March 16th, 2015

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Railed

Monday, March 16th, 2015

In Sunday’s sermon I talked about the two thieves on either side of Jesus. Matthew seems to indicate they both went on the offensive in mocking Jesus, but somewhere along the line one of them changed. Luke 23 tells us while the one “railed” against Jesus, the other basically told him to ‘shut up’ because while they were guilty, He was innocent.

What a strange word: railed. The ESV uses it while others use “scoff” (NLT); “blasphemed” (NKJV); “cursed” (MSG); “yell insults” (HCSB); and “hurling abuse” (NASB). We are more familiar with the others, but railed? Not so much. As you can gather, there are several meanings to the word. One of the things I found is it included obscenities.

I suspect some may be offended by what I say in this post…well, so be it. I am not an idiot. I can read reports of the change of values. I can see them. One of them is the use of obscenities/profanity. Without a doubt it has been a part of history, probably since the beginning of time in one way or another. I guess what bothers me is the lackadaisical attitude so many followers of Christ have toward the use of obscenities. I realize it is in vogue. Strange as it may seem to you: I married a woman who has never uttered a profanity out of anger or just speaking. (Wish I could say that). And we certainly did not allow “OMG!” (or some form of it) to be used in our household.

I also know I come from a different age. Never is that more  evident than the common (mis)use of obscenities from the pulpit. Frankly, I am appalled by the use of profanity in or out of the pulpit by men who say they are called by God. I have great difficulty believing Jesus would approve of our use of profanity to “reach the masses.” I seem to  remember Paul saying, “But now you must put them all away…obscene talk from your mouth.” (Col.3:8)

I may be wrong (but don’t think I am), Christ-followers are to have a different speech pattern than those who don’t follow Jesus. That includes all of us. That especially includes men who stand in the pulpit.

What do you think?