@&*#%! Swearing

[Bluedragon]

I get to decide what is unwholesome!

In football I have a little yellow flag to signal that I've heard enough. 

In baseball, I clean up real fast  ...

I sometimes think that life would be betteer if we could approach it like the zebras or guys in blue on an athletic field. 

Funny story.....After a penalty following a touchdown, the home team didn't care much about our interpretation of the rulebook. We were right, they were wrong. The Special Teams Coach was trying to pump up his players "We are not going to allow the Officials to steal this "F.ing" game." I thought "Did I ust hear what I thought I heard and can it be heard in the stands?" He did it again ....Our Umpire was on the other side of the field when one of the chain crew said "Someone said something he didn't like!" There went my flag climbing into the night's sky. Mike said "Only Ray can throw one that high." 

After a lengthy discussion and 15 yards of Unsportsmanlike Conduct .....we cautioned the sideline and coaches about language on the sidelines ...We won, they lost, end of the story ....... They were good little boys afterward ....That was the coaches .....Zebras win again .....undefeated in 25 years ....

Edited February 15, 2023 by Bluedragon

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

9 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

You are right - we must do "our part."  And I believe that means we need to keep trusting in Him to do it in us. . . . that is our resisting the devil. ("Apart from Me you can do nothing.") And that may also mean speaking the truth (His word) about the matter to ourselves and the principalities and powers.

In the end, I liken it to a huge truck with a 1000 HP engine.  It has fantastical ability, but it just sits there unless we do "our part," which is actually infinitesimally  small in comparison to the immense power of the truck.  That is, we must turn the key and engage all that power!

You are very correct. Excellent way to explain that. 

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

11 hours ago, Retrobyter said:

"Birds of a feather flock together" used to be the old adage that expresses that association link. Often, it means that new Christians must find new companions.

Does this mean that you separate yourself from people who have bad language,  even if they are Christians? Seems like it would be a good opportunity to mentor and teach new believers.

[Retrobyter]

2 hours ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

Does this mean that you separate yourself from people who have bad language,  even if they are Christians? Seems like it would be a good opportunity to mentor and teach new believers.

Shalom, TrueFollowerOfChrist.

Yes, that would be the IDEAL situation; HOWEVER, personalities don't often work that way! Whoever is the DOMINANT speaker of a pair of Christians will have the greatest influence on the other.

If the DOMINANT speaker is the one who has disciplined himself or herself not to use bad language, then - yes - that would be an opportunity to mentor the subservient speaker.

HOWEVER, if the DOMINANT speaker is the one who USES the bad language, then he or she will tend to lead the other astray, which is just the REVERSE of what would be ideal!

Paul also said,

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (KJV)

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

[Willa]

The rest of the verse pretty much defines it:  

13 hours ago, other one said:

but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

 

[Willa]

Back in the 60s my husband was on a JayCees bowling team.  After bowling they would go to a tavern and share a pitcher of beer. (I often watched them bowl and loved the crab sandwiches at the tavern).  Only one guy was a Christian and when the rest told dirty jokes he would tell a funnier one that was clean.  I often thought about what a great witness that was.  He never put the other guys down, joined in their language or vulgarity, but lived the life before them and was respected for it.  

[Michael37]

17 hours ago, other one said:

I've not seen a really good definition for that.

Check this out from Vines Expository Dictionary which I have in E-Sword. Very useful.

3. sapros (G4550), "corrupt," akin to sepo, A, No. 5; 

5. sepo (G4595) signifies "to make corrupt, to destroy"; in the passive voice with middle sense, "to become corrupt or rotten, to perish," said of riches, Jas_5:2, of the gold and silver of the luxurious rich who have ground down their laborers. The verb is derived from a root signifying "to rot off, drop to pieces."

Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt (sapros) communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Communication can edify, uplift, build up and promote spiritual growth, or it can do the opposite, being like decomposing sewerage and corrosive ooze that causes everything around it to deteriorate into something toxic. 

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[farouk]

11 hours ago, Willa said:

The rest of the verse pretty much defines it:  

 

@Willa I do love Philippians 4.8: 'Whatsoever things are true...honest...just...pure...lovely...of good report...if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things....'

[farouk]

@Marathoner Thanks for the 'like'....

[Marathoner]

1 minute ago, farouk said:

@Marathoner Thanks for the 'like'....

It's true, my friend. 

There is something that is a greater concern to us than cussing, and that's what what issues from our tongues in general: discontent and grumbling... cursing or condemning others... statements which foment strife, alienating our neighbors... crude jesting... all of which may be delivered without a single cuss word.

A filthy tongue doesn't have to use "colorful" language in order to be filthy. We speak from the heart, so what we say is a reflection of the heart.