Naughty, Dirty Words... Good?

Words have meanings

I remember back in Junior High School when the word “bad” became good and the word gay meant “stupid”. The word “hella” was introduced to me and I figured out that it meant extremely… as in that guy is ‘hella tall’ (extremely tall). Maybe you’ve seen the ads on MySpace that say “It’s Nice to be Naughty” or heard about rappers with the word Nasty in their name. What about songs which talk about doing dirty things, and speak about it in a positive way?

Now I understand that words change over time, and that’s not really the point. For example bad becoming good; when people say “that’s bad!” (when looking at a really fancy car, for example) they are really saying “that’s good!”, they are not saying “that’s good (because it’s bad)”… does that make sense? The meaning of the word bad (temporarily) changed it’s meaning to actually mean “good”. For the purpose of this article, I’m not referring to words where the meanings have actually changed, but instead I’m talking about what our response is to certain words.

Is it nice to be naughty? No, of course it’s not. They mean different things. That’s like saying “it’s polite to be rude!” Suppose you were trying on clothes and you walked up to me and asked my opinion, if I said “You look terrible, absolutely disgusting!” Would you say, great thanks – and head towards the counter to purchase those clothes? Maybe, but that’s not really the issue either.

What is the issue? I’ll tell you. The problem is that the ads on myspace are actually trying to convince us that it’s ‘nice’ (good) to be naughty (bad). They are actually trying to convince us that if we were to meet a girl that was naughty, that would be a good thing. The songs that have the word ‘dirty’ in them, are actually attempting to make us think that doing ‘dirty’ things is right (good). The rapper with the word Nasty in his name, isn’t trying to change the meaning of the word. See, it’s not an issue of Nasty meaning something else… it’s an issue of the idea that Nasty (in all it’s nastiness) is a good thing. Being naughty is wrong, if someone is naughty then they need to change their actions and attitude. Being dirty and nasty isn’t a good thing.

What authority do I have to say what is and isn’t good? Common sense. You are smart enough to agree with me. You have a conscience that tells you the difference between right and wrong. Below are a few scenarios: soften your heart and use your conscience to determine if they are good or bad (nice or naughty).

You’re a parent: suppose you had a 15 year old daughter and she came up to you and asked for help shopping. She told you that there was a guy at school that she wanted to impress, so she needed to go to the store and get some real naughty clothing so she could look like a whore and attract this guy by looking as nasty and dirty as possible. Your daughter says that all the other girls look super sluty, so she’s really going to have some competition to get this guys attention! (good or bad?)

Or suppose your son came up to you and said “I’m so excited, I’ve met this hot chick at school. She’s a naughty little girl with a dirty mind! The football team says she’s super easy and she does the nastiest things on the first date! I don’t know her name, but can I have a few bucks for some condoms and beer?” (right or wrong?)

What would the correct response be as a parent? Would it be, “Oh son / daughter, I’m so proud of you for understanding your feelings and going after them. Let’s take care of your needs so that you can go have fun?” No. Of course it wouldn’t be, right? There is a right and a wrong and we all know it. (example: Question: When is it okay to rape someone? Answer: NEVER!) God wrote His laws on our hearts and gave us a conscience (con = with, science = knowledge). Some people may have very seared consciences but this is only because they’ve gone against what they know is right so many times.

If you disagree with me on the above… there’s a good reason. But instead of beating around the bush, let me ask you a question. This question may seem like it’s off topic, but in fact, it’s not. It involves another word that is open for interpretation – Good.

Would you consider yourself to be a good person? Most people say yes. The question is who or what are they comparing themselves to when determining their goodness. Compared to Hitler, you are probably a good person. But what about compared to your friends, boss, or parents? Whose standards are you using to determine your goodness? What about if you compared yourself to God’s standard of ‘goodness’ – the 10 Commandments. (By the way, I’m not a good person when compared to this standard).

