Communication is so important in daily life, especially in this information era. Unfortunately, the use of blasphemy in everyday language has become very common in modern culture, especially among the young people. In challenging people to rethink about the drawbacks of this bad habit, the Saltbox Christian Centre has joined forces with Cross Rhythms Radio, Longton Elim Pentecostal Church and North Staffs Youth for Christ to launch a campaign across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent.

Lloyd Cooke, director of Saltbox Christian Centre said, “The main aim of this campaign is to challenge people about their use of language. We are aiming to be quite deliberately provocative.”

Not only the use of blasphemy is impolite, also it usually involves an attitude of disrespect to God. Therefore, alongside the campaign, promoting religious tolerance is another objective.

Cooke continued to explain, “In today’s society many people are concerned about offending other religions. Indeed, there would be outcry if people began to use Buddha or Mohammed as a swear word.”

In a Christian perspective, blasphemy is not acceptable. The Ten Commandments say, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

“And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” - Matthew 5: 36-37.

With the strong support of the church leaders across Staffordshire, the reaction has proved to be a great success. Postcards designed with the caption “Jesus not a swear word” have been placed everywhere: on a motorway signs, parking meters, taxi meters, billboards, the backs of buses and even the windows of churches. A text message has been sent to over a 100,000 homes as well. All these voices to promote the idea that “Blasphemy is not acceptable” to a society where blasphemy has become a common thing.

“It has been a wake-up call,” Cooke from Saltbox Christian Centre commented. Through this campaign, many people have asked themselves for the first time why they do use Christ’s name in vain.

Rev William Slater, Rural Dean of Stoke North, blamed the media for making blasphemy so popular and appear acceptable, citing Hell’s Kitchen as an example. He is delighted to see the active response to this campaign.

Rev Slater has high expectations for this campaign that it can go one step further to educate Christians that the name of Jesus is to be respected. “I hope that it’ll raise the profile that Jesus’ name should be loved and honoured.”

The idea for the campaign came out of prayer events involving local churches. But it is now attracting wide national and international interest.