saidsimply

Those who offend with words are not unrighteous, but those who conceal real offenses with cunning words. For example, the left refuses to say the word ‘retarded’ out of some pretended moral high-ground, but they also support aborting babies on the basis of mental disability. Their moral hypocrisy is a much greater crime than anyone who uses the R-word.

The idea that words are magical and automatically imply some deep moral status about a person will ultimately back-fire. Not only is it not true, (there are many people of high-standards who span the entire gamut of ‘banned words’) But, not only that, but it will back-fire in society as we realize that those who carefully craft their words to manipulate a public perception of their piety are far more cunning and deceitful than the average ‘racist’ right-winger who says the N-word as a joke. (Who actually may bear some real humility in not trying to control the public perception of their piety.)

However, to put a finer point on it, it is true that words matter, and are iconological (that is, they are images of what they refer to.) The iconological status of words means that vulgarity can go too far, and begin to objectify and pornify both the user and the listener if used with the wrong intent. We can remember Christ’s words in regards to the use of our mouths:

[Mat 15:8, 11, 18-20 KJV] 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. … 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. … 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Christ let’s us know that words are icons and images of what is inside of a mans heart, and what in particular is of concern? He doesn’t say slurs or ‘offensive’ words, but rather is concerned with murderers, adultery, fornication, false witness, and blasphemy. However, we could begin to tie words that bring to mind graphic images of such acts, and realize that Christ probably wouldn’t have appreciated their frequent use, the F-word for example, literally means the act of having sex, and therefore could be used in a ‘pornographic’ manner, severing our connection with God. However, we know that the scriptures themselves don’t shy away from conveying such graphic images when it is necessary, (such as sexual imagery found in Genesis 38). If the authors of scripture had been like modern conservatives today, they would have had to read their own scriptures with ‘clear-play’ enabled. So context and intent of the speaker matter. It’s deeply ironic that the sacred and holy scriptures are believed by most Christians to be ‘God-breathed’, but then the very same people are apparently too-righteous to hear even what God Himself has written. Moral hypocrisy again!

With all this said, I believe I myself have gone too far before with my own language. I know that I’ve used graphic language in inappropriate ways that I would feel ashamed to be confronted with by Christ. Remembering the the imagistic nature of language, and the purpose of icons, has helping us point to God is helpful. But I also know that many people today who stumbled and judged people by the outward vulgar appearance of their words, missing the forest for the trees, will also have to own up for that too. My prayer is hopefully we can repent and continue in humility and repentance, watching our words with care, not becoming pharisees, nor adulterers, but hopefully our words can be an image of righteousness, truth, justice, and mercy, and ultimately, be icons of the One True Logos: Jesus Christ.