Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

~ Ephesians 4:29 New Revised Standard Version

Navigating one's faith is hard for many reasons.

Some who read the above verse and learn of, or play our game, see a contradiction, call us hypocrites, or feel conviction. We’ve spoken ad nauseum about who were are, what we do, and why, so we won’t rehash that here. However, allow us to clarify something that came up in conversation with one concerned individual.

We are not telling anyone they can or cannot, should or should not, swear.

The language one uses is between that individual and their religious and social communities. And God.

Our Theology of Swearing explains the methodology and context our game employs when using “strong language,” including swears. As we say, some of the places we use strong language is because the image/phrase employed at the time in the original language would have been socially shocking at the time. Other times, the image/phrase is best communicated in the modern lexicon through a swear.

Some people disagree with these rationales and our usage. And that is their right. But we challenge them to explain whether that feeling is based on a blanket "we don't like swears," or they are actually looking at the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek that the verse is based on, and disagree with out translation.

We find that it is usually the former.

[We also call פֶּרֶשׁ - peresh on those supposed “good christians” who seem to have no problem playing Cards Against Humanity, but come at us.]

We Put in the Work

In each of our Card Talks we seek to carefully explain the history of the linguistic phrase we are translating/interpreting. We start with the original languages, employing lexicons and concordances. We consult “conservative,” “moderate,” and “liberal” commentaries and scholars. We look at complimentary and contradicting biblical versions and paraphrases. We put in the work.

We often wonder if the people offended by our words also have difficulty when Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Jesus, Peter, Paul, and others use language just as strong in their cultural context, just as we seek to communicate the same message to a modern audience? That we cannot know. So we say the following:

1. If you are offended by what we present, we encourage you to also put in the work, and (rationally) explain why our translation is in error, also beginning with the original text, not mere sentimentality.

2. If you are so offended by our language that you cannot bring yourself to move beyond the first word or image that disturbed you, this website, game, ministry is not for you. We understand that you will shake the dust from your feet at us and move on, possibly with malice or disappointment in your heart.

But again, we are not telling any one else that they should go into their churches or grandmother’s houses and swear.

If you have spiritual and/or social reasons not to swear, that is the revelation you have in your life.

Run with it.

But know the same language you are offended by in our game and Card Talks, is used in the Bible, in context, for spiritual and social purposes.

You’ve been warned.