“Jack Bauer drops the F bomb!”
(PART I)
Interesting title huh?
Hopefully as you read it’ll make sense to you!
We’re studying the 3rd chapter of 2 Timothy at church; Paul begins the chapter by saying;
1 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” 2 Tim 3:1-4
Our pastor pointed out that there are 18 different behaviors (or character traits) listed in verses 1-4, and I’m sure that you will all agree that everyone of them is prevalent in these last days. Pastor Dave also pointed out that all of these behaviors flow out of, or flow from the first one listed in verse 2; “For men will be lovers of themselves…” (Think about it!)
Although each one is definitely not a good thing, and each points to the self-centeredness and depravity of mankind, the one that stood out for me the other day and prompted me to write today was in verse 2 where it says “in the last days” men (and women) will be “blasphemers”. I could write about each one of the others (and I might), but this one reminded me of how we open our mouths at times and nothing but garbage comes out.
In James 3 he says;
2 “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” James 3:2-12
These verses should be especially convicting to those of us who have received God’s free gift (The Holy Spirit), and live by His grace through faith. Do we stumble as followers of Christ? Yes! Are we a perfect man as referred in verse 2? Um! No! But we do need to live our life dependent on Him, striving to be His “spring” of fresh water to those who are thirsty.
Let’s look at this word blaspheme for a minute! Of course we all know what it means to blaspheme, or to use The Lord’s name in vain, but sadly there are some who do it every single day, many times a day, and what’s worse is they don’t even think about what they’re saying or what they are actually doing when they say it.
My Webster’s says; “Blaspheme – show contempt for (God or sacred things, especially in speech)”.
How do you react (even if only in your mind) when you hear someone “innocently” say; “Oh God!” or maybe just “God!” I’ve even seen it misspelled in books…on purpose! “O’ Gawd!” or “Gad!” Here’s another, what do you think about when you hear that infamous phrase used very often, which can only be said in a slow monotone way; “Oh - My - God!” How do you react? Are you offended? Do you shrugg it off as no big deal? Ya’know, I’ve heard young children, 4 and 5 years old say “Oh! My God!” do they know what they’re saying? I’d be willing to bet I know where they heard it first or at least by whom they are not being corrected.
Do these people realize what has just come out of their mouths when they say it? And if they do, why would they say it? What is the reason? Is it so the hearer would get the full effect of what the sayer is trying to convey? Is it to get a laugh or just a chuckle? Or is it ultimately to draw attention to them selves? Are the ones that use phrases like these believers in God? And if they are, are they followers? Are they at all convicted by what they say?
Convict – prove or declare guilty. (Webster’s Dictionary)
So let me ask you another question; What is so wrong with using phrases like these? Using cute little words like “Geez?” or “Gee whiz?” or even “Cheese and Crackers?” In my personal opinion, all three of these are replacement words for the name of our Lord “Jesus”, would you agree? I’ve heard some people go so far as to include the whole holy family into their conversation with a verbal dismay of, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Again, do they know what they’re saying, or that they even just said it? And what is the argument that a person would have to justify using any of the examples from above? Please let me know your thoughts!
Right about now I can hear some of you saying; “Oh! Geez! Lighten up Tony! I mean really! Jiminy Christmas! It’s the way the world talks these days! And besides, God knows why I’m using this language, it’s just a form of expression, He understands!”
Does He really?
1 “And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" Exodus 20:1-7
(PART I)
Interesting title huh?
Hopefully as you read it’ll make sense to you!
We’re studying the 3rd chapter of 2 Timothy at church; Paul begins the chapter by saying;
1 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” 2 Tim 3:1-4
Our pastor pointed out that there are 18 different behaviors (or character traits) listed in verses 1-4, and I’m sure that you will all agree that everyone of them is prevalent in these last days. Pastor Dave also pointed out that all of these behaviors flow out of, or flow from the first one listed in verse 2; “For men will be lovers of themselves…” (Think about it!)
