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Bob_Waliszewski
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Editor's note: A version of the  following post originally appeared in Jim Daly's Finding Home blog.

 

Recently we received the following email:

 

In your movie ratings you include a section labeled "profanity." I have a particular problem when the Name of Jesus is used as a cuss word. … My question is this: Is it a sin to watch a movie where Jesus' Name is used this way? Or is it proper to keep in mind that evil characters are just being true to their character? It's easy to justify because I'm not using His Name in that manner, yet at the same time I wonder if I am dishonoring Him by continuing to watch a movie that does so.

 

Great question! For me, hearing Jesus' Name abused as a profanity is like fingernails down a chalkboard! But does that mean that if I willingly go to a movie with full knowledge the dialogue utilizes a misuse of our Savior's Name that I'm sinning?

 

I know without a shadow of a doubt that speaking Jesus' Name as if it were a profanity is wrong. But the person who sent this email recognizes that as well. Her point is, "Hey, it's not me using it. I'm just watching it. Is it sinful?"

 

I'll be honest, I struggle over whether or not it's a sin to watch a movie that abuses our Savior's Name in this fashion. However, applying the WWJD? principle to the question (something I highly promote when I speak publicly on media discernment), it seems likely that if Jesus were walking the planet physically today with his 12 disciples, and if Peter or John asked the question, He would advise against it.

 

Now that may seem a bit wishy-washy to those who want a definite yes or no. I wish I could find the answer in the Bible‑‑you know II Hezekiah 3:16, the one that reads, "Thou shalt not watch a movie or listen to a song or play a video game that misuses my Name as if it were a swear word." But it's simply not there.

 

Still God hasn't been silent on the issue. Let me remind you that when the Creator of the Universe narrowed down all life's rules to a list of 10, He etched on a stone tablet (twice), "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." [Exodus 20:7]

 

I find it incredibly frustrating, even sickening, that Hollywood's writers and actors seem to care so little about this third Commandment. But equally troubling is that many Christians today ignore—or have forgotten—how important God's Name is!

 

apollo 18.JPGIs it a big deal? Now, that's a question I can comfortably answer. I've already mentioned the 10 Commandments. Now, let's go back in time to Moses day and imagine asking this Jewish leader whether or not it really matters. Let's assume we catch up with Moses shortly after he returns from his 40 day stay on Mount Sinai. It's hard to imagine Moses responding to our inquiry with: "Well, misuses of God's Name are rampant these days so just get used to hearing 'em. With regards to the 10 Commandments, I think Yahweh was pretty serious about nine of them. But this one about His Name, not so much."

 

It's absurd to even go there mentally. But it's not absurd to ask, Why does the God of the universe care so much about His Name? I don't dare to claim that I understand all the reasons, but I do think I have a handle on at least one: I'm convinced there are people on the planet today who are not open to the Gospel simply because the only "Jesus" they've ever heard about is the one used as a blasphemy in film dialogue. Why would they want to know more about a man whose Name is culturally disrespected so frequently and commonly?

 

Sadly, there are numerous examples of this misuse, slander and disrespect in popular films today. I'll cite just a few recent PG-13 examples to make my point: Red Tails, Tower Heist, Contagion and In Time. In Apollo 18, Jesus' Name is abused a whopping 10 times! This, of course, is not a new phenomenon, but a very disturbing one nonetheless. Even many people's classic favorite, Princess Bride, has Fred Savage's character, as a young boy, exclaiming Jesus' Name when addressing Peter Falk (as his grandfather) near the film's close. Again, for me it's fingers down a chalkboard!

 

I'm currently reading a book about a woman from England who explored much of Colorado by herself on horseback in 1873. Referencing one particular Colorado frontier town and about America in general during that time, Isabella Bird remarks, "Americans are given over to the most atrocious swearing, and the blasphemous use of our Savior's name is peculiarly revolting." [A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains, Isabella Bird, pg. 188]

 

More than one hundred years later, I agree completely with Ms. Bird: the blasphemous use of our Savior's name is peculiarly revolting. As such, when it comes to film, I believe simply saying no (or watching on a ClearPlay machine that edits out objectionable content) seems to be the most Christ-honoring approach overall.

