Is the use of the F Bomb in P.O.D.'s 'I Am' Unneeded/Unjustifiable?

[ChristIsSovereign]

While I admire the message that the song itself portrays, the like 'who the (BEEP) is he?' makes my stomach turn sour in a spiritual sense and I wrote a poem about the matter which can be viewed here: I Am Not by ChristIsSovereign

Yet while I admire the message, I see the message being butchered by the use of the word. The LORD specifically tells us to not let filth come out of our mouth. How is a message supposed to be shared when the verse is explicitly disobeyed in the process. It's like a pastor saying, 'FOLLOW THE (BEEP)ING LORD' or something. It's inexcusable.

From what I see, the Christian version of the album has the track excluded, which I suppose is a good thing, but the fact that they, for a long time, wanted to use that word in the song... I don't want to be judgmental but it makes me question if they're actually truly Christians.

Also, from my behavior years ago as an Internet hateposter/spammer, I know about controversy. And there was a lot of controversy surrounding the song. The commenters would fit into five camps, starting with the most numerous and going to the least common.

1. Christians who are on board with the 'raw and honest' usage of the said vulgar word.
2. Christians who (in my opinion, rightly) decried the usage of the said vulgar word but approved of the overall message.
3. Christians who (read above) decried the usage of the said vulgar word, saying it tainted the message completely. I view the song this way, personally.
4. Atheists who love the song.
5. Atheists who tell the Christians to 'get over it, it's just a (beep)ing song.'

The artists who created the song knew that it would yield these sort of reactions, according to the interview. Why can't I get the thought out of my head that they intentionally sowed a seed of discord? It's very, very troubling.

 

[brinny]

What song are you referring to?

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

What song are you referring to?

The song in the title of my post. 'I Am' by P.O.D.

If you want a much better 'I Am,' check out 'I AM' by Theocracy.

 

[princesstatyanna]

While I admire the message that the song itself portrays, the like 'who the (BEEP) is he?' makes my stomach turn sour in a spiritual sense and I wrote a poem about the matter which can be viewed here: I Am Not by ChristIsSovereign

Yet while I admire the message, I see the message being butchered by the use of the word. The LORD specifically tells us to not let filth come out of our mouth. How is a message supposed to be shared when the verse is explicitly disobeyed in the process. It's like a pastor saying, 'FOLLOW THE (BEEP)ING LORD' or something. It's inexcusable.

From what I see, the Christian version of the album has the track excluded, which I suppose is a good thing, but the fact that they, for a long time, wanted to use that word in the song... I don't want to be judgmental but it makes me question if they're actually truly Christians.

Also, from my behavior years ago as an Internet hateposter/spammer, I know about controversy. And there was a lot of controversy surrounding the song. The commenters would fit into five camps, starting with the most numerous and going to the least common.

1. Christians who are on board with the 'raw and honest' usage of the said vulgar word.
2. Christians who (in my opinion, rightly) decried the usage of the said vulgar word but approved of the overall message.
3. Christians who (read above) decried the usage of the said vulgar word, saying it tainted the message completely. I view the song this way, personally.
4. Atheists who love the song.
5. Atheists who tell the Christians to 'get over it, it's just a (beep)ing song.'

The artists who created the song knew that it would yield these sort of reactions, according to the interview. Why can't I get the thought out of my head that they intentionally sowed a seed of discord? It's very, very troubling.

The use of F bombs in ANY Christian song is inexcusable.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

The use of F bombs in ANY Christian song is inexcusable.

Amen. It's not the same as slipping a F bomb out of anger. This is a premeditated defamation of the Christian faith meant to sow discord and we must expose the false teachers who promote this.

 

[Doug Melven]

I'm not familiar with P.O.D.'s.
But you are right when you say Christians should not use foul language.
I heard a story once where a girl who was a prostitute and became a Christian was asked to give her testimony.
Every other word was profanity, the congregation was shocked except for the person who told me the story.
She was brand new at being a believer and had not learned that profanity was wrong.
She grew in the LORD and stopped swearing.

So my question is: did they use the F bomb knowing it was wrong?
Or did they use it knowingly?

If they used it knowingly I would shy away from them.

