On the June 20, 1996 the NZ Herald reported Martin Clunes, actor, as saying “Everything is changing fast. Ten years ago I couldn’t mention certain words on a show after 9pm. In another 10 years everyone will say what they want. They’ll have the F-word on children’s television. It’s only a word.”

I thought then he was correct. However I didn’t expect to see this being advocated by Christians in a religious newspaper (Michael Duncan, February NZ Baptist). I find it difficult to read into any of Jesus’ speeches or Paul’s writings anything that might be called an expletive of their day. Jesus’ “You serpents, you brood of vipers” (Matthew 23:33) is about as good as I could find.

It is sad that we Christians try as hard as possible to be the same as the pagans we live amongst.

– Vernon Kennerley
Epsom, Auckland