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Comments (23)
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Jan 31, 2012 11:31 AM Guest Lisbeth  says:
I do hate it when people abuse God's or Jesus' names in the movies.  But, for me, those kinds of characters in the movies serve as a reminder to not go down that path.  In my opinion, movie characters are supposed to either inspire you to be a better person or stand as an example of the kind of person not to be. 
Jan 31, 2012 4:17 PM Guest Ben  says in response to Lisbeth:
If it were only limited to the bad guys in film, I might be able to justify watching movies where people take the name of the Lord in vain, but what about when it's the good guys? What about when it's the people you're SUPPOSED to imitate? I don't know... I tend to ignore it, but I don't know that I should. Of coarse, how many of us buy and sell on the Saboth? Do these things matter to God? Good question. Are we prepared to change our lives if we come to the conclusion that it IS important to God? And if we are not, why?
Jan 31, 2012 4:53 PM Guest Name  says:
God would advise against hearing his name abused when you have prior knowledge to this. But he wouldn't stop us. He gave us the option of free choice. To me, hearing his name abused is annoying, but I think of it that it makes sinning easier, not neccessarily sinning. It opens the path up for us but we can choose not to go down that road. The more we are exposed to it, the more likely we are to let it slip from our lips.
Jan 31, 2012 5:52 PM Guest Anon  says:

To me, it seems that the "Lord's name in vain" commandment actually refers, at its root, to the much more serious issue of misrepresenting God in some way, such as claiming God's spiritual backing for an otherwise personal opinion. I do wish more people saw the commandment this way. I think it would help cut down on a lot of spiritual abuse, accidental or otherwise. While I agree not cursing by God or Jesus is certainly an appropriate expression of respect, I do not think that's actually what God is so concerned about there.

 

Anyways, I personally think that there's nothing inherently wrong with hearing the 'misuse,' as it were, of 'Jesus' or 'God.' What if a friend or acquaintance of yours commonly misuses 'Jesus' or 'God' in this way? Do you really think Jesus would want you to avoid conversing with him/her from now on? If so, I think you and I believe in quite incompatible Jesuses. To me, there's little fundamental difference between that and watching the above-mentioned movies. I personally think people should always be put first, and I furthermore think its dangerous to let concerns over swearing, etc, get in the way of listening to what people have to say, fictional characters or otherwise (working from the assumption that behind every fictional character is the hard work of a human author, etc).
Jan 31, 2012 7:41 PM jjk038 jjk038    says:

I commend the person who posed that question in the magazine for asking that!  This is an issue that bothers me to no end, mainly because--as Bob pointed out--people seem to have no respect for the name of the Lord (whether it be "Oh my God" or "Jesus!"), not just in Hollywood, but the people we run into in daily life.  Unfortunately, it will continue and there is no one way around it.  I simply avoid (mostly) films that abuse the Lord's name excessively...once or twice, sadly, I am used to in the average film.  I think Bob made a good point when he brought up "The Princess Bride".  That is a classic, as well as one of my all-time favorite films, but I hate to hear Fred Savage (especially as a young child) misuse Jesus' name.  To avoid such language, sadly, you would have to lock yourself in a closet for the rest of your life.

 

