular of our times… and I might not think Ed the expert on the motives of other pastors. 

Without making this about Ed, where do you draw the line?  I also think it is not just about swearing but about content too.

uh.....I’m not worried about his cursing...but I definitely wouldn’t want to be in traffic with a guy talking to a video camera while driving.

I’m waiting for the out takes when he smashes into the car ahead of him!

Bet that’s full of cursing!

Being lectured by Ed on chasing cool is like Tony Soprano lecturing me on law and order.

I really don’t have a problem with swearing.  I think we are way to legalistic about it..  There is no list of words we should not say in the bible.  When talking about sin, I think that the bible is often quite profane itself.  Look at Jeremiah 2:20 for example.  That is graphically profane.  How about Galatians 5:12?  If a preacher said something like that today, it would be considered “Unchristian” by most.

I think the real issue is that many folks use cuss words as punctuation.  They describe things that are not profane with profane terms.  Only Sinful and corrupt things ought to be described with such language.
When we complain about the relatively trivial trials in life that God placed in our lives to refine us, and to sanctify us, it is insulting God.  It is either a denial of God’s sovreignty over the issue, or it is a cursing God for his discipline.  Either way, not good.

Crap. Im screwed.  It sucks to be me. Good thing I believe in eternal security or i’d burn in hell probably. Thankfully he didnt mention fart though.  I said that 20 times once.

I was waiting for Ed to actually swear, and was left waiting till the end.

I agree that the gospel is offensive enough, but in the circles I travel, substituting darn, poop and the like for some of the heavier words simply reeks of pretentious pharisaism rather than “offence”.

I agree with the scriptures that abusive speech is out, but I would argue that abuse can only be determined by the one being abused. If the one being abused happens to be a Christian, they should defer to the obviously weaker brethren who continue to pepper their speech with certain four letter words that remain on an unknown apocryphal parchment somewhere.

Who was the audience on this? Sounds like it was pastors and leaders, not a church congregation.

I don’t see much of an issue here. Ed is right. We should be careful about the words we use, and about the meaning behind them. Any word can be a cuss word at that point. And he used some that many I associate with have no problem with, some “borderline words”, imho.

That said, different words are dirtier than others in different cultures. I remember using what I thought was a very innocuous word in congregation with somebody from another English-speaking country, only to find out that that word was EXTREMELY profane there… And some we use here that are very profane aren’t considered as much elsewhere…

Culture and content. that’s what we need to watch.

Ed is absolutely right.  We are to be in the world, but not of it, and we are not to be conformed to this world.  When we communicate as the world does, what makes us any different?  Or, when we lie, steal, commiit adultry, covet riches, or commit any othe sin in front of the world, what do we have to offer them that is any different than what they already have, or demonstrate a life being lived any differently than the way they are already living?
This is not legalism, this is obedience to the call to be a Holy people. 

Have forgotten that we are to be a holy people?  Unfortunately, the way we communicate, or values, and our behavior, far too often looks more like the rest of the world than being an example ofGodliness.

JOB,

You’re missing my point I’m afraid. The S-word, for instance, has not always been considered foul by everybody. It’s a relatively new happening. In fact, it is the word that farmers use, without it being “dirty” or foul. I have heard compelling arguments that it is in fact the best translation of the word “skubalon” which Paul uses to say he considers everything “rubbish” (or, more accurately in the KJV, “dung").

The word that offended my friend from New Zealand is a better example. It was a totally innocuous word, considered completely inoffensive to anybody… except a Kiwi.

It’s about the church being sensitive to culture, not being dictated by it.

Peter, I agree that there are words that in the culture of for example a farm that would not be considered swearing on a farm, but I know a lot of farmers who would consider the same word as swearing if it were in church. 

I believe there are words that are swearing in america that will always be swearing in america when it comes to the pulpit… simply becasue my culture has no problem with it does not make it not a swear word.  Simply because my culture has no problem with it does not mean there are not better words. 

I think the reaction of surprise in secular people indicates that these words are somewhat taboo.

That said, I also am not sure of the use of some words that Ed gives us.  I do not use swear words nor do I use sexual inuendo, double meanings, suggestive talk.  I have however used phrases such as:

Undies in a wad… blow smoke up your skirt or trousers, I use the word sucks about once a year… I have said Jesus was so stinking smart…

These, in Ed’s video seemed like he was against, especially the word sucks. 

I also watched the video that you linked to JOB.  Still chewing on it but not sure I liked it too much.  I did not disagree with the concept and even some of the truth, but still did not much care for it… Like I said, I am chewing on it and thanks for linking it.

There is an important point being missed, perhaps the most important. The issue is not the word, but why the word is used. If it is in service of “chasing cool” then any word is profane. Ed does not address this. If he wants to chastise preachers for something, he should chastise them for trying to be cool, but he does not, perhaps because he must then chastise himself. I can imagine Jesus uttering almost anything, but I cannot imagine him “trying” to be something, least of all cool.

JOB writes:
““Culture absolutely determines which words are acceptable or not.”

Not for believers, the Bible determines that.”

OK...someone show me the list in scripture.  If you cannot show me where the Bible say exactly what words are acceptable, then you should refrain from making unsupportable assertions.