Dirty Words, Dirty Minds

By Justin McRoberts • Jul 20th, 2009 • Category: Artists in Residence

Lenny Bruce is famously quoted as having said “There are no dirty words, only dirty minds.” The idea being that a word is only the sound a mouth makes or a collection of shapes in sequence on paper or a screen. Then a mind gets a hold of it and projects or injects ‘meaning’ into or onto it.

Bruce seems to fall in line with Jesus here, who himself said “Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’” Both Jesus and Lenny Bruce are making profound statements about the nature of words and their relationship to the minds from which they are birthed. Both are clearly stating that a word is something external, whereas it is the heart revealed in it that both God and attentive listeners actually care about.

I am, of course, thinking about Derek Webb’s purposeful use of the word ‘shit’ on his most recent release. It’s not the first time it’s been used in this way. In February of 2008, author and fellow believer Steve Hughes published Oh, Shit! It’s Jesus! The Relevance of Jesus Without All The Religious Crap. More relatedly, I’m pretty sure Derek is aware that his use of the word is a reprisal of Tony Campolo’s well known use of the exact same word and tactic when he would often begin sermons saying:

“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”

Language becomes a way for the mind (soul?) to make itself known; even when, as is the case of Campolo, Hughes or Webb, it is the heart of listeners which is sought. In this light, there are a few words I’d love to see stricken from everyday use long before the one mentioned above.

I’d do just fine to not hear a Christian use the word “faggot” again. Not so much because I’m concerned for the feelings of homosexuals who may be within earshot as I’m concerned for the darkened vision of a fellow human that makes the use of this word as an insult so easy.

I’m sorry to say that I think “worship” needs to go as well. The crime we’ve done to that word and more so to the idea of ‘worship’ by making it an industry rather than a posture is worthy of the indignation of the prophet Amos… actually, I’ll just let him do it:

“I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.

Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.

Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Amos 5:21-24

Finally, “enemy” is the word I’d like to see rid from Christian mouths long before any listed above and far before any of our culturally unacceptable expletives. The pervasive use of this word is mainly depressing because it reveals an enormous gap between our allegiance to Christianity and our love for Jesus, who had no enemies among men. (It strikes me that if you love a person that person ceases to be an enemy to you, even as much as they may continue to see you as one.)

Now, even as I write this I am pretty certain that most of Derek’s audience will find little to no problem answering the question, “What matters more?” The filth of certain words has been greatly outweighed by the horror of human trafficking and extreme poverty. Of course, this doesn’t mean that our language is meaningless, but to the contrary, we are learning to assign appropriate weight to words that needed greater gravity.

For more on the issue of profanity, you should read my friend Kevin Hendricks’ thoughts. He’s the crap.

http://www.kevindhendricks.com/2009/01/27/a-philosophy-of-profanity/
http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/archives/2009/06/ed_young_the_cu.html

↓ 5 comments

#1 Steve Thrush on July 20th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

On every fricken’ count, I couldn’t agree with you more. And not just because i’m one of those “faggot enemies” so many love to hate while they “worship.” But because what you and Derek and Tony…oh…and Jesus! speak is the truth.

Please continue to do so. Boldly and compassionately. We must help our brothers and sisters narrow this God-damned gap between what we say and how we live. We must. Jesus is willing to be so real. Here and now, if only we’re willing to forsake what’s safe, be transparent, be authentic and let love rule the very hearts we say we’ve given to Him.

Steve
Berkeley

#2 John Wofford on July 20th, 2009 at 9:44 pm

Steve,

I know without a shadow of a doubt, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Our adherence to self-made rules and spiritual “regulations” is nothing short of debilitating and counterproductive to our need to speak truth in unconventional and moving ways.

#3 John Umland on July 21st, 2009 at 2:00 am

I prefer to refer to “songtime” rather than “worship.” Partly because of what you expressed and partly because who said worship stops with the music?

I don’t follow you that Jesus had no enemies. I’m reading through Matthew right now and I don’t know what you’d call the crew that wanted to kill him. I just read today that he doesn’t come to bring peace but a sword, metaphorical I know, but not kumbaya and what not.

Dang! That’s enough for now.

God is good
jpu

#4 Justin McRoberts on July 21st, 2009 at 5:15 am

By Jesus “not having enemies” what I mean is that Jesus did not set out to defeat a particular people group; not even the religiously oppressive. This is the way we use the word “enemy.” People we must clear from our path; in the Way of Jesus, everyone in His path was someone who needed rescuing. Agreed, John, his methods were seldom fluff and smiles… he was often harsh.. but never because he had to tear people down to make way for the Kingdom.

#5 Lindsay on August 10th, 2009 at 1:15 pm

Derek’s new song frustrates me (definitely not because he says shit, see Don Chaffer’s entire amazing portfolia, esp Sympathy for Jesus) but I think he makes a juxtaposition that doesn’t work. Social morality and personal morality inform each other and the dignity they both recognize and protect is central to giving a shit about the people who live in poverty and disease and those who are abusing their dignity in their sexuality.

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