My recommendation is to watch these movies, but be careful!  Remember that Jesus said, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off!"  He means that if a movie causes you to repeat His name in vain, you should reconsider what you watch.  Granted, no film will be perfect, but at least you would be somewhat better off.  We are supposed to be in the world, but not of the world.
Feb 1, 2012 7:44 AM Guest Matt R.  says:
How much value is there in watching hollywood movies anymore?  The author of this article makes a valid point about the misuse of the Lord's precious name, but beyond this most movies now glorify a worldview that hinders our ability to discern right and wrong.  We must filter what it is that we are exposing ourselves to and take a wholistic view of our entertainment choices and what we choose to be influenced/affected by.  This wil help us determine a clearer path about what to do / not do.  Sometimes we focus on the trees when we need to zoom out and see the whole forest.
Feb 1, 2012 5:55 AM Guest Frankie  says:
I don't think it's a sin to watch a movie with profanity. Mind you, it all depends in your own life how much you keep profanity out of your own life. I once saw an action movie with a few Christian friends and it had a lot of profanity. They all walked away keeping the same clean mouths they had before. So it's all about how thick of a skin that you have. Mind you if you swear, it's your fault. You can't blame it on a movie.
Feb 1, 2012 6:09 AM Guest Sarah  says:
I have a TV Guardian, which filters out all the bad language, and makes watching movies a whole lot better.  If there's a movie I want to see in theaters, with lots of bad language, I will wait until it comes out on dvd or blu ray and then watch it. 
Feb 1, 2012 12:51 PM Guest Darrell J.  says:

Movies can have a powerful impact, and they can be a strong influence for good or evil. The words we hear have an immediate impact—but what about the actions we see? The beliefs we hear espoused? The attitudes that are expressed? If we should not watch a movie where the Lord's name is misused, how about one in which his teachings are contradicted? Although believers often avoid films where non-marital sex is portrayed, many have no problems with shoot-'em-up, action-packed movies where people are murdered or where violence or cruelty is portrayed. Now again in the spirit of WWJD: just what would likely offend Jesus more? It is a challenge to be consistent in our behaviours. What would Jesus have thought about watching movies, period? I believe he would not be against them—they are in fact the 'parables' of our generation—but would he be ok with undesirable words, attitudes or behaviours, to a limited degree at least? (Don't forget, his own stories contained an 'unjust judge, who feared neither God nor man', a selfish rich man, hypocritical religious leaders, violent thieves and even murderers ...)
Feb 1, 2012 12:52 PM Guest M1ssdiagnosis  says in response to Anon:
I get your point. However, I think it's clear there's a big difference between completely avoiding speaking with someone who uses God's name as profanity and paying money to be entertained by something that we know to be foul. What about Philippians 4:8? And what about the principle of Psalm 1? When we become calloused to this kind of language, our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit dies. And I know that I personally pick up improper language habits based upon what I am around and what I hear all the time. So, no, we can't live in a bubble or require everyone around us to live up to our own personal language standards. But we can be wise about what we CAN choose to hear.
Feb 1, 2012 12:53 PM Guest M1ssdiagnosis  says in response to Sarah:
While I greatly appreciate the concept of the TV Guardian, it really strikes me as ironic that several people I know, who criticize me for not having one and allowing mild language on some TV shows and movies I watch, seem to think they can just watch anything that's out there as long as they filter out the foul language. Meanwhile, there is nudity and sexual content all over the place. The TV Guardian doesn't block that out! I'm not saying you're doing that, but I have seen a lot of cases where it seems like it's used to justify watching things that are truly not uplifting in any way, regardless of whether some "clown" kicking you in the "toe" or "giving you hugs."
Feb 1, 2012 1:19 PM Guest Hithwenur  says:

This may be kind of an odd thing to have come to mind, but I was homeschooled, and in a Christian co-op, and as such did not run into a lot of cussing in person before graduation. There was one time when I was going in for a standardized test, and there were some kids taking Jesus' name in vain, and because it really bothered me, I asked one of them why... Why use His name as an exclamation? And he thought about it, and then he said, "maybe because there's power in it."

 

In a weird way it kind of makes sense. People abuse His name all the time, but--you don't abuse a word which has no meaning. Hell becomes a cussword because hellfire is terrible, and people look for a terrible analogy for things they dislike. Perhaps Jesus started being used as a cussword because even people who do not follow Him, initially recognized that there was power in His name.