 

[princesstatyanna]

Amen. It's not the same as slipping a F bomb out of anger. This is a premeditated defamation of the Christian faith meant to sow discord and we must expose the false teachers who promote this.

amen i agree

Romans 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

I'm not familiar with P.O.D.'s.
But you are right when you say Christians should not use foul language.
I heard a story once where a girl who was a prostitute and became a Christian was asked to give her testimony.
Every other word was profanity, the congregation was shocked except for the person who told me the story.
She was brand new at being a believer and had not learned that profanity was wrong.
She grew in the LORD and stopped swearing.

So my question is: did they use the F bomb knowing it was wrong?
Or did they use it knowingly?

If they used it knowingly I would shy away from them.

Knowingly. Although I heard that upon prayer, they removed the song from the Christian market, although they definitely practice the '1 foot in, 1 foot out' type of mentality in that in the secular market, the song is still there, and even then, it's bleeped out.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

amen i agree

Romans 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Amen.

 

[Doug Melven]

Knowingly. Although I heard that upon prayer, they removed the song from the Christian market, although they definitely practice the '1 foot in, 1 foot out' type of mentality in that in the secular market, the song is still there, and even then, it's bleeped out.

It is probably the radio station bleeping it out.
Our faith should effect every area of our life.
They should have remade the song without the offensive word.

 

[Tinker Grey]

The F-bomb is not filth. In that context, it is merely an intensifier.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

It is probably the radio station bleeping it out.
Our faith should effect every area of our life.
They should have remade the song without the offensive word.

I can think of the Biblical commands that were violated.

1. Do not spew filth from your mouth.
2. Do not make your brother fall.
3. Pride comes before a fall.

 

[RDKirk]

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. -- Colossians 4

 

[RDKirk]

The F-bomb is not filth. In that context, it is merely an intensifier.

An intensifier of what, though?

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

An intensifier of what, though?

He's arguing that the usage of the word somehow intensifies the sentiment.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Is Christian music really the right vehicle for cussy language? I grew up with two older brothers and several older cousins, I went to public school and we had cable in the house for as far back as I can remember.

So obviously it takes a lot for language to offend me.

My only point is that perhaps releasing an avowedly secular album might've been the wiser move under the circumstances. At least as far as conveying a religious message. But in terms of marketing and publicity, they clearly made the right decision.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

Is Christian music really the right vehicle for cussy language? I grew up with two older brothers and several older cousins, I went to public school and we had cable in the house for as far back as I can remember.

So obviously it takes a lot for language to offend me.

My only point is that perhaps releasing an avowedly secular album might've been the wiser move under the circumstances. At least as far as conveying a religious message. But in terms of marketing and publicity, they clearly made the right decision.

I view marketing and publicity as narcissistic, losing focus on God completely. Self-serving, e.g. prosperity preachers getting money just to fuel their materialistic delusions. Their behavior in releasing that song was troll-like since their main audience is Christian, frankly.

 

[thecolorsblend]

I view marketing and publicity as narcissistic, losing focus on God completely. Self-serving, e.g. prosperity preachers getting money just to fuel their materialistic delusions.

You're probably right. To be clear, I wasn't condoning their language. Merely pointing out that the controversy probably isn't hurting their sales... which tells me a lot about where their priorities are.

Such is life.

Never was a big POD fan anyway.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

You're probably right. To be clear, I wasn't condoning their language. Merely pointing out that the controversy probably isn't hurting their sales... which tells me a lot about where their priorities are.

Such is life.

Never was a big POD fan anyway.

Me neither. I never enjoyed anything remotely influenced by hip hop save for Demon Hunter and the influence is sparse if completely nonexistent in most places. (Because of their nu metal flavor.)

 

[thecolorsblend]

Me neither. I never enjoyed anything remotely influenced by hip hop save for Demon Hunter and the influence is sparse if completely nonexistent in most places. (Because of their nu metal flavor.)

I darenot exaggerate in saying that the only Christian band I've ever heard that I actually respected was this group called Anchor Down. They were more like that ambient/chill out/soft electronic type stuff. Not so amazing that I ever bothered tracking down their songs but the show of theirs I saw was pretty good.