A Culture Of Vulgarity

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” [1]

Since the fall of our first parents, for as long as mankind has existed, vulgarity has plagued the race. What do I mean when I use the term “vulgar?” The term, “vulgar,” speaks of acts and/or language that are tasteless, gross, tawdry. “Vulgar” speaks of acts that are deliberately rude, patently crude, indecent, indelicate. Most commonly in modern western culture, when we speak of vulgarity we are referring to allusions to sexual acts or bodily functions that are usually carried out in private. Vulgarity drags into the open that which is usually concealed by modesty. Hence, vulgarity speaks of tearing down modesty and destroying decency. Vulgarity lies at the root of the destruction of civility, the annihilation and ultimately the extinction of modern civil discourse.

Sexual immorality has tragically been a part of human existence, as has impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. If we are strictly accurate, sexual immorality is the exaltation of man to the position of being his own god, if not in reality, certainly in his own mind. The culture of vulgarity is man’s attempt to dethrone the True and Living God while elevating man himself to be seated on the throne of his life.

Frankly, I am grieved at witnessing the degeneration of language in this day. People speak in such vile tones without even thinking of what they are saying. I watched woman after woman openly declare their sexual arousal by Donald Trump, often speaking in unison as they marched in the annual Women’s March in Washington, DC this past winter. Well, I didn’t actually hear them use those words, but I did hear them repeatedly call out their desire to have illicit sex with him as they passed a handful of people wearing red MAGA hats and holding Trump/Vance signs. It hasn’t been that long ago that such open expressions of … love? desire? … or whatever you are to make of what they were saying, would never have been condoned, much less have been tolerated.

I am especially grieved at how easily and how quickly saints of the Most High God, followers of the Risen Lord of Glory, can slip into the vulgar lifestyle of the world; and I am ashamed to see how readily I am able to adopt the vulgarity of this fallen world in my own life. Dear people, let’s admit that we are susceptible to the evil of tolerating immorality and impurity in our minds. The subtle intrusion of greed and hatred contaminates our decision making far more than we would ever openly admit.

At one time, I would have refused to believe that women would willingly descend to the depths of degradation against which men seem often to struggle without success. I’m not nearly so naïve today—I am astonished to finally realise that though Adam chose to rebel against His Creator, Eve was seduced, willingly jettisoning her devotion to the One Who gave her life. Ladies, though you may not be eager to admit your fallen nature, there is no depth to which a woman cannot fall if she does not take personal steps to guard her heart and her life. We are each members of a fallen, rebellious race.

I am unapologetic in stating that contemporary Christians, followers of the Risen Son of God, must accept that we are influenced far more by this fallen world than we might imagine. If we are to know the power of God in our lives, we must take seriously the charge delivered by our text for this day, and we who follow the Risen Lord must “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” [COLOSSIANS 3:5].

THE SCOPE OF GOD’S DEMAND — “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” [COLOSSIANS 3:5]. Some things should not be permitted to continue being resident in your life if you are a follower of the Risen Saviour. Some of those elements that are offensive to the Living God are tolerated as normal by those of this world.

To clarify what is earthly in your life, the Apostle continues by writing shortly, “Now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” [COLOSSIANS 3:8]. You will notice that the earthly elements of your life are first revealed through your speech.

In another missive, Paul emphasises what he has said in this letter, writing, “Sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” [EPHESIANS 5:3-6].