[Editor’s note. A mutual friend contacted us and said that the slang term that is referenced in this article was removed from the Adventist page]
Using Gen Z Slang to Describe God
This week, my heart was deeply troubled by an Instagram post from the Official Adventist Church account, along with responses from Adventist organizations that have pledged to uphold the Word of God in its unadulterated form. I was confronted with what I believe to be the most blasphemous and repugnant representation of Adventism imaginable. The post in question asked, "How would you rewrite John 3:16 using words commonly used by Gen Z?"
First of all, why is there a need to rewrite the Bible's simplest verse, especially using slang? It's as though the watchmen on the walls of our Official Adventist Instagram are asleep. To make matters worse, It Is Written, a ministry once renowned for its great work, has seemingly aligned itself with the weak spirit of Aaron, who, in Moses's absence, crafted a golden calf for worship:
Have we truly lost our reverence for God to such an extent that those who have carried the banner of truth now speak so flippantly of our Creator? Have we degenerated into pagans and infidels, mindlessly babbling like those who have never felt the convicting spirit, not realizing that we speak of a Holy God?
In reaction, some expressed shock, asking, "Is this the real SDA page?" while others, who have not bowed the knee to Baal and who reverence our God, stood firm against this sacrilege, firmly holding the banner of truth high.
One true Israelite responded:
"DON’T MOCK OR TRY TO CHANGE GOD’S WORD. This is not okay. Read the Bible as it is. The Bible is inspired by God and written by the holy men of God, His prophets. (2 Peter 1:21) We are Seventh Day Adventist let’s be good examples to people according to the Word of God and let us not try to fit in with the culture/trending things of this world.”
Another commented “God is not mocked. Be careful” to which a user responded “lol” showing the carelessness that the post had drawn. One young man, in the “Gen Z” age group, questioned “why do you think we are so stupid we can’t understand plain english.”
We are speaking of the use of slang, which, when applied to common things, amounts to foolishness, but when used in reference to God, becomes irreverent and sacrilegious. This kind of language is fit for pagans who know not God. Gen Z's "language" includes terms like "slay," which in English means to kill somebody violently. Gen Z slang ironically uses this violent term to describe something good or to do well. Thus fulfilling Isaiah 5:20, which warns of those who “call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
The carnal heart sees no issue in using such vain and sacrilegious language about God, yet in Scripture, when men and women were visited even by angels of God, they feared lest they should die. Should we lower our standards to please the world, or should we honor God, even if it means the world despises us? Jesus himself stated:
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Reverence for God’s Name
The author of this slang version of John 3:16, including the official Adventist Church Instagram, have demonstrated a profound disrespect and lack of reverence for God's name by casually and thoughtlessly reducing Him to what is essentially a perversion of language, and at best, making God common. We are directly counseled and explicitly forbidden from such carelessness:
“Reverence should be shown also for the name of God. Never should that name be spoken lightly or thoughtlessly. Even in prayer its frequent or needless repetition should be avoided. ‘Holy and reverend is His name.’ Psalm 111:9. Angels, as they speak it, veil their faces. With what reverence should we, who are fallen and sinful, take it upon our lips” Education, p. 243
If sinless angels cover their faces in reverence to God, how dare we, as sinful beings, carelessly refer to God as the "Top G," a term which, according to the British Newspaper The Sun, means "Top Gangster"? But it gets worse as Urban Dictionary defines it as "When you are a Top G, you are simply dangerous at everything." Is this an appropriate way to describe God? Are we barbarians or children of the light?
The It Is Written poster drawing from the blasphemous Gen Z Bible, employs the term "simping" in reference to God. Originally derived from the word "simpleton," this term has been co-opted by rappers and finally adopted by worldly youth. "Simp" is slang for a person (typically a man) who is desperate for the attention and affection of someone else.
Such a vulgar portrayal of God as a lovesick teenager who cannot bear to live without us is repugnant. It not only demeans Him to the level of a mere creature but also diminishes the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the truth that God died for us out of love—not in a trivial romantic sense, but in a profound manner that is beyond our full comprehension. We are told that John was so moved by the love of God that he couldn't find words worthy to express it:
“When we seek for appropriate language in which to describe the love of God, we find words too tame, too weak, too far beneath the theme, and we lay down our pen and say, “No, it cannot be described.” We can only do as did the beloved disciple, and say, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” Christian Education, p. 77
If even the disciple who was closest to Christ could not find suitable words to express God's love, then we can confidently declare that the frivolous, love-sick slang of wordly youth not only falls short in describing God's love but is also a reprehensible abomination to Him.
