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'Scuse my French

This morning I delivered a couple of all day breakfasts to a couple of blokes who, when I arrived suddenly carrying plates, apologised for their language.  I suspect it was the collar which embarrassed them.  I always find it really amusing when people apologise for swearing in front of me because they know I'm a Christian.  

I used to use pretty colourful language myself - I wasn't exactly Gordon Ramsay but I had quite a range.  That's what watching South Park does to a girl.  Then when I started exploring Christianity I decided to give up swearing for Lent (somewhat missing the point of Lent, but I think God understood the spirit of the gesture).  This was incredibly hard for me to do - my swearing seemed to be literally out of my control.  After a few days, however, I realised that I had stopped, and I believed then - and still do - that God gave me a helping hand.  Now any naughty words that do slip out are entirely my own fault and under my control.

I remember reading once about someone - I think it was Rebecca Manley Pippert again - who asked a group of young adults what they thought being a Christian was all about.  They replied that it was about not using bad language or going to rowdy parties.  How very depressing that these people saw such trivial things as the cornerstone of Christian ethics.  Swearing isn't attractive, polite or something we want children to learn the habit of, but abstaining from it is hardly the hallmark of an authentic Christian.  Better a Christian who swears while loving others than one who focuses on minding their language.


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