Normalizing the use of “Jesus’ Name in Vain” in movies and TV shows
The expletive use of Jesus’ name has increasingly been normalized in media through movies and TV shows. While this is not new in older films such as The Goonies (1985) and Scream (1996), the past decade dramatically increased using Jesus’ name in vain and as profanity.
Grooming the teen audience
For example, recent series whose audiences are young teens, like Stranger Things (2016–present) and Euphoria (2019–present), have teen characters using phrases like “Jesus Christ!” or “Jesus f***ing Christ!” as an expression.
Exodus 20:7
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”
Unnecessary, Irreverent, and Blasphemous
What is most concerning is their use of God’s name as an expletive by intentionally using young characters to deliver, even if it can be avoided. Its normalization perpetuates a cycle where its teen audiences, who are future parents, adopt the same language, passing it on to their children, thus creating a generation who use Jesus’ name as a cuss word.
Another example is the 2017 horror film It, in which a pre-teen character exclaims, “Jesus f***!” in a moment of panic, highlighting how blasphemous language is becoming ingrained in younger generations.
The pattern continues in It: Chapter Two (2019), where the grown adult members of the Losers’ Club, like Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard), continue using “Jesus” or “Jesus f***ing Christ,” which begs the question, why is the society only using Jesus as a cuss word and not others like Mohammed?
This should not be acceptable, and as a church, Christians must stand against this blasphemy.
Philippians 2:9-11
“God has highly exalted him, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
