One of evangelicalism's most controversial pastors is making headlines again - and this time it's over a four-letter word that many Christians would never dream of saying publicly.
Pastor Douglas Wilson is standing by his use of the c-word after critics blasted him for using the vulgar term to describe progressive Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber and feminist icon Gloria Steinem in a 2019 blog post. Not only is Wilson refusing to retract the remark, but he's now arguing that the Bible itself provides a precedent for using shocking language in what he calls a "prophetic" way.
Appearing on The Michael Knowles Show, Wilson insisted that Christians should generally avoid profanity but argued that there are moments when strong language is necessary to confront sin.
"I freely grant that Christians ought not to be cussing like sailors," Wilson said. "Our language is to be pure." However, he quickly added that "there are occasions when prophetic language is absolutely called for in a firefight."
The Idaho pastor, known for his unapologetic style and provocative commentary, claimed many believers have wrongly assumed Christians must remain "winsome and polite" at all times.
"Jesus was one of the most impolite people ever," Wilson argued.
The controversy stems from a 2019 blog post in which Wilson responded to Bolz-Weber's highly publicized project involving purity rings. The former pastor collected rings from women who had participated in the purity movement, melted them down, and transformed the gold into a sculpture representing female anatomy, which she later presented to Gloria Steinem.
Wilson condemned the project in blunt terms, using one of the most offensive words in the English language to describe the symbolism behind the gesture. The remark sparked immediate backlash and remains one of the most frequently cited examples of his inflammatory rhetoric.
Now, seven years later, Wilson says he has no regrets.
Speaking with Knowles, he defended the decision by claiming he was merely "translating" what Bolz-Weber's artwork represented rather than introducing vulgarity himself.
"I chose that word consciously," Wilson said, adding that he believed the situation called for an intentionally jarring response.
To support his position, Wilson pointed to several biblical passages that contain graphic imagery, including Ezekiel 23 and Isaiah 64. He argued that Scripture itself sometimes uses offensive language to expose sin, idolatry, and rebellion.
Critics aren't buying it.
Among them is Denny Burk, president of the Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, who devoted a lengthy response to challenging Wilson's argument. Burk contends that while the Bible contains graphic imagery, the Hebrew text often employs euphemisms rather than direct obscenities and therefore does not justify the use of modern profanity.
The dispute has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing debate over Wilson's influence within conservative evangelical circles. The pastor has long been a polarizing figure due to his views on culture, politics, gender roles, and his vision for transforming Moscow, Idaho, into what supporters describe as a distinctly Christian community.
Yet despite the criticism, Wilson appears unmoved.
"What I've seen is that people will go through all my writing," he said. "They gather up the few instances where I've used a jalapeno ... and then make a meme out of it."
His conclusion was unmistakable.
"I'm not going to apologize for any of that."
Whether supporters see Wilson as a modern-day prophet willing to say what others won't, or critics view his language as unnecessarily offensive, one thing is clear: Douglas Wilson is once again proving he knows exactly how to keep evangelical social media talking.
