"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase"
1 Corinthians 3:6
A Message From the Horne of Africa
"The No Cussing Club"
03/08/2009
Why do people resort to "gutter language?" Why do folks feel that "cussing" [cursing] is a more dramatic or picturesque way to speak? Are our language skills so impoverished that we have to introduce "below the belt" verbiage into our speech? Have we so little control over our lips that Satan may use them freely to promote his agenda? Have we become so duped by a negatively charged environment that we would stoop to a standard of speech that is not worthy of who we are? How can we stop open-sewer language from polluting our minds and defiling our hearts? Isn't it enough that Ephesians 4:29 says, Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen? How do we counter those around us whose mouths have no restraints or ethical controls?
A courageous youth from Pasadena, CA decided that "enough is enough!" McKay Hatch, 15, went on a personal crusade to do whatever he could to remove profanity and vulgarity from daily conversation. After his ears were constantly assaulted by such crude language, he protested to his peers, "If you want to hang around me, I don't want to hear cussing." Astonishingly, they stopped. "Wow," he thought, "that was really cool." It gave him the idea to make this a school project among his classmates. In 2007, he started a campus club to outlaw nasty language. He organized the "No Cussing Club." In the first year, the High School sophomore signed up 120 fellow students. He gained fame as "the no-cussing kid." His tenacity and determination resulted in an interview with TV's Dr. Philas well as a guest appearance on Good Morning America.
But that's not all--the idea caught on world-wide. Now there are known to be 30 chapters around the world and an estimated 100,000 have taken on the "no cussing" mission for themselves and their circle of acquaintances and friends. The rules of McKay's club were simple--if a club member slips up with profane speech, he has to pay up. The funds are retained in a home made piggy bank to be donated to a charity eventually. In order to keep the highly frustrated from lapsing into vulgar talk, suitable substitutes for evil epithets have been created. "Oh, prune pits!" Isn't that funny? Another is "Sassafras!" This one could probably be said with such vigor that the plaster would fall off the wall. But the real punch line to an offender is, "Please stop cussing--it offends me and makes me feel really uncomfortable." If that doesn't work, at least you will know whom you should avoid in future.
I also heard about someone who every time someone uses God's name in a profane way, he says, "Praise the LORD!" When the offender says,"Oh God this..." or "Oh God that.." or uses "Jesus Christ" as an expletive, that's what he says. The foul-mouthed person eventually asks, "Why do you keep saying that?" He replies, "You can profane the Lord all you want to, but I intend to praise Him." Finally, the Bible says, Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place but thanksgiving, Ephesians 5:4. Let's practice "green peace" ecology in our speech and keep the airwaves clean. Let's outlaw cussing!
Love you all,
Al--"the Horne of Africa."