_I came across “this gem” by way of facebook.  Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), an ELCA school, posted a video titled “S**t Seminarians Say” (the curse words were edited by Exposing the ELCA) on their facebook page.  (see PLTS’s page here)

Let me be clear, this is on the seminary’s official facebook page, not a PLTS student’s page.

If you watch the video your treated to an individual use the “F” word.  The exact phrase is "I ****in' love kale."  (see video here)

The video was an attempt at humor, and I am sure many will find it humorous.  I just don’t know why one of our ELCA seminaries, whose job it is to instruct the future leaders of our denomination, would post a video that contains this kind of language.

The video is the work of theradicalspirit.org.  The website claims to be “an online journal of Unitarian Univeralist hope.”

And for those of you that may think I am nitpicking here, please consider the following Scripture:

Ephesians 5:4 - Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Matthew 15:10-11 - And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Colossians 3:8 - But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

James 3:10 - From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
 


Comments

Melissa Meyer
01/13/2012 2:21pm

actually not shocked or surprised which is sad, another example of the "culture" deciding what is ok instead of the Word. AND the fact that I had to unfriend someone on FB for the language they used in postings and pictures, very strong and graphic language and they happen to be an ELCA pastor working at a University in the midwest. I don't watch TV with that language in it, why would I read it on FB day after day.

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Michael
01/14/2012 11:16am

Just as an aside, it might interest you to know that the Bible has plenty of cuss words in it, they are just not translated as such.

Also, the Scripture you quote, taken in their context, does not prove the case you are trying to make. I do not mean that as a put down, just trying to point that out.

I think cussing is like farting in public or burping - it is rude and can be disgusting. Sometimes it is funny, but probably for the wrong reasons.

But I think cussing can actually rise to the level of sin in four cases:

1) If you are using a cuss word as a degradation of another person - i.e. calling someone a name or using it as an adjective, adverb, verb to describe a person or their action, etc.

2) If you are taking the Lord's name in vain or rendering his capacity to "damn" things unto yourself.

3) If you are providing a poor Christian witness to those who are unbelievers/unbaptized, and thus causing a stumbling block to the Gospel.

4) If you are offending your brother or sister in the faith or placing a stumbling block to their faith.

Whether it rises to the level of a sin or not, it usually is probably best to avoid cussing - in public, and especially on facebook.

Just because something can be done, doesn't mean we should. Does it build up the body? Does it edify? These are questions we should probably be asking ourselves.

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