Recently, an email was written regarding a comedian I know.
Here’s the email (with his name redacted).
Joh* Branya* used the term “flippin” in the show as one of his main jokes. My 10 year old daughter wondered why everyone was laughing. Using a word that replaces a horrible curse word is not family friendly or God honoring. I would hope that Joh* would rethink the use of that joke.
I spoke with Joh* and the conversation is below:
Me: You ought to rethink the use of that joke.
Joh*: Okay…
Me: *waiting*
Joh*: I’m going to keep using it.
Me: Seriously?!!!! But it’s harming families and not honoring God!!!!
Joh*: Flippin is the name of a town.
Me: It also replaces a horrible curse word!!!
Joh*: Correct. That’s what makes it a good joke.
Me: You’re intentionally offending people!!!!!!!
Joh*: No. People decide when they’re offended.
Me: You’re not taking any responsibility at all???!!!!
Joh*: If I wanted to provoke people, I’d do a joke about Intercourse, Pennsylvania.
Me: AAAAAAaaagh! Children might be reading this!!!!!
Joh*: It’s the name of a town.
Me: But it’s also a replacement for a horrible curse…
Joh*: Go to Hell.
Me: *Gasp*
Joh*: …that’s in Michigan.
Me: *swooning* Don’t you want to honor God with your comedy?
Joh*: Yep. Excellently crafted jokes are my act of worship.
Me: But there’s a 10-year old girl who doesn’t get the joke.
Joh*: That’s because her father is too busy writing angry emails to help her develop a sense of humor.
Me: *Gasps…again*
Joh*: A good father would have explained “why everyone was laughing”.
…I should report him for child abuse.
Me: *faints*
When I regained consciousness, Joh* was gone.
Tucked in my shirt pocket was a handwritten note that said:
And for the record, the word “horrible” can also be used as a replacement for a curse word. I hope my cowardly critic rethinks his use of that phraseology.
22 Responses
Political Correctness flippin offends me, and those who don’t like it can go to Hell (a fascinating real place on Bermuda). (In this post, this was not a curse, wishing someone a sightseeing trip to Bermuda is a blessing.)
I like your buddy Tim Hawkins’ piece on Christian cuss word alternatives.
@John
Isaiah 6:5 speaks of unclean lips. I imagine telling clean jokes can be a problem in your business. What language do you think makes a joke inappropriate? Using the Lord’s Name disrespectfully would obviously be a problem. What else?
I don’t think language makes jokes clean or unclean. I think the intentions of the joke teller determine the appropriateness. “Cuss words” aren’t exclusive to any particular language. The words themselves differ from language to language but the intention is universal.
It would be inappropriate (sin) for me to drop a line of profanity on stage in a church. I know that language is going to offend people in the audience. When I knowingly offend other people, I am not putting them ahead of myself. On the other hand, dropping a line of profanity with comedian friends in the green room out of the public eye is a different matter. I do not believe God is concerned by the F-word. I believe God is concerned with the condition of my heart when I speak ANY word.
Further, I believe it’s possible to disrespect the Lord’s name without uttering curse words. Profanity isn’t just saying “naughty words”. Some of the most profane statements I’ve heard have been polite, eloquent, and well mannered.
I’d have to respectfully disagree with your comment “dropping a line of profanity with comedian friends in the green room out of the public eye is a different matter. I do not believe God is concerned by the F-word.”
The following verses would suggest that God is concerned by it
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Eph 4:29
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Col 3:8
Furthermore, if other brethren who look up to you hear you using profanity, they may also feel emboldened to do so.
I have never commented on a blog before. This is my favorite blog post ever. Now off I go into my cave again.
Thank you!
I hope you continue to get internet access from the cave.
I used the word “masturbation” at that guy Joh Branya’s blog once, and — flippin’ heck! — Miss Moneypenny just about flipped out! I think they might have even banned me.
Just as well I can still post here, though.
You call encouranging you to use that exact same word in a poem “flipping out” and being banned?
Yikes.
Progressing from foul language to lying, right on schedule…
Well, you know how we degenerate heathens are. You ought not to be encouranging [sic] me in the first place.
I had been told it’s possible to be moral without God.
The herd has decided lying is “bad” for survival, Chris. You might want to work on that.
ChrisS: Do Christians have a sense of humor?
God: That all depends.
ChrisS: On what?
God: On in-grouping and out-grouping.
ChrisS: Meaning?
God: Put it this way: If you belong to the in-group, they’ll find you funny.
ChrisS: Oh. [Pause] What about hyperbole, for comic effect?
God: Risky. Wouldn’t try it. Unless of course, you belong to the in-group.
Chris: What about “meta?”
God: How do you mean?
ChrisS: Well…you know: jokes that refer to themselves as jokes, or comment on themselves.
God: You mean, like what we’re doing right now?
ChrisS: Yes
God: Nah. Don’t try that.
ChrisS: Will anyone believe me if I claim you told me all this?
God: Are you kidding? They’ll think you’re a nutter!
ChrisS: Oh. Well, thanks anyway.
God: Any time. Hey: aren’t you glad none of this is double-spaced, like some guys do?
The heathen’s thoughts are never new.
The rhetoric is canned.
It’s barely worth acknowledgment.
It never has been banned.
Censorship is not needed when
an idea has no weight.
When heathen share their deepest thoughts
religious folks look great.
Give the little guy a pat on the head some time, will ya?
Every single one of them has Daddy issues, and they just want you to play ball. 🙁
Can’t play ball until one of them is able to stand and at least hold a bat.
Fair enough.
Then maybe just talk vaguely about love until he’s old enough for more?
I think that’s why he showed up in the first place. I asked, “Why are you here? Do you want someone to defend Jesus and tell you how much he loves you?” But Chris didn’t respond.
I think that was exactly right. 🙂
Fair enough.
For the little fella: https://melwild.wordpress.com/category/love/
https://www.onlinesalesguidetip.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/pics-or-didnt-happen.png
Are flippin kidding me. Some people aren’t happy unless they are being offended. Please John please pass along to the comedian that they should continue to craft excellent jokes as I am sure they will. If you don’t have a sense of humor maybe he should stay away from comedy shows.
Flippin is a town. Right here in Arkansas in fact
That’s flippin ridiculous! That’s one of my favorite flippin jokes!
LOL! I’m still going to have to chide you, John. Don’t be a cursing! The Lord’s word must be safe in our mouth and there is entirely too much foul language in the world. It’s lazy! That said, I heard a couple of beautiful testimonies, one “Holy Crap, I’ve met the Lord.” and one, “Our God is an awesome effin God.” Totally heartfelt and genuine. So there were some complaints, so I may have called some people bovine, busy chewing their self righteous cud, rather then being grateful for the sentiments being expressed. But like whew,at least I didn’t say “flippin bovine.”
Please give my condolences to your comedian friend whos name you have redacted John. No one should have to go through that horrible situation.