Let’s look at His standard and see if you’re still good. We’ll just look at half of the commandments starting with number 9 – “You shall not lie”, have you ever told a lie? Yeah, me too. And what are you called if you’ve lied (specifically)? A liar. The eighth one is “You shall not steal” (not talking about stealing in baseball) – have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you (such as stealing music off the internet, sneaking into a movie, not working while you’re being paid)? If you’ve stolen then by definition you’re a thief. The seventh commandment is “You shall not commit adultery” , Jesus magnified that law and clarified it for us telling us that even if we look with lust, we’ve committed this sin in our hearts (see Matthew 5:27). What about the 3rd commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vein” (which is also clarified in the bible as mis-using God’s name) Have you ever done that? That’s called blasphemy. If you’ve lied, stolen, looked with lust, or mis-used God’s name, then by your own admission you’re a liar, a thief and a blasphemous adultery-at-heart by God’s standards. Why does this matter? Keep reading…

So you’ve broken God’s Law… just like everyone else (Romans 3:23)… what’s the big deal? Here’s the big deal, the bible says that it’s appointed once for you to die (as in life over) and then face judgment. God’s law is the standard by which you’ll be judged, and God doesn’t grade on a curve. The bible tells us that all liars have their part in the lake of fire (Revelations 21:8), and that no thief, adulterer, nor fornicator will inherit the kingdom of heaven. So can you see that if God judges you by His standard you’d be guilty and end up in hell? Now that’s bad (meaning BAD). I don’t want you to go to hell, and likely you don’t want to either. But the most important thing is that God doesn’t want you to either. Do you know what God did so that you wouldn’t have to get what we deserve? God became a man in Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, to live a sinless life and suffer and die on the cross to take our punishment. Sin, the bible says, is transgression of the law. No sin will be forgiven without the shedding of blood (that’s just God’s way – not for us to argue with, but rather live – or die with). Our blood won’t work because we are sinners. But Jesus Christ was beaten and bruised for our sins. We broke the law and He paid our find. That’s good news. The bible says that if we repent (confess and forsake our sins) and put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we’ll be born again (a spiritual re-birth) and be saved from God’s wrath on judgment day. Please, don’t put this off, get right with God today. Repent and put your faith in Jesus, then start reading God’s Word (the bible) and obey what you read. If you procrastinate about this and die in your sins without having repented and putting your faith in Jesus Christ, then you’ll go to hell for eternity – and that would be hella bad (as in extremely not good).

~ brandt dary

A Message for Girls...

This is a message for all girls. Predominately for girls 13 – 30 , but also any age that applies.

Hello Girls,

This is a message to you, a girl, from a 23 year old single guy. I am not writing this message to try to tell you what to do, but rather to bring something to your attention about us guys. I am going to tell you something that you may already know... or it may be a surprise to you. I'm going to talk openly about your bodies and I pray that you will understand my intentions and know that I am not trying to be rude or coarse. Please hear my heart in this message and don't be upset with my words... my goal is two-fold, I am trying to help girls, and guys. You'll understand more after you've read this message.

I've been a member of the popular social networking site MySpace and also the less popular 'meeting' site, Hot or Not. While browsing around on these sites, I've noticed something that I (now) consider quite strange. What is it that I have seen that has been so strange? Cleavage... and lots of it! Many girls like to show off their bodies by showing their breasts and cleavage in their pictures. I have found it interesting that on both of these sites, girls are allowed to choose their 'primary' picture, that is the picture that they want guys (and other girls) to see first. This is the picture that they (possibly) feel best represents them. Very often, the primary picture of theirs will be of their breasts ... sure, the picture might include their smiling face, but guys wont see that first. Girls, is that really how you want us to see you? What I mean to say is this... is that the order you want us to look at you? First your body, then your face... and then... much later - your personality?

Now this message isn't to guys... so I wont talk about how we, as guys, need to try our best to not do that... but rather, I am asking you girls (for your own good and ours) to help us. Do you think that a prostitue is a respectable occupation for girls? Of course not! A prostitute (whore, slut, hooker, whatever you call it) is a disgraceful thing! I hope you agree. Think about how they dress. Usually in a very "sexy" way in order to cause guys to look at them lustfully, and hopefully "buy". Do you want to be likened to a prostitue? I hope not... a wise phrase to remember is this "If you're not in business, don't advertise!" That is to say, if you don't want guys looking at you in a sexy way, help us out by not dressing so sexy.

Recently I was out with a very nice girl and the issue of tattoos came up. She revealed to me that she had a "lower back" tattoo. I asked her why she got it there. I'm not sure that I beleive her answer, but maybe it's true, and maybe you have the same answer as she did. She said that she got it because she thought that it "was a cute place [for a tattoo]." Is that your reason? Or did you get one there (or are considering getting one there) because you KNOW that guys think it's sexy? Did you know that? Guys think that's incredibly sexy (all that I've talked to anyways...) I've heard some guys define that as a "target" (which for the purpose of this e-mail I wont define). Is that how you want to be thought of?


