SWEARING - Who Does It?

[LivingbyFaith]

Is it a sin to use curse words (also called swear words or cussing)? Should Christians use profanity in their conversations with others?

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The Bible clearly condemns cursing as it is a serious sin against God. In our age today, curse words are common. Song lyrics are full of cussing. The average television show is full of vile profanity. Movies will almost always use the “GD” word, “F” word, and other filthy language. Children often pick up these nasty little “4-letter words” in the school system from their friends. Many blogs are riddled with profanity-laced tirades, and YouTube videos are filled with profanity...And on and on it goes.

I can remember a time when people would apologize when a curse word slipped out. Now it’s become ingrained in society’s daily conversations. Some may consider you a “nerd” or a “goody-goody” if you don’t curse like a sailor.

It’s a potty-mouthed sin that no Christian should commit, and if you do commit this sin regularly, it’s time to get serious about repenting from it. The Bible condemns cursing, filthy talk, and a loose tongue numerous times.

While cursing may be common, it reflects a lack of maturity in the Christian faith, as well as a poor vocabulary. We Christians should lovingly rebuke a brother or sister who is committing this sin unrepentantly.

What the Bible Says About Profanity/Cussing

The worst curse word you can ever use is to take the Holy name of God and use it to curse something. God is holy and perfect. What a shame that so many people today use His name as a common curse word. In fact, have you ever noticed that no one ever curses Buddha, Krishna, Allah, or these other false gods?

Here’s what God says about using His name as a curse word:

Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Leviticus 24:16  And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.

Psalm 139:20  For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Proverbs 30:9  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

This is clearly a vile sin in God’s eyes, and rightfully so. To take God’s name in vain means to take something Holy and make it worthless, common, or empty. Most people recognize that cursing using God’s name is taking His name in vain, but few people realize that common phrases such as “Oh my God (OMG)” or “By God” or “For God’s sake/Christ’s Sake” and other similar phrases also constitute taking His name in vain.

Blaspheming God’s name was worthy of the death penalty in the Old Testament.

Warnings Against Filthy Language in the Bible

There are several other warnings against using filthy language, having a “loose” tongue, and so forth. Notice how “bad language’ is a common characteristic of ungodly people! This is why it’s important for Christians to avoid using such talk.

Here are some scriptures that condemn frivolous cursing and swearing (bold emphasis is mine) or bad language:

“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20).

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16).

“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4).

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8).

“By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood” (Hosea 4:2).

The Bible also gives us ample warnings about controlling our tongue. Even though it is a small muscle, it is also a powerful one. It can hurt many people and lead us into much trouble and sin. Dr. Adrian Rogers once said this about the tongue, “Speaking in tongues is not a sign you have religion. A sign that you have religion is controlling the one tongue you do have.”

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).

“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (1 Peter 3:10).

“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26).

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:5-6).

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21).

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4).

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (Psalm 34:13).

“…I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me” (Psalm 39:1).

Jesus warns us that what comes out of our mouth defiles us, and He tells us that we will give an account for the words we utter one day. He also says that using harsh language (or calling a brother a fool) can potentially lead us into hell. Isn’t that a frightening thought?

“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man” (Matthew 15:11).

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22).

The Bible clearly forbids pronouncing a curse on others, such as our brothers and sisters in Christ, parents, and kings and rulers. Cursing parents was worthy of the death penalty in the Old Testament:

Leviticus 20:9  For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Proverbs 30:11  There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

Matthew 15:4  For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Ecclesiastes 10:20  Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

In the New Testament, Peter denied Christ, just as Jesus predicted he would. When accused of knowing Jesus, Peter because so infuriated at the accusation (which was true, of course), that he began to curse and swear, claiming not to know Jesus:

“But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak” (Mark 14:71).

Even if someone curses us first, God’s word tells us a great way to handle it:

“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28).

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

Conclusion: Christians Are Commanded Not to Curse

Even though the flesh can sometimes manifest itself in a moment of weakness (just like with The Apostle Peter), Christians are commanded to turn away from filthy language and cursing. God clearly condemns cursing, using rough language, filthy jokes, swearing, and frivolous words.

