Pastor's use of profanity

[Simsjaz]

Attending a new church -UPCI Affiliation- the Paster used the "S" word to illustrate how shocked we as Christians should feel with the use of profanity. I am still in shock? Any suggestions how to deal with this, for ex. ignore, look for another church, pray for direction?

[Timmy]

Attending a new church -UPCI Affiliation- the Paster used the "S" word to illustrate how shocked we as Christians should feel with the use of profanity. I am still in shock? Any suggestions how to deal with this, for ex. ignore, look for another church, pray for direction?

Throw profanity back at him, only worse. See how high it can escalate!

J/K. I really don't know what the deal is with "bad words", anyway, so I don't think I have any advice for you. Good advice, anyway. :lol

[Cindy]

I think he was trying to make a point, so you might overlook it. If it happens again, maybe he has a problem.

[BroJoe]

If he did it over the pulpit, I'd call him out on it.

I've been taught to reverence the House of God. The pulpit is a sacred desk that should be treated with honor and respect. Cursing or using profanity over the pulpit is unacceptable.

[RandyWayne]

If he did it over the pulpit, I'd call him out on it.

I've been taught to reverence the House of God. The pulpit is a sacred desk that should be treated with honor and respect. Cursing or using profanity over the pulpit is unacceptable.

Even if a word is uttered that is considered perfectly acceptable in, lets say, Iceland, but isn't here?

An example: My pastors brother when on a missionary trip in Iceland for several months. He very quickly discovered that they had no word for manure there other than s**t. It WAS a proper noun said by young and old alike.

Of course he used it in private conversation upon returning when talking about his experiences. Lets just say that a few belly laughs en-soughed.

[BroJoe]

Even if a word is uttered that is considered perfectly acceptable in, lets say, Iceland, but isn't here?

An example: My pastors brother when on a missionary trip in Iceland for several months. He very quickly discovered that they had no word for manure there other than s**t. It WAS a proper noun said by young and old alike.

Of course he used it in private conversation upon returning when talking about his experiences. Lets just say that a few belly laughs en-soughed.


Bro. Jeff Arnold did something similar while in Scotland preaching their General Conference.

The American definition for fanny is our rear-end. The Scottish definition for fanny is the female genital area. He used it in his sermon and the entire congregation was horrified.

But in your context, no that'd be something completely different.

[Sam]

Reminds me of a Tony Campolo quote.

Dr. Anthony "Tony" Campolo (born February 25, 1935) an American pastor, sociologist, author, and speaker stated:

"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."

[jediwill83]

Theres a movie with Michael W. Smith that has a very good scene similar to this....ill try to find it.

[Nitehawk013]

If he did it over the pulpit, I'd call him out on it.

I've been taught to reverence the House of God. The pulpit is a sacred desk that should be treated with honor and respect. Cursing or using profanity over the pulpit is unacceptable.

I have been taught the same. UNfortunately, the church building isn't the "House of God"...WE ARE. The Pulpit isn't sacred...it didn't exist in church for centuries and came out of paganism. Cursing is pronouncing a curse...cussing is just using colorful adjectives that someone decided at some point to be "bad words". And profanity by definition is somethign profane. Most "cuss" words are not profane things but rather just different words for normal things.

Not that I support cussing and such, but we hang on to stupid traditional reasoning in so many areas it drives me insane. Like God REALLY cares if I say excrement, poo poo or the "S" word. Or if I say "Oh shucky darn" or drop an "F bomb" if I smash my finger with a hammer.

[Timmy]

Even if a word is uttered that is considered perfectly acceptable in, lets say, Iceland, but isn't here?

An example: My pastors brother when on a missionary trip in Iceland for several months. He very quickly discovered that they had no word for manure there other than s**t. It WAS a proper noun said by young and old alike.

Of course he used it in private conversation upon returning when talking about his experiences. Lets just say that a few belly laughs en-soughed.

Gestures mean different things in different cultures, too. ;)

[RandyWayne]

Gestures mean different things in different cultures, too. ;)

It is particularly funny when someone of an older generation tries to describe and ultimately show a "gesture" that another driver gave them on the highway for doing who-knows-what (knowing the people, driving two slow in the left lane).

[acerrak]

If he did it over the pulpit, I'd call him out on it.