 

G.K. Chesterton's said something like, 'you can't blaspheme someone you don't believe in at all. If you don't believe me, just sit down sometime and seriously try to blaspheme Thor.'
Feb 1, 2012 1:21 PM Guest Kevin  says:
I think that if you believe that there is power in the name of Jesus (after all, we pray IN HIS NAME) then you have to see it as wrong to abuse the Holy name.  The Israelites wouldn't even say the Holy name of God for fear of misusing it.  The problem today is we've lost the fear (or respect) of God and it is no wonder when we hear his name abused so much.  However, I think it goes deeper still.  Some have said that it is only wrong to listen to it because it makes one more prone to say it, but I find this hard to accept in light of relationship with my God.  If I love Him and want to honor Him why would I choose to be entertained by something that disrespects Him?  Nails on a chalkboard is only the beginning.  It should cause us to rend our clothes when we hear this blasphemy.  We're talking about the name by which the lame are made whole, by which the sick are made well, by which the addicted are set free, by which the lost sinner is saved.  And we are not talking about an acquaintance or friend saying this who is a real person who God has called you to befriend and influence for salvation or discipleship here.  We're talking about petty entertainment that we cannot give up for the sake of our Lord.  I personally have a zero tolerance for blasphemous movies and the longer I stay strong on it, the more I come to realize how blasphemous Hollywood is in general and how much they hate our Lord.  I've had to give up a lot of movies I once loved like Back to the Future, Princess Bride, Spider Man etc.  But to stand before Jesus some day and give an account for my lack of dedication to Him over entertainment is unconscienable to me.  Why do we feel we HAVE to watch the filth that Hollywood puts out.  We should raise our standards and get them to stop.  If you want scripture, I would quote, not only the 3rd commandment, but add to it Romans 1:32 "Although they know full well God's just sentence - that those who practice such things deserve to die - they not only do them, BUT EVEN APPLAUD (OR TAKE PLEASURE IN) OTHERS WHO PRACTICE THEM."  (Emphasis mine.)  I wonder how many Hollywood movies we Christians applaud that abuse Jesus' name?  Too many.  Indeed, I do not think we "will be held guiltless."  By the way, I and my family count on Plugged-In to inform us of these movies before we even consider watching them.  Thank you for enduring the filth for families.  In fact, I think you guys are too kind on some.  Speaking of that, you might want to add "one misuse of Jesus name" to the movie Abducted.  You missed that one unfortunately.
Feb 2, 2012 5:56 AM Guest Tabitha  says:
I find the answer in my reaction to hearing the Lord's name in vain after making conscious effort to avoid entertainment that includes offensive language.  After a few years of this kind of life, it is a slap in my face to hear the Lord's name outside a prayer setting.  Whether it's the common, "OMG!!" or a full-blown use of "Jesus" alone or in combination with other words, it just makes my skin crawl.  I think that is my softened conscience responding the way I calloused over back when I used to act like it didn't matter.  My own reaction convicts me otherwise.
Feb 1, 2012 11:56 PM Guest Nameless  says in response to Kevin:

Curious that you mention Spider-Man. I won't try to talk you out of your convictions, but to me Spider-Man is a movie that is full of things that one could consider positive, even Christian. The nature of revenge, the need to use one's gifts well, to do what is right no matter what even when the cost is great. Plugged In even has it as one of their movie night articles. So clearly, even they find something worth examining in a movie that, according to what you have just said, we should burn.

 

I'm sure that you will count me as worldly and unwilling to stand up for God for saying so, although I hope you will not. As I said, I do not wish to talk you out of your convictions. But some of how you chose to word this gives the impression of a 'hollier-than-thou' attitude. If that isn't the case, then I apologize. For that matter, what about Plugged-In? Will they be held as guilty because they watch the same movies? Now, they do that to inform obviously, but what do you expect them to do?
Feb 2, 2012 11:03 AM Guest Katarina  says:

First of all, thank you Plugged In for not shying away from tough issues like this one, I really appreciate you Bob for putting this on the blog. Like a lot of you, I try to stay away from profanity in movies, though I will admit, I've gone into a movie before knowing it had one or two mis-uses of God's name. However, I'm a high-schooler (a home-schooled one but I take a band class at the local high school) and if I actually listened to the people walking down the halls on my way to that one class or if I didn't try to block out the sounds of the students at the basketball games I play at, I assure you that I would hear WAY more profanities especially uses of God's name in those few minutes than I would in any movie I could watch on my own legally. Also, I like to watch a seemingly innocent genre of TV show known as design shows, but have started turning them off because you are almost guarenteed to hear at least 9 commandment 3 breaking exclamations in the last two minutes when the designer reveals the room to the client. I'm even in a play where a character exclaimes "the g word" several times. Now, I never appear on stage with this character, and those who do tell her to stop using it, but it's still there.

