Why I Never Use Profanity


It's grievous to hear a professing Christian use profane words, or use God's name irreverently. The Bible says that one day we will each have to stand before the Lord and give an account for every idle word spoken. Every Idle Word.

That's a little mind blowing, but it is right there in scripture. Profanity is defined as 

Profane [proh-feyn,]

adjective
1. characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.
verb (used with object)
6. to misuse (anything that should be held in reverence or respect); defile; debase; employ basely or unworthily.
Synonyms
1. blasphemous, sacrilegious, impious, ungodly. 2. temporal. 3. unhallowed. 5. low, mean, base. 7. desecrate.

I wonder if
Christians who use profanity have ever read the Bible on the subject?? And if they haven't, why not?

Before I was born again....my entire life is divided by that. Before I was saved and after I was saved. The two are night and day. 

I grew up sheltered but by the time I was in my late teens, my life took some drastic turns. I learned to imitate my peers. I copied their profanity and after a while, my conscience didn't bother me about it. Just as it is with all sin. The farther you go, the longer you stay, the darker it gets and the more your conscience is in danger of being seared like a piece of meat on a hot grill. 

However, once I was saved, I became grieved by anything that was ungodly. Which included my language. I know now that it was the Holy Ghost within me that was prompting me to drop anything that was ungodly in my life and sin no more.

I even became convicted about pseudonyms for profanity such as heck, darn, and all the other words that mimic the actual ones. I'm sure we've all heard the many terms so I won't list them all here. But the pseudo-cuss words aren't fooling anyone, especially the Lord. They are designed to bring to mind the real ones. That's why they usually sound almost the same.

There are even christian comedians who misguide others on this issue and argue that Christians ought to have their own cuss words.

It astounds me that it doesn't seem to occur to them that GOD has something to say about that. Does GOD want us to have acceptable cuss words? He's the one we will answer to one day. 

He's the one I want to please in every area of my life. I want to fling whatever displeases him faaaarrrr from my life. What is awesome is that he gives me his power and strength to do just that. 

So what exactly does God say about cussing, cursing and profanity?  Let's ask some questions and let the Bible answer.

Is cursing/cussing, including pseudo-cussing, an issue of the heart?
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 

Are the words we use either honoring God or dishonoring God? Is there no in between? 
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 

Why be so uptight? They're just words! What kind of power could a simple word have anyway?

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

Where could profanity possibly lead anyway? 

II Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness

Does God actually forbid foul language?
Psalms 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 

What does saying a cuss word every now and then do?

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

It's not like there's a reward for the goody-two-shoes who don't use profanity... is there?
I Peter 3:10 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: 

Does God care about every single word I use?

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

What kinds of sins are associated with foul words (filthy communication)? 

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

What will happen to those who profess to be followers of Christ, but are careless with their words?
Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 

What if it's just a joke?

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

Is there a correlation between a foul tongue and hell?

James 3:6-8 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.  

Is there any reward that comes from saying only words that honor God?



Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles
Does God care about what is in my heart as well as what words I speak with my mouth?
Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

But I know lots of Christians who cuss —  how can it be that bad?

James 1:26 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. 

How do you break the habit of saying bad words? 

Proverbs 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 

I like to add emphasis so people will know how sincere I am. I often say things like "No, I swear!" or "Yes, I promise!" Is this bad, too? 
Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 

Just because a Christian says cuss words, does that make him a bad person?

Proverbs 6:12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 

What does God say about saying bad words?

Psalms 34:13-14 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 

If I don't say any bad words, what should I say instead?
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 

If I don't use any colorful language at all, ever, that would be hard. Isn't God being a little unreasonable about this?
Romans 12:1-2I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

In general, is there one verse that wraps up the whole issue?
I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

The word of God, our final authority, is pretty clear on the subject of language, words and even intentions. 

So my stand is that if a word is known (or percieved) as foul, off color, crude, ungodly, unholy, crass, blasphemous, sacrilege, wicked, evil, immoral, corrupt, unethical, unscrupulous, depraved, sinful, wicked or perverse, it will not pass my lips or entertain my mind. 


Comments

DeNiece Barnes said…
Praying all is well and I wanted to stop in and say hello. Missing you in blog land dear friend. May God bless
Courtney Downs said…
Me too!!! You're one of my favorite bloggers!
DeNiece Barnes said…
Just stopping by again to say hello and that you are missed in blog land dear friend. Praying that all is well.
Jessica K said…
I miss your posts! Is everything ok?
Hello ladies, thank you for your sweet comments! I'm still here and doing well. I just haven't felt much like blogging this past year! :) But I've been thinking about writing again lately. I was surprised to find comments waiting when I checked the blog today, so maybe God's nudging me to write again. Check back in the next week or so and I might have a new post up. :) I hope all is well with each of you and God is blessing your lives and families!
Courtney Downs said…
Yay! I'm so glad! Your blog has helped make me a better homemaker! :) Looking forward to a new post!

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