Although each one is definitely not a good thing, and each points to the self-centeredness and depravity of mankind, the one that stood out for me the other day and prompted me to write today was in verse 2 where it says “in the last days” men (and women) will be “blasphemers”. I could write about each one of the others (and I might), but this one reminded me of how we open our mouths at times and nothing but garbage comes out.
In James 3 he says;
2 “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” James 3:2-12
These verses should be especially convicting to those of us who have received God’s free gift (The Holy Spirit), and live by His grace through faith. Do we stumble as followers of Christ? Yes! Are we a perfect man as referred in verse 2? Um! No! But we do need to live our life dependent on Him, striving to be His “spring” of fresh water to those who are thirsty.
Let’s look at this word blaspheme for a minute! Of course we all know what it means to blaspheme, or to use The Lord’s name in vain, but sadly there are some who do it every single day, many times a day, and what’s worse is they don’t even think about what they’re saying or what they are actually doing when they say it.
My Webster’s says; “Blaspheme – show contempt for (God or sacred things, especially in speech)”.
How do you react (even if only in your mind) when you hear someone “innocently” say; “Oh God!” or maybe just “God!” I’ve even seen it misspelled in books…on purpose! “O’ Gawd!” or “Gad!” Here’s another, what do you think about when you hear that infamous phrase used very often, which can only be said in a slow monotone way; “Oh - My - God!” How do you react? Are you offended? Do you shrugg it off as no big deal? Ya’know, I’ve heard young children, 4 and 5 years old say “Oh! My God!” do they know what they’re saying? I’d be willing to bet I know where they heard it first or at least by whom they are not being corrected.
Do these people realize what has just come out of their mouths when they say it? And if they do, why would they say it? What is the reason? Is it so the hearer would get the full effect of what the sayer is trying to convey? Is it to get a laugh or just a chuckle? Or is it ultimately to draw attention to them selves? Are the ones that use phrases like these believers in God? And if they are, are they followers? Are they at all convicted by what they say?
Convict – prove or declare guilty. (Webster’s Dictionary)
So let me ask you another question; What is so wrong with using phrases like these? Using cute little words like “Geez?” or “Gee whiz?” or even “Cheese and Crackers?” In my personal opinion, all three of these are replacement words for the name of our Lord “Jesus”, would you agree? I’ve heard some people go so far as to include the whole holy family into their conversation with a verbal dismay of, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Again, do they know what they’re saying, or that they even just said it? And what is the argument that a person would have to justify using any of the examples from above? Please let me know your thoughts!
Right about now I can hear some of you saying; “Oh! Geez! Lighten up Tony! I mean really! Jiminy Christmas! It’s the way the world talks these days! And besides, God knows why I’m using this language, it’s just a form of expression, He understands!”
Does He really?
1 “And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" Exodus 20:1-7
Others of you might even be asking, (becaue I know I would be) “What about you Tony? Are you gonna tell me you never cuss? You’ve never used the Lord’s Name in vain? Are you gonna tell me that since you started following The Lord, that you’ve never dropped the dreaded “F – bomb”?” My answer to you admittedly and sadly is “Yes! I have used some pretty bad language, and very recently too!” In fact just the other day I was soooo frustrated putting this patio table together that some pretty bad words flew out of this mouth, the same mouth which I use for “blessing” I used for “cursing”. Fortunately, I was just out of ear shot of my wife, she knew I was angry and I was swearing, but probably (hopefully) couldn’t make out many of the words, but I wasn’t out of ear shot of God!
The weird thing was, I surprised myself after my tirade! Where was this coming from? I couldn’t understand it as I later sat on the couch contemplating what had happened earlier. I back tracked to the night before and thought about how I was in the God’s Word, and had good time with The Lord, that morning was great, I woke with the Lord on my mind, Cece and I were fine with each other, and then it dawned on me that God was telling me something, no, more like He was teaching me something. He was teaching me that I should have prayed before I began that project, that I need to remember to include Him in everything that I do.
