What Does It Take For You To Give Up On An Author?

I mentioned previously that, scandal of all scandals, I used the word “damn” in Hope Deferred. I still stand by that decision, but there are at least two people out there who will never read anything else of mine because of that. Even though that’s the only time to date that I’ve used a mild cuss word in a novel and it’s unlikely to happen again. Now, obviously, that’s their choice and I can certainly understand not wanting to read books filled with swearing if that’s something you struggle with.

But there was a discussion on the ACFW main loop recently that got me scratching my head. There were people arguing that they would put the book down and never read that author again if they were reading a Christian novel and encountered a cuss word (including “damn”), but then they went on to say that they read secular fiction.

Insert screeching record noise here.

If your problem is with profanity (cuss words, swearing, whatever you want to call it – though I do feel profanity is specifically blasphemy), then why are you reading secular fiction? Or watching the TV or movies? Why are you spending your money to interact with a culture where it’s practically inevitable that you’re going to run into words that would make you put down a Christian novel and never read that author again? Either swearing is the unforgivable sin or it isn’t. It seems ridiculous that someone would have such a strict double standard.

There were others who said that they would put the book down and never read the author again and that they don’t read secular fiction or watch much TV. And I can appreciate that they, at least, are consistent in their beliefs. But then I have to wonder, is one offense truly a reason for a Christian to give up on a Christian author? Even in baseball, you get three strikes before you’re out. Beyond that, I’m reasonably certain that Jesus told us we needed to forgive seventy times seven. And ok, sure, forgiving someone who wronged you isn’t exactly the same as giving an author a second chance just because one book they wrote contained a word you disagreed with – but I think the essential premise is sound. After all, there are people out there who write books and, in an effort to keep their characters honest and realistic, end up with a word slipping in.

Many people advocated for the use of made up swear words. Examples were given like Battlestar Galactica and Firefly, where the characters cussed constantly but didn’t use anything that the TV censors would object to. My problem with this, though, is that the thought is the same as the deed. If Jesus says that thinking adulterous thoughts and being angry with your brother or sister in Christ is serious enough to warrant punishment, then how can we not extrapolate it to think that saying “Frack” is just as bad as saying the real f-word. Particularly when it’s clear what we thought and intended to say with our cheap substitute. (I was surprised, honestly, in a book by a fairly well known author that a character says “Crap happens.” To me, crap is just as bad as damn and when put in that phrase, well, we all know what a soldier would really have been saying, so the phrase “crap happens” immediately brings to mind “s* happens” – and yet no one seems to care about that particular expression. Maybe he gets a pass because he’s a soldier? Even still, as annoyed as I was by the phrase, I’ll still read that author because I enjoy the stories.) Point being, using substitutes so you’re not “officially” swearing isn’t any better than just swearing, in my mind. And if that means that you have to realize you have the mouth of a sailor, well, maybe what really needs to happen is some soul searching.

Interestingly enough, in the midst of that discussion on the loop, I happened across Mike Duran’s post asking why evangelical readers are okay with violence but not profanity. It’s a timely and well written piece that should, if nothing else, be thought provoking.

But at the end of the day, I don’t think we should ever write anyone – certainly not a fellow believer – off because of one negative experience. We owe one another grace – let’s go out there and give it in bountiful measure.