18/09/2026
I agree. I've said for a while no word is a bad word for God is the Word. What is bad is the intention of your words. Being cruel to anyone over anything isn't acceptable but we excuse our cruelty. Vulgarity is saying you're following Christ why you stand a hypocrite in not loving your neighbors. Yes words matter but it starts in the mind and heart. You can cuss all day and I won't care but a stance of cruelty, injustice, inequality will really make me mad. We all can do better in some area but the shallowness of Christian offense is deafening.
The introduction to one of Tony Compolo’s more famous sermons went like this:
"I have three things I’d like to say today.
First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition.
Second, most of you don't give a s**t.
What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said s**t than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night."
Usually when people tell me not to swear they reference Ephesians five which says “vulgar talk” is “out of place” in church.
I don’t disagree but I’d like to challenge your definition of vulgar talk.
Calling people coming to use our foodbank lazy grifters.
I find that vulgar.
Shaming poor people for not putting money in the collection.
I find that vulgar.
Pissy comments to parents of young children when the kids make noise in church.
I find that vulgar.
Judgemental comments aimed at single parents.
I find that vulgar.
That boats carrying asylum seekers should be shot down.
I found that vulgar.
Overt sexism and sexist jokes. I find that vulgar.
Overt homophobia and gay jokes. I find that vulgar.
Overt racism and racist jokes. I find that vulgar.
Yet I’ve heard all of this and more said in church by Christian’s and nobody batted an eyelid but I said f**k and the church crowd is up in arms!
I think how we talk is very important. How we talk to people and how we talk about people. But I couldn’t care less if you swear.
I’ve known plenty of christians, including clergy, who won’t be caught swearing but they’ll say horrible things.
You can say horrible things without swearing at all.
You can say horrible things very nicely actually.
St James said “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.” (James 3:5)
Don’t waste time and energy watching your swear words.
What a stupid thing to be worried about!
Instead watch how you talk about people.
Watch how you talk to people.
Don’t be mean, or judgmental, or prejudiced.
Speak with kindness, with respect and with grace.
(Ps. I was gunna use a picture from a few months ago where I was using a different finger but I thought that may go too far for some!)