 

     Sorry, I know I'm being tiresome, but I'm just trying to point out that if I leave the safety of my home for the high school or go to HGTV. com or use my God-given talent of drama in almost any secular setting, I WILL encounter someone who uses His name in vain. I do believe that entertainment has a special ability to influence us, so I try to be especially careful in that setting, but, unless I want to be a nun, I need to be able to encounter this problem without sinning. For me personally, I have found it helpful turn these misuses into uses by uttering a silent prayer. For example, Oh my G.... becomes, Oh my God, help me be patient with this person. God thank you for this activity I'm in. Jesus, thank you for this person. God forgive me for almost saying that the other day. Jeezus help me to be a light for you in this situation. I'm not saying this takes the problem away, but it helps me to turn what they meant to be disrespectful as a reminder to really talk to God.

 

     But, to actually answer the question, I think this is one of those, as the Holy Spirit leads issues. If these profanities start to affect your relationship with God or others, than maybe you need to stop watching anything with them in it or get a Clear play. For me, I find that misuses of God's name take away from good messages that entertainment is trying to communicate, but I'll still see a movie that seems to have enough good to outweigh it, even then I can really only tolerate one or two uses before I have to turn it off to save the screen from the things I will inevitably throw at it, and I no longer watch the reveals in those design shows. Anyway, I think what's most important is the way we handle them when to do come along, because, trust me, they will.

Feb 2, 2012 1:41 PM Guest Kevin  says in response to Nameless:

It is unfortunate that any time a Christian stands strong on a biblical topic they come off sounding Holier-than-thou.  It can't be helped when you take a definite stand.  Make no mistake, I am taking a strong stand because I think too many Christians (including most of my friends and people in my own church) blow this subject off and we shouldn't.  Most Christians would admit that the 10 Commandments are the big ones that we should live by, yet this one gets all kinds of excuses.  Let me be clear.  I am not saying someone is going to Hell because they watch a blasphemous movie.  If that were so, we would not be saved by Grace alone.  What I am saying is that people need to stop making excuses for the sake of petty entertainment when they say that they Love Jesus.  The 10 Commandments, indeed ALL of the Law is summed up in "Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself."  How are you showing love for your God when you allow yourself to sit and listen to His beloved, powerful, and Holy name being misused for the sake of your precious entertainment.  If I speak harshly it is because, in part, I am speaking to myself because I find myself grousing over the movies I have had to give up over this issue and when I think of what Jesus gave up for me and what Christians in hostile countries have given up to follow him, I make myself sick!  I ask myself all the time, how we the church are ever going to die to self and be effective to reach a dark and lost world when we can't even let go of our worldly, God-hating entertainment.  And I argue with myself constantly about how some movies... like Spiderman... have so much good content and good overall messages and doesn't that override one misuse of Jesus by a minor character in one little scene.  But the answer is: NO!  The answer is no IF I can't let the movie go because it's "so cool" and I love superheroes and blah blah blah blah blah.  The real issue is one of idolatry.  But it's also one of honesty.  If you tell me that someone is using a movie to make a teaching point and they are overlooking a few bad things for the greater good, then that is one thing but how many people really use movies to teach on a daily basis?  Rather, most of us just love our entertainment and don't want to give it up... not even for the honor of Jesus' name.  That's idolatry and therefore falls under the category of sin.  Period.  If speaking truth based on scripture makes me holier-than-thou, than I am guilty, but I assure you, I AM thou... and probably WORSE than thou.  My motivation is to get the church to be honest on this topic and stop making excuses... and in so doing, remind myself of why I take this stand.  After all the best defense is a good offense, right?