I've been taught to reverence the House of God. The pulpit is a sacred desk that should be treated with honor and respect. Cursing or using profanity over the pulpit is unacceptable.

well brother im gonna disagree the pulpit isnt sacred. the position has been put on a pedastool. Jesus along with the disciples was open air preachers. while i agree with you on the conduct, i dont think cursing or swearing needs to be in the building.

we dont need to hold the pulpit or any specific office over another. the idea of the pullpit would be developed through catholicism

Sam does a great break down about overseers and how they used to pastor the churches in the day of the apostles. today most elders are only envolved on the side while usually the elected pastor stands at the pulpit.

[The Matt]

Attending a new church -UPCI Affiliation- the Paster used the "S" word to illustrate how shocked we as Christians should feel with the use of profanity. I am still in shock? Any suggestions how to deal with this, for ex. ignore, look for another church, pray for direction?

Just an example of the world's addiction to shock value. Apostolic pentecostals are just a little behind. I'd say, if your new pastor was willing to disrespect the house of God with the use of profanity, you can expect it to grow into new and worse ways to shock his crowd. You can either talk to him in the office about it, but he probably has it in his mind that he did a good thing. Or you can just not go back, which would probably be best. Consider yourself lucky that you are still new to this church when it happened, as you got a good glimpse into the kind of things you can expect from this chap before you get comfortable and develop feelings of attachment to him. If you do decide to go out and find yourself another spiritual home, I'd suggest listening for the key words "old paths whereis the good way" preached. Just my opinion. Oh, just a thought...this kind of brings to mind that youtube video of an African preacher showing homosexual er...bowel porn? to his congregation in order to shock them into being sickened by homosexuals. Demonstrating sin in order to preach against sin kind of defeats the purpose, in my opinion. Practice what you preach, no?

[LLM]

I do not feel it appropriate to use profanity and vain babblings in the pulpit.... scripture tells us of this...
II Timothy 2:16-17
16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

I would lose respect for a pastor which does this. For the ones that feel it is ok based on culture, etc. It is culture in some countries that the people go naked... so that means according to what you say people could go to church naked and it would be alright because it is the culture in some countries and thought of to be alright in these countries...my oh my... what a day and time we are living in...

[Michael The Disciple]

I have been taught the same. UNfortunately, the church building isn't the "House of God"...WE ARE. The Pulpit isn't sacred...it didn't exist in church for centuries and came out of paganism. Cursing is pronouncing a curse...cussing is just using colorful adjectives that someone decided at some point to be "bad words". And profanity by definition is somethign profane. Most "cuss" words are not profane things but rather just different words for normal things.

Not that I support cussing and such, but we hang on to stupid traditional reasoning in so many areas it drives me insane. Like God REALLY cares if I say excrement, poo poo or the "S" word. Or if I say "Oh shucky darn" or drop an "F bomb" if I smash my finger with a hammer.

An F bomb loses me. At that point I go somewhere else. When I was a kid that had a meaning and everyone knew you had went as far as you could go .

[Sam]

An F bomb loses me. At that point I go somewhere else. When I was a kid that had a meaning and everyone knew you had went as far as you could go .

When I was a kid (I'm 74 now) the "f" word was the ultimate cuss word.
I think it has lost its shock value today since it is so commonly heard and used.

[Cindy]

When I was a kid (I'm 74 now) the "f" word was the ultimate cuss word.
I think it has lost its shock value today since it is so commonly heard and used.

It still really bothers me to hear that kind of language.

[Baron1710]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YShtFyjsUVk&sns=em

Truth in humor.

[Godsdrummer]

I have been taught the same. UNfortunately, the church building isn't the "House of God"...WE ARE. The Pulpit isn't sacred...it didn't exist in church for centuries and came out of paganism. Cursing is pronouncing a curse...cussing is just using colorful adjectives that someone decided at some point to be "bad words". And profanity by definition is somethign profane. Most "cuss" words are not profane things but rather just different words for normal things.

Not that I support cussing and such, but we hang on to stupid traditional reasoning in so many areas it drives me insane. Like God REALLY cares if I say excrement, poo poo or the "S" word. Or if I say "Oh shucky darn" or drop an "F bomb" if I smash my finger with a hammer.

I agree with everything you have said, God does not care, just another example of miss use of scripture to preach against something one person or several think are wrong. I could list a whole bunch of these but won't. I laugh when some one gets upset over the use of the word ass, when the bible uses the word over and over. Esspecialy when I am corrected if I say, yesterday I saw an ass on the side of the road and they quickly correct me and say I should use the word donkey.