Isn't it good that Guys would look at you this way? (you might be thinking)

No. It isn't... why not? You may be asking. Well, speaking about good... maybe this topic will make more sense if we discuss something else for just a few moments. The question of Good depends on the standard that you use. If you're a prostitue, then isn't it good that guys look at you with lust. Well Yes and No... it is "good" for business, and "bad" for everything else. Girl who is reading this page... you might look "good" but do you consider yourself to be a "Good Person?" What about "GOOD" according to a higher standard. A standard like the 10 Commandments? Take a few moments to look at them and answer them in your head (or out loud).

Here they are: 10, You shall not Covet - Have you ever coveted? Wanted something of someone else? 9 You shall not lie - Have you ever told a lie? (telling just one lie, makes you a liar by definition). 8 Have you ever stolen anything? (Be honest. If you have that makes you a thief). 7. You shall not comitt adultery - Not married? Did you know that Jesus said that "whoever looks at a woman to lust after her, has comitted adultery in his heart already" (see Matthew 5:27). That means that if you have looked with Lust you've comitted adultery according to God's standards. What about if you cause a guy to look at you with lust (or at least HELP him) - do you think that is right? 6. You shall not murder - did you know that Jesus said whoever hates others or calls someone a "fool" is in danger of judgement. 5. Honor your Father and Mother - if you are dressing in a sexy way, flashing your cleavage all around the internet (and real life) do you think that is honorable to your parents? i'm not asking if they know about it or care, I'm asking if it's "honorable"... if you're not sure, think about your 16 year old daughter dressing that way - if it'd be fine, consider the rest of your life - is that honorable to them? What about the 3rd commandment - Thou shall not mis-use the name of the Lord their God - have you ever misused God's name? Do you replace swear words with the name of God or Jesus? The bible says God will not hold them guiltless who takes His name in vein. Let's stop there for a moment.

How are you doing? By the way (I am guilty too... remember what I said, I'm not trying to point fingers here, just share my heart). So how did you do? If you've broken just one of His laws, the bible tells us you're guilty of breaking them all. Imagine God's Law like a chain that you're hanging on to get into heaven. If you're perfect, then God will pul you right up, the problem is that if you break just one law, that's like breaking a link in the chain - it doesn't matter how many others you haven't broken, you'll surely fall. Did you know that the Bible says "it's appointed once for us to die, and then face judgement" how will you do? You might say "that's up to God" and you're right, but he has given us a preview of what we can expect. Do you think you'd be innocent or guilty? If you're honest, the answer is guilty. If you're guilty do you think that God would let you into heaven or send you to hell. If you're honest again (although it may be hard) the answer is Hell.

I don't want that, and I'm pretty sure you don't want that. But the good news is, that God doesn't want that either. If you think God would just let you in because He's a good God then you'll be shocked. Because of God's goodness he must punish Sin (Sin by the way, is breaking God's Law). So if he gives you what you deserve, you'll (and I'll) end up in Hell. But do you know what God did so that you wouldn't have to go to hell? You probably do... but maybe it's never made sense to you before. You've heard that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten son..." You may have heard it said before that Jesus Christ died for your sins... but maybe, kike paul who said "I had not known sin, but by the Law" (see Romans 7:7), you had not fully understood your sins - so that you would fully understand what Jesus' death meant. The bible says that God commanded his love towards the world, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Do you know what you must do to "take part" in that gift of salvation. The bible also makes that clear. You must repent and Believe in Jesus. Not just believe, because the Devil believes and trembles, but believe that He alone is what is allowing you to go to heaven when you die. You broke the chain, there is no hope for only you (or I) to get into heaven without Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life - and as He said - no one comes to the Father, but through him. So please, Repent (which means confess and forsake your sins - including sexy outfits) and put your Faith (trust, belief, hope) in the one that died to save you. You've heard it said "what if you died tonight?" but seriously think about it.... what if you did? I don't want you to go to hell, and I hope you don't either.

IF you think you wont becuse you don't beleive in God... trying standing on a freeway during rush-hour and not believing in Cars. The God I'm talking about is the God who created this world, the God of Truth. Don't resist it any longer, I beg you, humble yourself and repent and turst in Jesus alone for your salvation.

"What does all this have to do with the way I dress?" I belive it's got everything to do with it. If the way you dress is a spider web, then sin is the spider. If we want to get rid of the web, the best approach would be to get rid of the spider. The bible says that the things of God are foolishness to those that are perishing - so once you repent , you'll start to understand the issue of dress (and lust) more clearly. I pray that you'll think long (but fast) and hard about this, as it (Salvation, not the way you dress) is the most important choice you'll make in this lifetime.

God's Will Be Done. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

~ brandt