“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:4). This is one of those verses that I wish we could print on billboards, in newspapers, magazines, and all over the internet. I suppose there has never been a time when speech was not abused by some, but presently it seems to have gone beyond disgusting. What once would never have been dared to be uttered in public can now be found spewed from the lips of the depraved.
The airways, one cautious not to offend, now seem dedicated to “stepping on the toes” of the morally sound. Movie and Television productions are inundated with cussing and other forms of vile language, and it is so common now that finding wholesome entertainment is difficult. In Col. 3:8, filthy language is dumped in with other malicious practices, showing its destructive and evil intentions, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Obscene talk is also called “vulgar speech,” and apparently, the world does not consider it taboo anymore.
In fact, it is almost a requirement in every facet of public speech these days. Take humor as an example. Most non-Christian comedians saturate their jokes with cussing as if the joke simply would not be funny enough without it. Now, I admit that crude joking has been around “forever,” but offensive, vulgar language in comedy seems to be getting progressively worse. And, let’s not forget the prime example of vulgarity – music lyrics. The other day I was scanning radio stations when I came across a station that left me speechless. I am not ignorant of the type of lyrics heard in songs these days, but fortunately had never been exposed to it personally.
When I heard a catchy tune, I stopped scanning to listen and almost immediately was mortified. I honestly thought I had not heard correctly and made the mistake of continuing to listen. Seconds later, I was stunned to realize that my hearing was fine, and I immediately changed the station. I would never have thought such vulgarity towards women would be found in songs kids listen to daily. Again, I know enough about music to know that the language leaves much to be desired, but this was appalling. The fact that the powers-that-be allow music like that to be heard by anyone is astounding, but knowing it is heard by teens and even preteens is beyond comprehension.
Where has our sense of decency gone? Where has the moral standard of the world gone? Where has the instinct to protect the youth gone? One does not have to ascribe to Christianity to have morality in speech. All that is needed is a sliver of decency. Of course, the sad thing, or should I say, tragedy, is that there are Christians who not only listen to coarse language and laugh at crude jokes but speak similarly as well. Eph. 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Parents absolutely have to be aware of what their children are listening to and who their friends are. Christian parents should also do some other things; read the Bible and pray as a family, and go to church. The friends they meet at church may not always be ideal, but the chances of finding morally sound friends there are surely higher than allowing them to find worldly friends who think bad language is normal. Being invested in their children will go a long way to preventing them from adopting the bad habits of the world. Oh, and one other thing parents should take note of – they cannot expect their children to have a morally sound compass when theirs is broken.
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