I must admit though the F word has and will be the ultimate form of profanity, regardless of what culture or society, it only has one meaning, that of illicite sexual realtions, something God frowns on from Genisis to Revelations.

[MawMaw]

Some of the so called curse words may or may not be wrong,
but, still, I could never sit under a Pastor that would use them
behind the pulpit or anywhere else for that matter.

[ILG]

I would be appalled. And I don't even go to church.

[Truthseeker]

"Let your speech always be with grace"

Seems to be the guys in the relevant crowd use profane words for shock reason. Grace as led people to some crazy stuff. :)

[Baron1710]

I had a pastor explain the way he invested into the church, focusing his energies on a core group and then sending them out into the rest of the body. "I don't spend my time with each member of the church, some would say that makes me a s**ty pastor"

The best pastor I have ever had.

[Timmy]

I had a pastor explain the way he invested into the church, focusing his energies on a core group and then sending them out into the rest of the body. "I don't spend my time with each member of the church, some would say that makes me a s**ty pastor"

The best pastor I have ever had.

A spotty pastor? ;)

[Exactly Maybe]

Whether it is a choice of words, illustration, or body language...... in most audiences you have children, first time guests, people with massive issues, etc. Why take a chance and place an obstacle in front of someone trying to connect with their God? Too high risk in IMHO.

[Baron1710]

A spotty pastor? ;)

Ya something like that. I don't spell we'll anyway, using * even screws me up more.

[Baron1710]

I remember a certain pastor who is also also a district superintendent, quoting someone else in the pulpit and using god d*** several times.

[mfblume]

Some cultures in our own nation use the S word without any sense of profanity. To some it is simply not a profane word. The same thing happened at a UPC general conference one year. Many were shocked but the preacher came from a background where the term was not profane.

I would mark it down as no intention of the pastor to be profane, and that he simply came from such a background that the term was not used in the profane sense that it is usually used elsewhere.

The example of Jeff Arnold overseas saying the fanny word is a prime example. So don't be so harsh on folks. It's their intentions that we need to understand. If they intended no profanity then they are innocent. They should have more wisdom to know that others do think of it as profane, but sometimes that is hard to do when you are in a flow of speaking. You often do not stop to ensure every term you use is the local term for something not profane.

[mfblume]

If there is any word that I cannot stand it is the F word. It has got to be the most vile word ever spoken from a mouth.

[Monterrey]

A spotty pastor? ;)

A sooty, the word he was using is sooty!

[Praxeas]

Attending a new church -UPCI Affiliation- the Paster used the "S" word to illustrate how shocked we as Christians should feel with the use of profanity. I am still in shock? Any suggestions how to deal with this, for ex. ignore, look for another church, pray for direction?
I don't see the value in shocking the congregation and it does not take an anointed man of God to do it

[Sheila]

Attending a new church -UPCI Affiliation- the Paster used the "S" word to illustrate how shocked we as Christians should feel with the use of profanity. I am still in shock? Any suggestions how to deal with this, for ex. ignore, look for another church, pray for direction?

What makes a curse word or profanity what it is? Mankind says this word is bad---It's in perception. We think nothing of using the words poop, ........, manure, dung, do-do. What's the difference--same stuff, same smell, same thing--It's because someone along the way said that it was a BAD word. And no we should not use the words because of the view of those that think it's BAD words and see Christians as not being as they say they are. This causes some to turn from us rather than to us. But REALLY--it's just a word that describes ......... If it's bad shouldn't the others be too? Why aren't they?
The devil plays head games with perceptions. I take it you mean the word SH--? He DID set a bad example and became a stumbling block for some.
Yeshua Bless You
P.S. The word they blanked out started with cr--.

[Timmy]

What makes a curse word or profanity what it is? Mankind says this word is bad---It's in perception. We think nothing of using the words poop, ........, manure, dung, do-do. What's the difference--same stuff, same smell, same thing--It's because someone along the way said that it was a BAD word. And no we should not use the words because of the view of those that think it's BAD words and see Christians as not being as they say they are. This causes some to turn from us rather than to us. But REALLY--it's just a word that describes ......... If it's bad shouldn't the others be too? Why aren't they?
The devil plays head games with perceptions. I take it you mean the word SH--? He DID set a bad example and became a stumbling block for some.
Yeshua Bless You
P.S. The word they blanked out started with cr--.

