The Insanity of Profanity
James Merritt
Exodus 20:7
INTRODUCTION
A few years ago, Time magazine reported an incident that took place in the State of Maryland. A truck driver had been arrested for drunk driving and disorderly conduct. When the police officers arrived on the scene to arrest the man, he became abusive. He began to use filthy and profane language, and repeatedly took God's name in vain.
When the man was brought before the magistrate, he was still using profane language. The maximum penalty the magistrate could impose for drunk and disorderly conduct was $100 fine and thirty days in jail.
Well, the magistrate wanted to ''throw the book'' at him. He found an antiquated law, still on the books in Maryland, which had never been repealed, that prohibited public blasphemy.
Since the man had publicly profaned and blasphemed the name of God, the magistrate tacked on another $100 fine and an additional thirty days in jail.
The Time News Editor was outraged at the treatment this man received. He was not concerned about the penalty for drunk driving; but he was outraged that a man would be fined $100 and given thirty days in jail for cursing and blaspheming the name of God. He felt like it was ''cruel and unusual punishment.''
Well, that truck driver should be glad that he wasn't arrested by Aaron, the High Priest. In the Old Testament, the best lawyer in Israel could not get his client a $100 fine and thirty days in jail for public blasphemy. The question is: What is worse, drunk and disorderly behavior, or publicly insulting the dignity of a Holy God? Time's News Editor gave his answer, but God has given a different one.
It is interesting to note that two of the Ten Commandments deal with sins of the tongue. The third commandment deals with profanity, the ninth commandment deals with perjury; the third commandment deals with talking trash, the ninth commandment deals with telling the truth; the third commandment calls for holy la ...
James Merritt
Exodus 20:7
INTRODUCTION
A few years ago, Time magazine reported an incident that took place in the State of Maryland. A truck driver had been arrested for drunk driving and disorderly conduct. When the police officers arrived on the scene to arrest the man, he became abusive. He began to use filthy and profane language, and repeatedly took God's name in vain.
When the man was brought before the magistrate, he was still using profane language. The maximum penalty the magistrate could impose for drunk and disorderly conduct was $100 fine and thirty days in jail.
Well, the magistrate wanted to ''throw the book'' at him. He found an antiquated law, still on the books in Maryland, which had never been repealed, that prohibited public blasphemy.
Since the man had publicly profaned and blasphemed the name of God, the magistrate tacked on another $100 fine and an additional thirty days in jail.
The Time News Editor was outraged at the treatment this man received. He was not concerned about the penalty for drunk driving; but he was outraged that a man would be fined $100 and given thirty days in jail for cursing and blaspheming the name of God. He felt like it was ''cruel and unusual punishment.''
Well, that truck driver should be glad that he wasn't arrested by Aaron, the High Priest. In the Old Testament, the best lawyer in Israel could not get his client a $100 fine and thirty days in jail for public blasphemy. The question is: What is worse, drunk and disorderly behavior, or publicly insulting the dignity of a Holy God? Time's News Editor gave his answer, but God has given a different one.
It is interesting to note that two of the Ten Commandments deal with sins of the tongue. The third commandment deals with profanity, the ninth commandment deals with perjury; the third commandment deals with talking trash, the ninth commandment deals with telling the truth; the third commandment calls for holy la ...
There are 15436 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
