Patti, my wife, and I watched Clint Eastwood's, "Grand Torino" last evening. It was a very well done film, and a good flick to watch. The foul language is more there than not there. The "F" word, and all the other four letter words are simply part of the language. Clint does his fair share of cussing. But, it didn't annoy me too much, although it does annoy me, because I think there could be better words used.
The words that they spoke that really bothered me were these two words: Jesus Christ. The story, overall, was a good one, and I encourage adults to check it out, but beware of the high use of our Lord's name in vain. It was way over done.
To be honest, before 1984, when the Father drew me to His Son, Jesus Christ, I "way" over did using the Lord's name in vain in all the ways you could possibly think of. I was very guilty for blaspheming the Lord's holy name. I would use the Holy Savior's name in vain all the time, along with all the foul language anyone could possibly think of.
But, there's hope.
Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."
Those words of forgiveness from our Lord are truly amazing and wonderful. I am forgiven for the thousands of times I blasphemed my Lord. He forgives me, because He is a merciful and loving God. And because Jesus died on the Cross for my blasphemies. He had nails hammered through His healing hands for my sin.
So, rent the movie, for it is a good one. Or don't rent, really, that would be okay as well.
But if you do, then get ready for the Lord's name being blasphemed, even by the priest in the church building. Weird, if you ask me, why Clint writes stuff like this. I'd love to ask him why he does it.
"Name Him, brothers, name Him, with love strong as death
But with awe and wonder, and with bated breath!
He is God the Savior, He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshiped, trusted and adored."-Words by Caroline Maria Noel (1817-77)
8 comments:
It's true though Don....
Why is it that we tolerate His name in such ways....especially as entertainment? I mean, the very verbal mockery that Jesus heard while He was on the cross, we can now hear and call entertainment?
We should cringe and shudder when we hear it....
While, yes we are forgiven...I still find it offensive to hear.
I like the Caroline Maria Noel quote...especially with love strong as death But with awe and wonder...
Thanks Don...
Peace be with you.
It's one proof that we have the Holy Spirit I think, that we do cringe in our souls when we hear the name of Christ demeaned.
The world will surely not care. When I was full blown ungodly and worldly I did not care about Christ. I was interested in Him to a point, because of my Catholic upbringing, but I didn't really care.
Quick story. My partner and I were working with a man on installing his gutters. The man was walking around the house explaining to Meir, my partner, where he wanted the downspouts to go. All the while this man was saying Jesus Christ in such a bad way, along with all the other ways the lord's name is demeaned. I was up on the roof looking down when I heard Meir say to this man, with tears, "Sir, you have no idea what you are doing to my Lord's name." the man said, "What do you mean." Meir told him how he was blaspheming. The man said, "I'm sorry. I didn't even realize it."
I think many are like that. It's no less a black sin against one's soul, but if we understand the god of this world has them blinded, then we can pray in like manner, and speak the truth in love, as Meir did, evening weeping.
Lord bless us an help us to shine in a dark world with truth and compassion. Amen.
I usually swear like a sailor (as in, my vocabulary of four-letter words is quite expansive and commonplace). Even I cringe, though, when the Lord's name is used in a swear. I don't know if that's a double-standard or not. To me, my swearing shows a lack of class and self-control (and I'm learning to keep it under control since I'm about to be a classroom teacher).
I understand how using the Lord's name in vain is a sin. What about other four-letter words? To me, words that were cuss words fifty years ago aren't anymore, and they differ from language to language as well, so I can't imagine that God has a list somewhere of the types of words that are and aren't okay. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it, though.
"..cuss words fifty years ago"
There are words that are simply crude. And there are words we use in our anger as curse words, which are always wrong.
The "N" word 50 years ago was tolerated. But today it's not.
There's a lot to think about here Jay.
Let me think about it for a bit, and I'll get back with you.
Very nice to have you drop by brother.
I liked a lot of things about that movie, but yes, the language was rough.
Clint made a scowl and groan when he disapproved of something. It was an expression that was signature Clint Eastwood. I liked how the good guys were not wimps, especially the priest. They did a good job showing him as a shepherd who genuinely cared about the flock.
An endearing element of the movie was that I have known people like that, and you appreciate them if you can get past the unsavory exterior.
I rented Pale Rider the same week as Gran Torino. Clint has an interesting theology, wouldn't you say?
If I may offer my two cents, I think the pervasive cussing is (at least in part) an over-reaction to the feminization of religion.
"If I may offer my two cents, I think the pervasive cussing is (at least in part) an over-reaction to the feminization of religion."
That's a good thought Craver.
Yeah, I liked the film a lot. Great story of how bad the society has become. The peer pressure is a genuine thing going on as well.
There's alot of stuff in the story to think about.
But if you go back to the 50's, and watch those old gangster flicks, there was good stuff too, but without the foul words. Hollywood used to have some boundaries, but no more.
The question is, from a sin perspective, is a foul word bad because of the actual word or the way it's used? If I scream, "Darn it!" at something unpleasant is it any better than if I used the actual cuss word? My idea would be that it isn't. Cuss words evolve over time, but the anger or hatred we have when we use them remains the same.
That's a good point Jay. I agree. But there are foul words that foul in and of themselves as well.
I can call someone a fool in love I do believe. Of course we can call someone a fool in a bad way as well.
But if we substitute the word fool for one of the "less honorable" body parts with an adjective or two, then these words will be "cuss" words, and sinful.
It's a wide and deep subject Jay. I'm no authority on the subject by any means.
Another thought I just had: I received a letter from a wonderful pastor in Nepal, who is a Nepali himself. He is very godly and loves the Lord. His name is Jivan BTW.
In his letter to me, he used the word 'shit' to explain how a demon possessed husband of one of his church members was taking a dump all over the house. His English is quite good, but he's not fluent. That did not bother me in the least. But, when this same word is used in other contexts it can be sinful.
Here's a nice video by Paul Tripp on language that I thought was good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUtPBCELCZc
Check it out and let me know what you think.
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