I was on the subway going to church, and these kids got on and?

Question

one kept saying the "F" word, and how his girlfriend was
screwing his best friend and that he didn't like her but kept
her around, etc. Anyway, should I have gone over and said
"Hey, people on this train are going to church -- shut up now!?"

Answer 1

Probably not advisable.
It would be like approaching a pack of dogs.
People are too prone to seek the approval of their peers in that situation. They are better approached individually. Just pray for them.

Answer 2

Apparently not everyone on the subway was en route to church. For the sake of your ability to witness to others in the future, it was probably wise and discreet of you to glare disapprovingly but to keep your silence. Or you might simply have struck up a conversation with these gentlemen and won their hearts and souls with your compassion, remembering that their language and values are the product of their upbringing and their environment and that they have not yet been exposed to the value of leading a better life, of which you can be a fine example. But do proceed cautiously if the opportunity repeats itself.

Not entirely related, but I was at a shopping mall once when two very scruffy looking long-haired teenage boys walked in. I just knew they were going to be up to something sinister or rude. To my surprise, the next time I saw them, they were talking quietly and seriously while riding the kiddie carousel! You never know.

Answer 3

You can do the following if you are not easily embarrassed (unlike me...):

A preacher friend of mine and some of his friends were at a restaurant when the people at the booth next to his started cursing, swearing, etc, so he immediately started a "prayer meeting" there on the spot, and OUT LOUD. This immediately shut them up, because THEY were embarrased at having cussed in front of a minister... I'm not saying this will always receive the same kind of response, but this was very funny when it happened!!!

Answer 4

No way!! You know how crazy kids are these days. You could only imagine what he would have done if you went over there and said something. I know they say it takes a village to raise a child but kids these day have no self love, respect, or obedience. Especially a kid who is already involved in sexual behavior and has a foul mouth. You did the right thing by not saying anything. At least that's my opinion.

Answer 5

I was on a subway once and this black man was using the f word and directing it towards all the whites on board when this little white man that stood maybe 5'5" walked back and started staring at the black man. Within a few minutes the black man was muttering how he wasn't afraid of going back to jail and he was not going to hush and then he was silent. If the white gentleman said anything it was inaudible to the rest of the passengers.

Answer 6

You could have asked them to stop using bad language in a public area, that is not a good way to behave and you would be right to ask them not to.

However the fact that people are going to church is irrelevant seeing as they were not blaspheming, and I don't think the bible has much to say on the topic of other profanities.

Answer 7

Well, saying "shut up now!" isn't very Christian either. If you felt like you needed to say something -- perhaps you should have invited them to join you at church otherwise -- just pray for them -- they seem awful lost.

Answer 8

it woulden't have done any good to say something mean like that, saying something like that would make your church look bad, it would make you look like an extreemist christian, it would have driven them further away from god, and it probaly would not have made them stop useing vulgaritys. But a better reaction might have been politely asking them to please watch which words they used because they were offending you and your belife system. but being argry and telling people to shut up just makes them mad. which he probaly already was considering that his girlfriend was being unfaithfull. maybe you shuld have offered to help him with his problems if you were so conserned insted of being critical. Jesus would have gone up to those kids and told then that they shuold be happy because god loves them.

Answer 9

No, because they have a right to be stupid and rude.
Like everyone else has stated above, just pray that they get some sense smacked into them, not literally but whatever.

Answer 10

Not unless they were bothering you. I ride the subways and it's crazy what comes out these kids' mouths. The best thing would find a police officer and report them.