In teaching me, was it God that made me swear? No! But He allowed me to go it alone, which by not asking for His help in the first place, is what I wanted anyway. He allowed me to go beyond the point of frustration to a point of “I CAN DO THIS AND I WILL DO THIS!!!” And after all was done and said, He brought me back to the realization of Himself, and how much I need Him every minute of my life.
Oh! And by the way, here’s a little heads up for you guys out there;
WARNING: Keep in mind that as summer approaches, you too may find yourself putting patio furniture together, but beware, when it says on the box “No tools required!” what this really means is that in the box you’re gonna find a little bag of screws, they won’t be just any kind of screws, they will be “Hex” screws. They couldn’t just put “Standard” screws in the little bag, or even “Phillip” screws in it, No, they have to be Hex screws, and what rhymes with the word Hex, that’s right, Vex, and that’s what it had me that day… “annoyed”. But Hey! No need to worry because also inside the little bag you will find that evil little tool from the devil himself, “the Allen Wrench”, and there is where my frustration began. I’m tell’n ya, whoever invented that tool should be taken out and..….Oops! there I go, see how easy it can happen?!
Anyway! I remember before I really began to follow Christ over 20 years ago, I would get the attention of family members and friends at Bar-b-Que’s and family reunions, by quoting Richard Pryor routines…word for word. Man! Talk about dropping “F-Bombs”, my mouth was foul, but I thought it was funny. You see, in my wordly thinking, Richard Pryor was the funniest guy out there, and he was, but every other word was the F word or the S word. I remember my cousins laughing when I would do a routine, or when I gave ‘em a good joke I just heard, very rarely did they not laugh. But on occasion I would cross that invisible line with what I was saying or a joke I was telling, and they didn’t laugh, in fact it seemed more of a scowl that would come over them. Man! As I think about it now, some of the stuff that came out of my mouth to get a laugh, well quite frankly, I’m pretty ashamed of. But! I remember after I got my life right with God, one of my cousins could actually see the change in me, and even made mention of the way I used to be, and the way I used to talk, and how I talked now, it was pretty cool to hear, I thanked her, and then thanked God and gave Him the Glory and credit.
So where am I going with all this? I know of least one brother in my men’s group I probably lost a few paragraphs back, but that’s okay, love ya anyway bro!
I guess I’m trying to bring home the fact that things have changed! That’s kinda of a “duh” statement I know, but think about it. Remember when ‘Gone with the Wind” came out? Um, yeah, I don’t either, but it was 1939 and the big brouhaha of the day was that Rhett Butler told Scarlett O’Hara that frankly, he didn’t give a “D----“ my dear! Look at where we’ve come to, in the movies, on T.V. and even in news stories that come out these days, the crimes are getting more and more heinous. Forget “global warming”! This world is dying due to deprivation, it becomes sicker and sicker every day.
It’s funny how people will be so conscious of the ecology of the earth and not look at what’s really killing it. How much do you think God is gonna put up with people? How different are we from Sodom and Gomorrah? What was it that made God so angry back in Noah’s day that He would destroy the earth?
5 “Then the LORD[b] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:5-8
13 “And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Genesis 6:13
Something to think about! I’ll continue with PART II in a day or so. I welcome any comments or questions!
Lord! I pray that Your Name would be gloified again in this world! I pray that when people say Your name that it would be out of reverence to You Father and not in vuglarity. I pray that people would see that You are the creator, that You love them with an unfathomable love. Your name is wonderful! Amen!
5 “Then the LORD[b] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:5-8
13 “And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Genesis 6:13
Something to think about! I’ll continue with PART II in a day or so. I welcome any comments or questions!
Lord! I pray that Your Name would be gloified again in this world! I pray that when people say Your name that it would be out of reverence to You Father and not in vuglarity. I pray that people would see that You are the creator, that You love them with an unfathomable love. Your name is wonderful! Amen!
posted by In His Grip at 9:58 AM
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