We should also gently rebuke others who make a habit of practicing this sin.  If you’re struggling with this sin, it’s time to pray to God and confess your bad language as sin. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You then need to make a commitment to hold your tongue and speak wholesome words, not filthy cussing. You should also abstain from filthy music, television, and friends who use this language regularly.

 

 

[Mike Mclees]

Depends on who is using them. In the unbelieving society swearing is nothing but they will not go to hell for using them for they will go to hell for unbelief.

For those who come to Christ the power of the Holy Spirit works change

Even to hear the name of God used in vain urks me. Even loosely using the F word urks me but we must work in environments where  we must hear them all the time. We have to learn to have patience praying for God to convict them. 

But there is yet another environment that we do have charge over and that is what we watch. TV and videos also use these words so commonly you can't hardly watch anything that does not use them. What we do when this happens is important. To continue to watch for the entertainment we become guilty as if we said then ourselves. I either turn it off or find something a little more wholesome.

My 2 cents 

Edited November 7, 2018 by Mike Mclees

[JTC]

Yes using cuss words is a sin. It also becomes a habit that's hard to break. But it can be done. It takes conscious effort and you have to figure out which clean words can be used in place of the dirty ones. We all need to work on this.

[Faithbuilders]

A couple things - Remember we will give an account for every idle word we speak, next depends on the word, some words like d@#$ means "go to hell" that is wrong (unless you are referring to the devil) Other words are not in, and of themselves wrong, but can be an offense to some people like, another word for dung. The law of love dictates that we should refrain from using those words around those people.

One last thing, my wife believes that replacing a bad word with another word even if its not bad is the same as using the bad word, like replacing the "F" word with the word "fudge"; I personally don't agree with her on this one.

[Debp]

Years ago while I was at the mall a mother came out with her little boy.  He might have been about four years old.   Well, all the way from the mall, and into the mall's parking lot, this little boy was screaming at the top of his lungs the f word at his mother!!   It was unbelievable!!   My mom and I were so shocked.   We thought that little boy must hear that word regularly at home.    I wonder how that boy grew up, must be in his teens now.

[JTC]

3 hours ago, Faithbuilders said:

 Remember we will give an account for every idle word we speak, 

One last thing, my wife believes that replacing a bad word with another word even if its not bad is the same as using the bad word, like replacing the "F" word with the word "fudge"

That's 1 of the more scary things Jesus said. I think of that almost everyday. There's also a scripture some where, I thought it was on in a Pauline Epistle but I can't find it. It says (basically) that when we talk we should always build each other up, and be kind and gentle. This means almost all sarcasm is wrong. Too often people say things without foul language that's meant to make the other person feel worthless. This is also wrong.

Sorry to disagree with you Fb but I think you're wife is right. Replacing the F word with fudge is still cussing. Consider the motivation behind the statement and you'll see we're right. In New Zealand they have such a clever cuss I'm not sure what it's replacing. I saw this in a fact based movie. The guy would say, Bob's Your Uncle. It took me 1/2 the movie to realize none of the characters were named Bob. It's a cuss of some kind.  

[LivingbyFaith]

Us adults should be setting a "good example" for the children to follow.  If children are around parents who swear frequently, of course the child is going to grow up swearing also and not think anything of it, especially if the parents do not correct them at a young age.  The problem is...adults think it's funny when their young child swears, (cause it sounds cute!), therefore, encouraging the child to do it all the more!

[Debp]

The lady at the mall was really embarrassed as her little boy yelled the f word at her every second, over and over.   She just had no control over him.   Very sad situation.

[Mike Mclees]

4 hours ago, JTC said:

Yes using cuss words is a sin. It also becomes a habit that's hard to break. But it can be done. It takes conscious effort and you have to figure out which clean words can be used in place of the dirty ones. We all need to work on this.

If you are led of the spirit he will help. 

[JustPassingThru]

If anyone is struggling with cussing then just do what our mothers did back in the '50, wash your mouth with a bar of soap, ...guaranteed results, if it work on kids I'm sure it will work on adults!