My Daddy Never Cussed.

A number of years ago I attended the memorial service at the passing of a faithful local church pastor. It was a wonderful home-going celebration and worship service that honored God --- and I'm sure pleased the guest of honor as he watched from heaven. (If such things happen).

It was an unusual service for here in the south --- many family members and friends stood up to give testimony to the life of the pastor. Eulogies. ("Good Words").

One testimony that was given made a memorable impression on me. The pastor's grieving daughter said, (among many other sweet sentiments) "In all of my life, I never one time ever heard my Daddy utter an ugly or profane word."

It is a wonderful testimony to character and virtue. And I would never detract from her words or this occasion . . . but there were two thoughts that immediately entered my mind.

First of all --- that's the way I think that you ought to listen to speeches or lessons, or sermons. You ought to apply them --- compare the words to your life. Weigh the words and see if they are meaningful, applicable, if they are true, if they have value --- and question if perhaps they are intended for you (for me).

The very first thought that popped into my mind is, "Charise would never be able to stand up at my memorial service and make the same assertion about her Dad."

And then I thought, "I could not truthfully say that about my Dad."

But, I do not believe that that is an awful thing to have to confess --- about myself, or about my Dad.

I would never disrespect the memory of the father in my illustration. And I certainly don't want to be perceived as someone extolling the virtues or qualities of profanity . . . . but in my heart of hearts --- and as the son of my father ---- I believe that there are some things in life that just ought to be cussed.

Some things (and maybe situations, circumstances or people) that deserve to be cussed.

I find resonance in my heart of Isaiah's confession in Chapter 6 of his prophecy. There are lapses in my speech when I, too, am a "man of unclean lips." And what I need is cleansing and not excuses.

Sometimes when I come home for Dinner after Sunday worship and Terri asks me, "Well, how do you feel about the message this morning?" I often respond, "I'm just glad I got through another sermon without cussin' in the pulpit!" To me, it's always a good sermon when I've said what God has placed on my heart without any of the real me coming through.

I wish that I could tell you that since I've been saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost that never an ugly word has passed my lips. But its not true.

Now, I don't want you think that I'm a fountain of verbal vulgarity. It is most often just a slip. Not a normal part of my conversation or communication. But its a recognized weakness, a flaw.
I do know that in Romans 12:14 Paul said, "Cuss not."

Someone asked the man who often caddied on the golf course for the pastor, "Does the Preacher ever cuss when he makes a bad shot on the links?" To which the caddy replied, "Naw suh, but sometime whar he spit, de grass don' grow no mo."

In Genesis 3:14 after Adam's transgression God cussed the Serpent for his temptation in the affair.

In Genesis 3:17 God cussed the ground and though he does not pronounce it in this passage Paul the Apostle describes all of us law breakers as being cussed (Galatians 3:10). And, significantly, in Galatians 3:13 Paul says that God cussed Jesus in our place, in our stead, as he hung on the cross. There Paul says that Christ was not only cussed for us --- He was made a cuss for us.

Simon Peter cussed to underline and emphasize his third denial of Jesus. So, even the best of us has cussed.

Its a lesser testimony ---- but perhaps if Charise ever rose to give her angle on my life I hope she might say, "I loved my Daddy. He was a good Father. And he never one time cussed something or someone ---- that didn't need cussin'."

Just don't engrave that on my stone.