Some may attempt to justify this reckless speech, yet the prophet of God has sternly rebuked it:
“If the Lord Jesus abides in his heart, no slang phrases, no cheap low talk, will be heard from his lips, whether in the pulpit or out of it. Let ministers and teachers reach the high standard set forth in the Scriptures.” Letters and Manuscripts, Vol. 15, 1900
Ellen White, two years earlier in 1888, declared that the language of one who studies the life of Christ shall be "entirely free from all slang phrases."
We are not of this world, brethren; we have been made royalty, redeemed at the infinite price of Christ’s precious blood. We are called to a higher standard:
“Ever should the Christian bear in mind, I am of royal extraction, a child of the heavenly King. Do not forget that you are bought with a price. Cultivate the idea that you have a noble heritage that the world cannot see. You can be in the world and not of the world. All cheap, common expressions and slang phrases do not become Christians and in no case represent Christ Jesus. The truly converted soul that feeds on Christ will enjoy nothing of this kind of food. It will seem hateful to the moral taste of the soul looking unto Jesus and beholding His matchless charms.” Letters and Manuscripts, Vol. 7, 1892
If slang does not represent Christ, then it surely represents Satan. The authors of both the original post and the crude responses might believe, in flawed human wisdom, that they are appealing to the youth, but they are gravely mistaken. By degrading the precious Word of God to triviality, we fail to bring people to Christ:
“You need not depend upon notes, neither need you be rough and uncouth, and use coarse language and slang expressions, thinking that in this way you will reach the uneducated classes. Look at the manner in which Jesus addressed the poor. His language was pure, but it was simplicity itself, and through the imagination and the heart he reached the hearts of the people. Signs of the Times, March 19, 1894
Jesus did not employ the slang of his time to communicate with the masses or the youth; He used language that was pure and simple, yet deeply meaningful.
“I saw that God's holy name should be used with reverence and awe. The words God Almighty are coupled together and used by some in prayer in a careless, thoughtless manner, which is displeasing to Him. Such have no realizing sense of God or the truth, or they would not speak so irreverently of the great and dreadful God, who is soon to judge them in the last day. Said the angel, “Couple them not together; for fearful is His name.” Those who realize the greatness and majesty of God, will take His name on their lips with holy awe. He dwelleth in light unapproachable; no man can see Him and live. I saw that these things will have to be understood and corrected before the church can prosper.” Early Writings, p. 122
If the angel of God counseled that the words "God Almighty" should not be casually combined, how much more inappropriate is it to describe God as "top gangster"? We are called to cherish reverence for God.
“Another precious grace that should be carefully cherished is reverence. True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer and the services of public worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened.” Education, p. 242
Do we realize that angels look upon the irreverence displayed in these careless Instagram posts and comments with disgust?
“Holy angels have been displeased and disgusted with the irreverent manner in which many have used the name of God, the great Jehovah. Angels mention that sacred name with the greatest awe, ever veiling their faces when they speak the name of God; and the name of Christ is so sacred to them that they speak it with the greatest reverence. But how opposite the spirit and influence attending the 1854 time movement. Some who are still under the same influence speak of God as they would of a horse or of any other commonplace thing. In their prayers they use the words God Almighty in a very common and irreverent manner. Those who do this have no sense of the exalted character of God, of Christ, or of heavenly things.” Testimony for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 409
Brethren, we are Seventh-day Adventists; we have been given the greatest message in history to preach to a world perishing in sin. The world has nothing to offer us; there is nothing we can learn from it. It is my sincere prayer that these accounts will remove the rubbish they have placed before the cross of Christ and instead begin sharing present truth that will convict hearts and draw people to Christ.
****
Randall LaCelle is an entrepreneur, health coach, and speaker with a passion for medical missionary work. He teaches classes on healing from disease naturally using God's simple methods.