The F Shot
While waiting for my morning bus to depart the downtown depot, I, (and everyone else on the bus), were disgustingly entertained by three teenagers who constantly injected the "F" word into their naive banter. These days people seem to think the F Shot is used by everyone.
Common, even.
And one day it very well may be. Even in our churches.
Think about it - do you actually think church goers 50 years ago used crap, suck, damn and hell in their daily rhetoric? Today those words are common vocab for the average Christian. [Unless you're my mother. She would be horrified to know that my pastor actually uses the "C" word in his creative sermons! Of course she'd also be horrified to know that I went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the CINEMA - but that's an entirely different blog.]
10 years ago I was speaking to a youth group about sexual purity and used an example I had heard re: the origin of the F Shot = that it was derived from an acronymic phrase taken from a 100-year-old law called "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." Apparently that is a Folk Etymology Myth. Regardless, it was a GREAT illustration, and one that those youth have remembered to this day. [Of course, it could be because I wrote the F Shot in HUGE letters on a chalk board to drive the point home! Again, different blog, another day.]
I never swore as a teenager. In fact, kids at my high school used to say they'd pay me money just to say a bad word. I never gave in to their peer pressure, mostly because I simply never had those words in my head! Not even if I got mad. [Things have changed somewhat in my adult years, but THAT is DEFINITELY a different blog!]
Today I was reminded how I felt as a young person when I heard other teens use the F Shot - especially if adults were around to hear them. I was afraid of them. Because, back then, people who used language like that were very bad people - criminals, drug addicts, or just people with disregard for others. And when you heard someone talk like that, you felt afraid because you knew they were "trouble."
My how things have changed. Yes, I did feel a twinge of "concern" for the elderly folk on the bus who heard the frequent usage of the F Shot this morning, but mostly I felt sad. Those teenagers have probably been raised by parents who speak the same "common" way. And to them, they don't mean to have disregard for others, they just think their vocab is normal.
In fact, one day the F Shot will probably be included in all the dictionaries in our public schools, so kids can study its origin and usage. Wait. Maybe it already is... [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000]
Common, even.
And one day it very well may be. Even in our churches.
Think about it - do you actually think church goers 50 years ago used crap, suck, damn and hell in their daily rhetoric? Today those words are common vocab for the average Christian. [Unless you're my mother. She would be horrified to know that my pastor actually uses the "C" word in his creative sermons! Of course she'd also be horrified to know that I went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the CINEMA - but that's an entirely different blog.]
10 years ago I was speaking to a youth group about sexual purity and used an example I had heard re: the origin of the F Shot = that it was derived from an acronymic phrase taken from a 100-year-old law called "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." Apparently that is a Folk Etymology Myth. Regardless, it was a GREAT illustration, and one that those youth have remembered to this day. [Of course, it could be because I wrote the F Shot in HUGE letters on a chalk board to drive the point home! Again, different blog, another day.]
I never swore as a teenager. In fact, kids at my high school used to say they'd pay me money just to say a bad word. I never gave in to their peer pressure, mostly because I simply never had those words in my head! Not even if I got mad. [Things have changed somewhat in my adult years, but THAT is DEFINITELY a different blog!]
Today I was reminded how I felt as a young person when I heard other teens use the F Shot - especially if adults were around to hear them. I was afraid of them. Because, back then, people who used language like that were very bad people - criminals, drug addicts, or just people with disregard for others. And when you heard someone talk like that, you felt afraid because you knew they were "trouble."
My how things have changed. Yes, I did feel a twinge of "concern" for the elderly folk on the bus who heard the frequent usage of the F Shot this morning, but mostly I felt sad. Those teenagers have probably been raised by parents who speak the same "common" way. And to them, they don't mean to have disregard for others, they just think their vocab is normal.
In fact, one day the F Shot will probably be included in all the dictionaries in our public schools, so kids can study its origin and usage. Wait. Maybe it already is... [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000]
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 9:46 PM.
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12:45 AMPaul, excellent blog subject. I have noticed the mindless word in a lot of blogs also. It has been said that it is the manifestation of an inarticulate mind attempting to express itself forcefully. I plan to do a blog within a month or so on the proper use of God’s name. The incessant blasphemy these days insufferable.
5:56 PM
I remember when you did that! I was dropping Bry off and there in the middle of the "sanctuary" wass the board with that acronym on it. I remember being both stunned (really) and intrigued. I wanted to stay and see how you presented it, but it wasn't cool for mom to stay for youth...Personally, I'm always saddened when I see a group of young kids preened to look their best, only to hear that ugly word coming out of their mouths... they don't look so good after that...it really is mindless.
2:29 PM
help me on this one. seriously. it is something i blogged about back in aug. for just the opposite reasons that you have blogged about it here.
i am a 30 year old male living in the inner city and grew up a pastor's son. i have heard arguements on both sides. my main question is, what's wrong with the word? i honestly don't see how a specific grouping of consonants and a vowel can be sinful in and of itself. of course it's not. even christians have acceptable cuss word substitues, which makes no sense to me at all. what, in your heart, is the actual difference between saying "shoot" or "shit"? as far as i can tell, nothing. the exact same thing is meant by both, but somehow one grouping of letters is sanctified and the other isn't. i'm having trouble finding scriptural basis for this, but i'm combing leviticus right now. maybe it's in there.
i guess, i feel that it is what is trying to be expressed that is more important than the words used to express it. am i uncomfortable when i hear someone ranting in supreme anger using cuss words left and right? of course. but it's the spirit behind the words that makes me uncomfortable, not the words themselves. perhaps it is a cultural thing. i have spent enough time with and around people for whom this word that you affectionately call the F shot (as though the real word doesn't ring out in my head every time you say that) is PART OF THEIR LANGUAGE. as natural as "the" or "and". it is how they speak to one another and it is the way that they understand things best. i have a hard time understanding why folks within the church still get upset about something like this. i see it as someone coming into the building who only speaks spanish being told that before they can worship with us they need to learn english and speak only english otherwise they are going to be severely judged and cast out for speaking in their native tongue.
or perhaps we can grudgingly put up with it until they "learn better".
long rant short, NOWHERE in the entire bible does it say that using the word fuck is sinful. i know there are passages about "wholesome talk" and the like, and once again, i'm going to have to point out that what is wholesome talk for you is not the same for them. i understand that it may trouble your conscience. if it does, then by all means, don't sin. but if someone else CAN use the word with a clear conscience, it does not necessarialy mean that they are hardened in rebellion. they may just come from a different culture than you.
i have heard my sister say that culture is what dictates "wholesome talk". my question, as seriously as i can ask it is in two parts. 1st - whose culture? 2nd - are we as bible believing, god fearing christians supposed to let the culture at large determine right and wrong for us?
i am not just saying these things to be shocking, or to be right, or win anything. i am truly interested in this topic as i believe it greatly hinders ministry in out present world and would like your open and honest feedback to my thoughts. if you don't mind. if you don't have the time or the strength, i understand.
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