An Example
Dallas Express article, August 22, 2025: Arlington Council member Urges Mayor Ross To Address Resurfaced Vulgar Video
I avoid posting the text of the Arlington Mayor. An excerpt of the text follows:
Arlington City Councilmember Bowie Hogg criticized Mayor Jim Ross after The Dallas Express resurfaced 2018 footage showing Ross making vulgar and explicit remarks toward a Christian street preacher.
The above is a vivid example of public profanity at its worst.
The image above is a screenshot. It shows a YouTube video recording a public incident. Arlington’s Mayor Jim Ross publicly cursed a street preacher in 2018.
No man is entirely worthless; he can always serve as a bad example.1
What Is Profanity?
Definition
The English word profane derives from the Latin profānus literally, before (outside of ) the temple.
Public profanity is distasteful and unlawful, as per Texas law, specifically Penal Code Section 42.01, which pertains to disorderly conduct.
Freedom of speech is the right to speak, write, and share ideas and opinions without facing punishment from the government. The First Amendment protects this right by prohibiting Congress from making laws that would curtail freedom of speech.
Even though freedom of speech is protected from infringement by the government, the government is still free to restrict speech in certain circumstances.2
Here in Texas, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross publicly demonstrated disorderly conduct. He infringed a street preacher’s First Amendment rights. The preacher was freely inviting people to know about Jesus Christ. He spoke about God’s plan for forgiveness. This also included the promise of eternal life.
Profanity is unnerving and noticeable because it often deals with cultural taboos. Swearing and cursing rise up around topics that make us uncomfortable or that society deems unacceptable. In all cultures, certain subjects — often those associated with religion, social stigmas like illegitimacy, body functions and sexual activity — are off-limits because they are considered sacred, disgusting or derogatory, though what constitutes a societal taboo varies by time and by place. By using language which evokes or takes on these topics, it draws attention to the speaker, which is generally the point.3
Spiritual Implications
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bears what is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bears what is evil. For of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.4
Hurt people hurt people.5
Action—A Christian Response
The Bible designates believers in Jesus Christ as priests and kings. As priests, we are not a special class of people, but extensions of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our duty is to connect lost people with our Savior.
The street preacher in the news story did not reciprocate with curses. I confidently say the preacher blessed the abuser. Jesus commands his disciples to love their enemies. He tells us to bless those who curse us. We should do good to those who hate us. Additionally, we should pray for those who persecute us.6
Our English words in Matthew 5:44-45 don’t adequately communicate the depth of the scriptural meanings. The Latin Bible better expresses the meaning of the phrase, “love your enemies,” as “love your enemies unconditionally.”
Understanding how profanity exposes the unwholesome, unholy spirit in a person helps us to stay on message.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
Footnotes
- AZ Quotes, Brian Oldfield ↩︎
- Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: freedom of speech ↩︎
- Psychology Today, March 6, 2022, The Enduring Power of Profanity: The fascinating history behind the words that get us in trouble. ↩︎
- The words of Jesus Christ, Modern English Version of the Bible, Luke 6:45 ↩︎
- Quote Investigator, Quote Origin: Hurt People Hurt People ↩︎
- Modern English Bible, Matthew 5:44-45 ↩︎
John N. White 