Do you ever get pissed at Jesus, like when you think about all the death and suffering that has stemmed from "Jesus"?
My Reply:
I don't understand the part about it stemming from Jesus, but either way, getting mad at Jesus is OK. Believe it or not, yelling at, cussing out, raising your fist, etc. in anger or frustration can qualify as prayer, for it's communication with God (of course, if you cuss God out, there's no saying how He'll communicate back). ;)
Check out Psalm 88 sometime and see how David cried out to God in anger and frustration. He really lets God have it! But even his anger soon turned to praise.
Don't be afraid to ask God the hard questions...and no, He doesn't like to be called names, but then, He's God...and He's God enough to take it.
Check out Psalm 88 sometime and see how David cried out to God in anger and frustration. He really lets God have it! But even his anger soon turned to praise.
Don't be afraid to ask God the hard questions...and no, He doesn't like to be called names, but then, He's God...and He's God enough to take it.
---Pastor Andy
3 comments:
Wouldn't cussing go against Ephesians 4:29 and Colossians 4:6? I prefer Ecclesiastes 10:12 which says, "The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him." Philippians 4:8-9 are good passages to meditate on as well to overcome anger and to help us with our mouths.
Very, good points, and you're correct when it comes to cussing and anger. But this is not a contradiction to the passages in your question.
For example, I once had a migraine so bad it put me into the hospital. The next day, I stood in the chapel of my school, asking Jesus questions like, "What the hell?" I explained how badly it hurt in some not-so-nice words, and very emotionally expressed my feelings about it all. I even remained angry at Him throughout the week. But it wasn't long before He revealed some things that brought me back to my knees, only this time in praise.
Understand, I'm not suggesting that it's OK to cuss, or that you make cuss words part of your regular language. I'm suggesting that when you're angry or confused at Jesus, you should then talk with Jesus, and when you do so, express what you feel in whatever words necessary or available. Your passages are talking about ethics and behaviors of God's people and the "wise", also that such words encourage division, conflict, and abuse towards others. I'm not talking about using Cuss words in that context, but in prayer...communicating with God in nakedness, holding nothing back, and sometimes, depending on the passion of your emotions, that may include cussing. Do you really think Jesus will turn you away if you use such words? Will He slap your face (as may of our moms did when we cussed or spoke back)? From my experiences, such will only draw you closer to Him.
Here's another way of looking at it. If somebody cusses when they're mad (pissed), and they were to cuss when talking with God when they're pissed, will God turn them away for cussing? I believe not.
I've known people who talk using "F'in'" in place of "um". Will God turn them down if they talk with Him like that? Again, I believe not.
If in prayer, you vent out every emotion you're feeling, and some of these come out in cuss words, will God turn you away? From my own experience (and stories from friends' experiences), once again, I believe not.
The guy asking the question sounds really upset. I'm suggesting he fully empty himself out before the Lord, and if he has to use cuss words to fully do this, then so be it, for holding back in order to speak only "safe" words may hinder the intimacy in his walk with & towards God.
But I do see your argument.
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