They're Just Words

I have heard the phrase “they’re just words” said by a prolific swearer, in an attempt to explain or excuse his inability to speak without profanity. “It’s just street language” is another way they might reply. Then there are those who swear now and again because they can’t help it as the words just tumble out. Then the justification is that they have always been like that so they can’t stop it now. It’s too late to change. There is a third type of swearing person, and that’s the one who hardly ever uses bad language, and who will use it for shock effect, or to reinforce a point. That way, the point is not overlooked. It is calculated and used to make sure you pay attention.

The Christian doesn’t swear, and they don’t have to take the Lord’s name in vain either. The reason is that their tongue and lips have been cleaned up. An encounter with Jesus Christ can and will remove the habit.

However, there is yet another category of person we need to recognise. These are the ones who claim Christ as Saviour, but like living close to the edge in their use of language. So, words which rhyme with a curse might be used in its place. Then there has been no swearing, but the listener knows what is going on and the witness (if any was intended) is lost. And what about someone who is called to a sanctified life of holiness, but occasionally and deliberately uses certain words for effect which can have a double meaning, leaving the message of any Word/words less than edifying, and does not reflect a Godly example? Let’s leave it there, except for these few verses which should be our guide into everything we say…..

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Matthew 5:37

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;… James 3:8,9

Language

TV comedy star Sir David Jason has hit out at the amount of sex and swearing that children are exposed to on modern television. His comments follow a BBC executive’s claim that crude language is acceptable in comedies because they are designed to cause offence and make viewers “flinch”. Sir David, who played Del Boy Trotter in the classic BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses, said he finds it impossible to protect his ten-year-old daughter Sophie from sexual content and swearing on television.
Stripping

In an interview for the Christmas Radio Times, the actor said: “I try to protect what she sees on television, but you can’t. “Take the adverts. I was watching SpongeBob, a favourite cartoon of ours, but suddenly a scent advert came on with this girl stripping off as she walks towards the camera. “It’s done for mums but they forget a lot of girls are watching these powerful images.”

Boundaries
Sir David, 71, slammed modern-day comedians, saying, “Today they push down the barriers. Take the F word. It’s become commonplace.” The actor added: “There wasn’t much on the telly the other night so with Sophie and her friend we watched Laurel and Hardy, made in the 1930s, and these kids laughed like drains. “That’s humour – doing what funny people have done since comedy began without being edgy and pushing boundaries.”

Flinch
Caroline Thomson, the BBC’s chief operating officer, told a conference last week: “Yes. I watch comedy shows and flinch. But I think sometimes that is one of the points of comedy.” The BBC chief commented that there was an “enormous inter-generational difference about what is acceptable”. She added: “It is very tricky because language that will give you offence, won’t give me offence. And language which gives me serious offence won’t give my son offence.”

Swearing
But Vivienne Pattison, director of Mediawatch UK, said the comments proved Miss Thomson was “out of step with her audience”. She added: “Ofcom do research every year asking if there is too much swearing on TV. “And more than 50 per cent of viewers say there is too much. “The idea that bad language in comedy is good – it’s not big, it’s not clever and it’s not funny.”

Foul Language

Record numbers of people are complaining about the use of foul language on TV and radio programmes. Ofcom, the communications regulator, received 500 complaints in the first three months of this year, and has been asked to rule on a further 1,159 complaints from 2009. These figures represent a significant increase since 2006 when there were 841 complaints.

Obscene

Critics have attacked the use of obscene language, and called on Ofcom to impose stricter guidelines. Vivienne Pattison, director of Mediawatch-UK, said: “This kind of language is not tolerated in the office or in the playground, so why is it on television? “Ofcom’s guidelines should also be tightened up so it is really clear what is acceptable and what is not. And when a company breaches the guidelines there should be real sanctions.”

One of the things I dislike the most, living in the West of Scotland, is the 'street language'. That's the name given for foul mouthed people, who speak about other foul mouthed people, as if it's an excuse or even a reason for swearing and cursing openly.

It's not too difficult to see the reasons for this unacceptable behaviour. We have come to tolerate much more bad language on TV, and it is even used in the home. No surprise then, when toddlers learn at an early age how to curse like the rest of the population, and the parents have the nerve to say, "I don't know where they picked that up". It's funny how they also know how to use the words, and what tone of voice to take!


It is also becoming evident that people who don't actually swear will substitute a word which sounds like swearing, rhymes with the real swear word, and can be used in the same manner. This is usually adopted by those who don't want to be said to swear, but want to 'join the club' of those who do, maybe making themselves appear bigger than they are, and don't have the nerve or backbone to be different, and speak without cursing! I find the non swearing 'swearers' harder to accept than those who swear outright. I think it is the pretence of 'goodness' that gets to me most. 


I certainly would not advocate cursing and swearing at any age, or by any person, so my message to those who are on the fringes of having a foul mouth is, STOP IT, you are doing yourself no favours!!!