Christians & cuss words............
In the Jan/Feb edition of RELEVANT there is an advert on page 31 for the new cd by Ferraby Lionheart who until now i had not heard of. The advert says the following:"You will probably enjoy the shit out of Ferraby Lionheart. I'm sorry, there's just no other way for me to put it." The Tripwire
So, technically RELEVANT didn't use the word, they just quoted someone else's use of the word. In the same way, i have quoted it for the sake of drawing your attention to it. I wanted to know what the general opinion on this was.................in Northern Ireland amongst "most christians" and amongst most customers i see, it is most definitely NOT acceptable! So is it ok? I reckon there definitely are other ways for the Tripwire to "put it"........don't you?
Labels: christian, music, relevant, supersimbo
posted by supersimbo at 2/03/2008 08:24:00 PM
18 Comments:
There's a famous interview with Steve Camp that was published years ago in CCM - not an advert, but an actual article where he used the word "bullshit" and they printed it as is. There was a big bruhaha, and Camp vowed to never work with them again. But he did say it, they did print it, and they have since made up, I think. For what it's worth, I don't think either case was a big deal - I didn't see the ad you mention until you mentioned it. Benefit of the doubt says no one noticed the copy. Worst case is that someone did notice and made a conscious decision to include. Either way, it's not that big of a deal, to me anyway.
RELEVANT magazine is fantastic! And its not them using the word, so it shouldn't really effect their magazine in terms of publicity and/or sales.
I would agree there are other ways of putting it. Personally, as a Christian I don't swear and wish to keep it that way, sometimes I am shocked at the very liberal attitude some Christians have regarding such issues.
They all need to go and read James 3 in my opinion!!!
I REALLY have a problem with this. Thanks for pointing it out, Ally. As a magazine "Relevant" has the responsibility to monitor what is submitted, seeing as they usually pay for content. While the reviewer in question may not be a "Relevant" employee, they were contracted by "Relevant" to do the review. This "it wasn't technically them" line of thinking doesn't work in the rest of the print world... how many newspapers have had to print retractions (and many editors have lost their jobs) over something they have chosen to print, regardless of whether the original author was an official employee of theirs?
Thanks for bringing this up, Ally - I'm going to post a blog on it myself, I believe.
If you dont link me back in your post i will kick yer ass Jer!!! thanks for the comment, i had a chat with the UK distibutor/rep for the mag, he had not spotted it but was glad i pointed it out, he expects some of his uk customers to complain! I kinda feel like i could have started a whole hooooha!!
In my humble opinion, not a big deal.
You realize John the Baptist, Jesus and Paul all used what was considered "strong language" for their day as well right? "White-washed tombs," "brood of vipers" and "rubbish" were in the New Testament vernacular.
The issue here is that words your grandparents might find offensive aren't offensive to today's generation. Even Jr. Highers use internet speak like "DGAF" and this has even passed to Dominos Pizza who has the new "BDF" deal.
And certainly nowhere in scripture do we ever find a place where individual words are discouraged of use. We have commands to not use unwholesome speech and profanity, but these are topical ideas. This is about what you are talking about - not the words you use but how you use them. "Profanity" is simply what is not holy. Are certain phonetic sounds holy and others not? Is the minor key still the key of the devil?
This is a good article on the subject: http://doableevangelism.com/2006/04/22/cussing-christians/
Should RELEVANT not use whatever language it feels the need to and shift the burden of responsibility to the consumer? Would it be better if they said shiznazz? Do the two words not mean the same? Is shiznazz a word? When I'm cleaning up after the dog, what do I do once I've thought "it" ? Ah, we Christians and our libertine semantics.
Word up! (what does that mean...really?)
Nice can of worms Ally! :)
I think most Christians could stand to loosen up a little, and drop a well-placed f-bomb every now and again! Or at least an s-bomb... I don't see how it really affects anything if it's done in good humor.
HAHA Krista, you will notice that i said
"I reckon there definitely are other ways for the Tripwire to "put it"........don't you?"
and stated that amongst "most" Christians in N.Ireland it would not be acceptable.............
However, i have not given an opinion of my own as such! Like you say, a can of worms and i appeared to have opened it but i guess if i am being honest that has been my intention, i wanted to know what people thought and so far its cool to see different reactions.
Perhaps in my case, no opinion stated is an opinion in itself! ha
I did notice you rather left out your opinion! Clever....
:)
Good evening from Tennessee!
Good sermon on the subject at http://www.sandalschurch.com/media/video.asp.
Check out INKED 3 on 4/22/07
Some things can only be expressed with certain words.
Good evening from Tennessee!
Good sermon on the subject at http://www.sandalschurch.com/media/video.asp.
Check out INKED 3 on 4/22/07
Some things can only be expressed with certain words.
to me, its much ado. . . i have too many 'pre Christian' friends to get my knickers in a twist over a swear. . its how ppl talk.
but, i think that a "Christian" magazine shouldn't print a word like that. Its just confusing for people who are trying to form their opinions of what Christianity talks like, sounds like, thinks like. i don't know, everything i try to say here sounds not right. . i've sworn, not for 'verbal garnish' or for cred as a 'real person'. . but just cuz i made a bad worse choice and didn't use my vocabulary. I'm not really a fan of 'substitute swears' but i've been known to abuse 'crap' or 'frig' or 'flip'
so yeah, i'm a hypocrite and DO use substitute swears!!! This is as broad as its long, eh?
When i think of Christians getting up in arms over such a word being printed, for whatever reason and in whatever context. .go ahead and be shocked if you like, but i'd like for them to be more shocked by things like sexual trafficking, suicide rates among adolescents, military spending in light of world starvation, AIDS, abuse issues. . .
The weird thing is, they haven't even used it in the correct context. I mean I can't think of any situation were shit would be one bit enjoyable?
It sounds like some kind of translation error - like those mandarin-english translated signs in China.
;-)
HAHA thats a very good point actually!! "swear" words are often used out of context like this though
Now, first off, let me just say that I am a little bias because the person that wrote this review is a very good friend of mine. I am however a believer, so I feel like I can weigh in a little bit.
Relevant is a good music magazine. They are arguably part of the movement that's been called the Emerging church, often known for cussing, smoking, hipstering etc. Being from Texas, the "Bible Belt," I've seen a lot of different denominations converging and the unique Christian cultures that they foster. To my Presbyterian friends, the word "sh**" is just a more descriptive term than other choice words. To my friends who go to Bible churches, it's a little more taboo. So it's all a matter of opinion. Besides, the Greek version of the word is arguably used even in the Bible in Philippians 3:8!
Now as to the discussion as to the correct usage of the word in the sense of this review, I don't know, taken as a colloquialism, or vernacular, I think it's ok.
Just read Kathryn's comment. Her response is better than mine, she pretty much sums it up.
My dad a p.o.w. of the battle of the bulge I loved very much.Even tho when he took me in the bars with him at pre school age on.I knew the smells,and talk and darkness were not good. The cursing and cussing was scary, strange and not welcome to me as a very small child. Surprise I used the words when older. TILL I Met Jesus Christ who convicted me and helped me stop.Every Christian I know that has been Born Again started changing the potty talk and worse.Rock n Rollers I have known and drug users
language is usually worse.If I hear a preacher in talking like that I'll make a door if i can not find one.
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