As to the issue of how I feel about Bob and others watching all these blasphemous and debaucherous movies.  I think it is unfortunate that they are subjected to so much filth on our behalf.  I appreciate it and realize that they, as mature adult christians, are making a sacrifice on behalf of immature and innocent children and families.  I think their sacrificial position is a necessary concession in a culture that HAS to have its entertainment... but that's partially my point.  What a shame that they must be subjected to it.  I personally think that some of the movies they review are no-brainer bad movies that shouldn't even be reviewed, but as they've expressed publicly, there are "Christian" families who want to know.  They seem to have to have someone explain why vampires and werewolves are evil.  That's a lack of discernment in the church that is heartbreaking.  If I were doing movie reviews, I personally would hit the first misuse of Jesus and stop the movie/walk out and report that it's blasphemous.  Don't touch it.  End of story.  No need to read anything else.  But that's just me.  Call me overzealous.  At any rate, I do not mean to be un-loving in this discussion and I hope you will forgive me if I do.  But some things just don't fit in that Romans 14 context.  And I don't think this one does.  All that said, I do believe that God's grace covers blind spots.  God knows we all have a lot of them.  We just can't allow ourselves to be purposely blind and ignore hard truth.  'Nuff said.  I'll leave it be at that. Thanks for listening.
Feb 6, 2012 7:25 AM kate kate    says:

If it bothers anyone so much why not just wait till the DVD is released, run it through clear-play and all the bad content is erased. Case closed. I don't see the need for a long-winded discussion.

It's a really grey area because you KNOW what the curse words are, you've probably heard it from someone on the street or something. Is that a sin?
Feb 7, 2012 10:31 AM Guest Connie  says in response to Kevin:
I'm with Kevin! We have overlooked this issue for far too long. It's kind of sad that we are even having to have this discussion. Instead of seeing how close to the line we can get without sinning, how about we see how far we can get from the things that might dishonor God.
Feb 10, 2012 7:15 AM Guest Cin  says:
As Christians, are we not paying the actors to speak/act in an offensive manner, when we purchase our tickets?  Also, how can our witness not be tarnished when we choose to be entertained in this manner.
Feb 14, 2012 8:45 AM Guest Suzy  says:

Using God's name in vain is a deal-breaker for me. I just purchased the new Rise of the Planet of the Apes DVD at Target for my husband - I read the jacket and thought it would be something he might enjoy. I asked to see if the store had internet (so I could check PluggedInOnline first) but they didn't, so I bought it. Came home, checked this website, and found that "God's name is combined twice with 'd‑‑n.' Jesus' is abused once." So back to the store it goes. How do I let the movie producers know that they are losing my money? (Over what was probably 3 seconds of film that didn’t add anything to the film in the first place?)

 

We don't go to the theatre much (I prefer to purchase the DVD later on), but I really wanted to see Avatar when it came out. And what's the first thing out of Sigourney Weaver's mouth? She uses God's name in vain. They could have done something else to establish her character as a grouch. I would have purchased that DVD as well.

Feb 15, 2012 5:29 PM Guest Lisbeth  says in response to kate:
I agree.  We live in an age where curse words and obscene gestures can be heard and seen practically anywhere and everywhere.  It's become an unavoidable fact of life.  Even if you run a movie or TV show through a ClearPlay machine or have the "bleeping" noise, 99% of the time, you still know what word the actors are saying.  When I watch "Inside the Actors Studio" (because I'm that kind of nerd) and the actors being interviewed swear, you can still tell what they are saying, despite the fact that they "bleep" the word.  Other times, although you can't see the lip movement, your mind automatically fills in the blanks. 
Mar 26, 2012 8:31 AM Guest Kathy  says in response to Kevin:
I absolutely agree with you Kevin. Thank you for speaking God's truth in such a beautiful way!

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