Profanity in the Arts

VertigoAge said:

Just substitute the concept of unclean food with unclean language. Even if you think that "no language is unclean in itself", it is still wrong to use it in front of those for whom it is unclean.

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Yes I know where you are coming from, respect is reciprocal and curse words are only offensive when used out of context or for the purpose to offend. I've even heard a preacher substitute curse words such as "fire" for the "f" word, and he was openly swearing in attitude but it was ok apparently because he was using a word which didn't offend people - I'm still trying to figure that one out!

Jase said:

Well, no offense but I consider Kirk Cameron to be a class A loon, and Mel Gibson is a disgusting anti-Semite and I assure you he has said the F word. Being an actor is one of the hardest professions there is as it is, seems like I would basically have to admit defeat before I start, if I can't accept that I'm doing a job that may require the occasional use of language, but that is my character saying that not me. I certainly wouldn't take any roles that required excessive non-stop language, however.

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I worked with an actor last night. Weird.

Which movie did Mel Gibson say the F word in? I think I've seen most of his stuff. Or are you referring to what the media says about his personal life? Its easy to make judgements about people based on the opinions of others. Those judgements are usually errant though.

Actors can choose the roles they take. If you don't want to do what a role requires you can refuse it. So it is with most jobs.

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Matthew 12:36-37

How do we explain away this verse?

Arn't you glad JESUS came so we could die with HIM and crucify the
old self (and its desires) to grow up in HIM and speak the oracles of GOD?

1 Peter 4:11 KJV (or NIV "the very words of GOD")


-eric

YouTube - Mel Gibson Swears During Interview

Well here's a careless one. Off the record.

ezeric said:

How do we explain away this verse?

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We are not meant to explain away verses, nor use them to judge others. They are for self improvement.

My take on that verse as it is relevant to this topic is that before our transformation we are inclined to be very very careless about our words (even to the extent of blaspheming the Lord), but after our conversion we become much more diligent in what we say so our words are used carefully and properly - not from habit but from the heart.

I have noticed that a swear word used in context is not something I feel moved to repent from, but ideas we state around the topic of truth which have come from observation and not from God will be corrected - because of the tendency for us to get the wrong idea and God's tendency to have us put right what we have said that is wrong.

I'm still inclined to see the topic of profanity as a reflection of the heart and if your heart is upright when you use a foul word then the word itself has a form of elegance and truth rather than being offensive.

Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Provers 4:24

Jase said:

So, I need a little advice. I'm looking to start getting into some acting classes, and aside from my being very shy, the other very difficult part for me is going to be having to use profanity when working on certain scenes.

I'm someone who absolutely never cusses. It makes me very uncomfortable, and I've never even spoken the F-word. But, when it comes to acting, most classes do have scenes that have some profanity and mature content in them.

How can I approach this so I can still take the classes, but not feel guilty about using profanity? Is the fact that it's acting, and it's my character saying those words, not me, the best way to look at this?

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A vast number of actors are Christian. Are they sinning when they do this? Is that how to judge them rightly?

We don't live in a religion of "do this" and "do not do that". If you do still, you have a long road to walk. Some do teach a form of Christianity like this, but this Christianity is not real Christianity at all: it is denying of the cross.

It is fine to have a superior moral standard then others do, as long as you genuinely do not judge others when you do so. Most do a great deal of the later.

Being able to be an actor is not sinful, by my book. It may be according to some people's book. And so it is for them.

I almost never cuss in person because it is not edifying in a regular professional job, and I often have kids around. It is also not the best way to express one's self.

One thing I have found helpful in understanding the ins and out of deeper morality is to observe people: who is bad, who is good, and why? Also in considering fictional people: if someone is heroic, shall we then judge them based on their heroic actions or according to a laundry list of moral standards?

Generally, we 'be all to all' so as to win them. If one way of winning them is not working, another way may. Though cussing is 'one of those things' where it is right only in the most exceptional of conditions. Which do arise.

Hey the names of the Lord shall not be taken in vain, but I use those words a lot and so do those who don't know Him. I think the way we use words has more significance than the letters used to form them. I'm in no way convinced of trusting this type of blanket rule we cling to as fundamental criteria to enter heaven, all the arguments have reflected someone's impression of the image they get from hearing what I think about it. I've noticed a few people here have jumped the gun when they heard me condone swearing, maybe I remind them of someone they didn't like once upon a time..

Jase said:

Guess I should've known better than to ask advice from the fundie crowd.

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This is not a "fundie" crowd. It is very mixed.

My answer was completely different then his, I am sure there were others as well.


I would be careful on labeling groups as singular in composition.... may be tempting, but is not true and does injustice to innocent people.


I would be surprised if you did not get a full range of response here.

Apart from using God's name in vain, I don't believe that there are any "bad" words, and thus see nothing wrong with cussing.

Before I came to Christ, I cursed so much and I tried to stop loads of times but could not.The lord took away my bad language and although I have the strength to keep it away now,it does really offend me to hear it because I think of someone trying desperately to stop cursing but failling because they are getting their memory filled up again with bad language by other people.
Doing that is causing your brother to offend y'see.

Ok. I know this well since I'm very similar. I'm a screenwriter and producer.

The big thing is, that in order to be truthful in delivering a real performance, sometimes the worst of the worst is needed. In the bible it has some of the most sickening things. Useing a broken pot to gouge out rotting flesh. Slinging a stone that crushes a skull. Without those expressed, the full power of the awesomeness of God isn't expressed.

The message it gives to the world is what matters. If there is no swearing in a movie, and no violence and no sex, no nothing that is naughty, then how on earth will the message ever get to those who really need it?

The film would be lacking abundantly in authenticity and would be ridiculed and a failure.

To deliver the story, one must have a bad guy. The bad guy has to be seen as bad. So someone has to act out these bad things to show how bad that bad is, in order to show how awesome the good is to be able to over come such horrendously bad.

If the story is extremely valuable to the world at delivering a message to the people who need the message, than the power of the story needs to be honored.

I think it was Jesus that had a bunch of sarving people and gave them food from a grove or something without the guys permission. Maybe I'm mistaken but the point is, this is something "people" consider bad. But I know I would steal food if I couldn't find someone to pay, in order to save people's lives. I'll do the time if it saved lives. People in the war did the same thing. It's to save lives.

So you MUST make sure the story is there to save lives, and to bring people closer to being loving and compassionate. Because saving people is what God wants you to do and if a swear word helps you save people, then the use of it is based in Love and compassion. And that's what matters. If it's said out of love and compassion, then it's not a bad word. Just like taking food to save people's lives isn't a sin.

You may get locked up for stealing the food and people will probably slander you as a hypocrite for swearing but you can turn around and say that Christian soldiers had to kill in the war to save lives, and that the message of the film needed the authenticity to save lives. You can tell them that you don't like it as much as the next person but lives are more important than how you feel about a sound that comes out of your mouth.

If you ever feel like the Holy Spirit is battling to tell you theres a bad feeling about this, listen. Because God is way more important than a career opportunity. God will always deliver. So trust in God, always.