As I go about the daily

browsing of various blogs, I’m noticing more and more use of expletives, both direct and in code or acronyms. Why do you suppose that ordinary people, people that would never think to use curse words in verbal communications, routinely use them in blogs? People that identify themselves as Christian? I suspect that it is just another facet of the overall decline in moral values in the US. I’ll refrain from using the “code” or acronym’s in this post for to do so would be only to legitimize the behavior of otherwise prudent people.

I noticed a crude headline on one of the blogs I frequent and asked the author why he would choose to use this language (in code) or, since he already had, why didn’t he have the courage to simply use the expletive itself? Now, I know this fella is a Christian, active in his church, etc. His response was that it had been used by a high ranking politician, therefore it was okay. We discussed something similar to his reply yesterday in class, as in how do you make yourself look better to God? Of course, the answer is that you can’t but the exercise was interesting anyway. The consensus was much the same as the answer above, we tend to compare ourselves to others and trick ourselves into thinking that we are better than them.

Even so, it still confounds me why this behavior is so prevalent amongst believers. Again, these people would never use this language verbally in a conversation at church, probably not at home, possibly at work. Why then is it so easy to type an abbreviation for an expletive in the blogsphere? Is it sort of a fantasy thing for us, almost voyeuristic? I’m not addressing non-believers, they have no compass from which to draw in this regard. But a believer has the Bible and the Bible is clear, many times over. Here is but a sampling:

• Ephesians 5:4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving.
• Colossians 3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.
• Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
• Proverbs13:3 The one who guards his words guards his life, but whoever is talkative will come to ruin.

This is but a small glimpse of what the believer should already know. Will your bad language prevent you from knowing Christ? No. Will your good language get you into heaven? No. Should you try to live your life so as to glorify Christ as much as possible? Yes.