Last night as our family was eating a tasty evening meal, the question came up from one of my kids: "What do you do if you work with people who claim to be Christian, play Christian music on the radio, but swear just as often and make fun of others just as freely as the non-Christian does?" How do you answer that? One of our kids was confused and asked a follow-up question: "Christians wouldn't do that, would they dad? I mean if we claim to be believers in Jesus, why would people swear?" Another one of my kids responded, "They want to be cool." Another one said, "I think because they don't believe God is watching." Another one asked, "Isn't that hypocrisy?" I think all of the above answers are right. I know there are some of you out there that will argue the symbolic meaning of words, and how words are just sounds that are assigned cultural meaning which really have no particular meaning at all so swearing isn't really swearing it is just tossing insignificant words in the air..blah, blah, blah. I am not going to even acknowledge such silly sophistry... The truth is scripture wants us to reflect Jesus, and our words do matter. So why are some Christians so nonchalant about not wanting to reflect Jesus in what they say? And this doesn't just include words, but people are ignoring Jesus in their actions as well? Many Christians shun the unlovely. Many Christians cheat the tax man. Many Christians get angry and upset at the drop of a hat. Many Christians pick up porn. Many Christians gossip. Why? Oh sure, we all are sinners and sinners will sin -- but is that answer valid? Does that kind of reasoning offer us a legitimate escape clause when I want to ignore the will of God? Why did God save us and give us his Spirit? For fun? He really does "expect" us to be like his Son. Excuses and following popular trends are not legit, and I think they actually sour the stomach of God. Why is the world so dark you ask? Why does it seem like Satan is winning you wonder? Because a large population of Christians no longer think they need to behave like the Salt & Light they were meant to be. Dinner table discussions may seem trivial; but more practical theology is shared over a good meal of white chicken chili than any seminary or Sunday school class could ever boast. Parents, the question for you is, are you prepared to listen and give a good answer? That is where your kids learn to become the Salt & Light, that is where your kids learn to think, that is where you kids learn to hate hypocrisy. So, do you swear at work?
2 Comments
Char
1/21/2015 01:37:32 am
I remember once when I worked in the lunchroom of a local factory, the supervisors from the plant were having a meeting at one of the tables. I heard much swearing going on and when I looked over there, it was an elder from my church that I was hearing. I was flabbergasted! Growing up in the church, I hadn't been out in the "real world" very much, but I was horrified to hear such words coming from a man I respected and presumed was godly-he was an elder after all. Now that I'm much older, and have ridden the bumps and bends of life, I realize that all people do indeed sin. But that, like you said, isn't an excuse. I work in a bowling alley. Now, if there's any place that you're going to hear, shall I say, colorful language, it's there. My ears almost ache from the causes and f-bombs going off. Old, young, male, female. It doesn't seem to matter any more. Thankfully, I have been able to escape the dreadful practice-probably because I just abhor it so much. I like to think that my lack of swearing is actually visible in my bowling world, so in a small way, I am being salt and light. Now, if I could just get rid of a few other bad habits.........
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chris
1/21/2015 06:19:14 am
thanks Char!
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