Do You Consider “Damn” Profanity?

So in Hope Deferred, the word “damn” occurs one time. It’s organic, it’s not gratuitous, and replacing it with “dang” or “darn it” or something like that didn’t feel honest to the situation or the character in question. So I left it. My critique partner left it (didn’t even comment on it, because, again, it was honest.) My editor left it. And…a pre-reviewer basically said she’ll never read any book by me again because it’s in there. That’s certainly her prerogative.

But it got me thinking – I totally agree Christians aren’t supposed to use foul or coarse language. I get that. But raise your hand if, in the heat of the moment, you’ve never let one slip.

Yeah, I didn’t think I’d see any hands.

Christians sin. We do. I always hope we’re honest enough with ourselves to realize that. After all, if we didn’t sin, or if there was some way to stop sinning, we wouldn’t need Jesus. And when you get to the heart of it, that’s why I write the books I do. My characters are messy Christians–just like you and me. They don’t always get it right and they do or say things in the heat of the moment that they have to repent for later. They sin and they need grace. And so do we.

I was surprised, honestly, at the vehement reaction to the word. And she doesn’t go ahead and say what the word is in her review, so it’s as if I used the Lord’s name in vain (I didn’t, and that’s one I never would) or some of the truly and hugely offensive words that fall into the category of “swearing.” (If you look up the definition of profanity, it’s pretty clear that it’s limited to blasphemy and/or obscene language. So if we’re going to categorize “damn” it needs to at least be lowered to “swearing” or “an oath,” not profanity.) No, I used a word that both Rhett Butler and Dr. McCoy turned into a bit of a catch phrase. (“Frankly Scarlett, I couldn’t possibly care less” is unlikely to have been quite as effective. And in Star Trek – he wasn’t saying “Dang it, Jim, I’m a doctor not a ____.”)

The unnecessary forcing of dishonesty in characters is one reason Christian fiction gets a bad rap in a lot of circles. There are, obviously, people who want Christian fiction to be purely sunshine and happiness once the bandaid of Jesus is on your heart. And that’s fine if that’s what you’re looking for – there are lots of people who write exactly that. But those books don’t minister to the Christians in the pew who are hurting and wondering why Jesus hasn’t worked that way for them. Those books aren’t helping the people who then go on to think that because their life hasn’t become daffodils and puppies since accepting Christ, maybe they’re doing something wrong and they begin to question their faith.

We do people a disservice if we insist on perpetuating the myth that life in Christ is easy. It isn’t. Jesus Himself didn’t even say it would be easy to follow Him – no, He said “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) We’re not called to a life of chasing after bubbles in a meadow – we’re called to stand firm no matter how hard it gets. And I suspect, at some point during that journey of perseverance, we might just let slip a mild swear word or two. And when we do, Jesus will still love us.