OK, starting now, I think "water" is a bad word. Please don't ever say it or type it in my presence. I will be offended. :lol

[hometown guy]

OK, starting now, I think "water" is a bad word. Please don't ever say it or type it in my presence. I will be offended. :lol

Water!!! :-P

[Praxeas]

Does anyone know if Sims is still shocked?:jolly

[Timmy]

Water!!! :-P

Admin!!!!!

[MrsMcD]

What makes a curse word or profanity what it is? Mankind says this word is bad---It's in perception. We think nothing of using the words poop, ........, manure, dung, do-do. What's the difference--same stuff, same smell, same thing--It's because someone along the way said that it was a BAD word. And no we should not use the words because of the view of those that think it's BAD words and see Christians as not being as they say they are. This causes some to turn from us rather than to us. But REALLY--it's just a word that describes ......... If it's bad shouldn't the others be too? Why aren't they?
The devil plays head games with perceptions. I take it you mean the word SH--? He DID set a bad example and became a stumbling block for some.
Yeshua Bless You
P.S. The word they blanked out started with cr--.

This made me lol because my 16 year-old son says the same thing about Sh-- being the same as words we don't think twice about i.e. ........, etc.

[Cindy]

This made me lol because my 16 year-old son says the same thing about Sh-- being the same as words we don't think twice about i.e. ........, etc.

Or as some children use doodie head...........and fall on the ground laughing.

[PastorTLArt]

I for one am not bothered by "profanity". I grew up hearing and using "slang" words and i think they are just that. I remember a sermon I preached quite a few years ago, I was preaching about Noah's Ark and I was trying to describe it and got totally fuddled and said that it was a really big a-- boat and not even an eyelid was batted! I guess my church feels the same way I do.

[Truthseeker]

Well, that settles it, cuss words are now wrong.

[RandyWayne]

The thing that offends me the most about "bad language" is the lack of intelligence of those who manage insert this word and that word in-between every normal one they say. Similar to comedians who use excessive foul language to take up space, which probably saves them from having to write as many jokes.

[Godzchild]

[QUOTE=Simsjaz;1170436]Attending a new church -UPCI Affiliation- the Paster used the "S" word to illustrate how shocked we as Christians should feel with the use of profanity. I am still in shock? Any suggestions how to deal with this, for ex. ignore, look for another church, pray for direction?[/QUOTE
One time from the pulpit, a very well known , now x UPC preacher....lol used Gods name in vain "to see how shocked we are...but yet we will listen to it on movies".....really had ALOT of reservations about this and never had it happened b4....still wondering about it, especially now given all that has happened in this mans life~

[Godzchild]

The thing that offends me the most about "bad language" is the lack of intelligence of those who manage insert this word and that word in-between every normal one they say. Similar to comedians who use excessive foul language to take up space, which probably saves them from having to write as many jokes.

:nod

[Jason B]

"Let your speech always be with grace"

Seems to be the guys in the relevant crowd use profane words for shock reason. Grace as led people to some crazy stuff. :)

Amen.

"Grace" seeems to be leading a lot of people to do and believe some crazy stuff, and all with no fear of penalty, because after all their "under grace." Sure is confusing to me, seems like the Biblical grace produces a greater desire for holiness and godliness, and a denying of worldly lust and behavior, but the fruits of this "grace" so widely proclaimed in Christian America is rampant carnality, and a growing more and more like the world, rather than more and more like Christ. A strange grace that is.......if it is grace at all.

[Jason B]

I don't see the value in shocking the congregation and it does not take an anointed man of God to do it

Amen.

Where are the men of God today?
There's a difference between men of God and boys who play pastor/preacher for the paycheck.

[PastorTLArt]

Amen.

"Grace" seeems to be leading a lot of people to do and believe some crazy stuff, and all with no fear of penalty, because after all their "under grace." Sure is confusing to me, seems like the Biblical grace produces a greater desire for holiness and godliness, and a denying of worldly lust and behavior, but the fruits of this "grace" so widely proclaimed in Christian America is rampant carnality, and a growing more and more like the world, rather than more and more like Christ. A strange grace that is.......if it is grace at all.

Rampant carnality according to whom? I love when fundamentalist use the words carnal and sin. There is such a misconception in the church today about sin, the church's favorite pastime is creating "sins".