Christian Cuss Words?

SLIDE 1-2 Turn to Ephesians 4. This morning I want to discuss a topic I first started thinking about when I was in high school. It is a subject that perhaps needs even more discussion today. The subject has to do with the words that we say.

Ephesians 4:29-32 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What do you say when you hit your thumb with a hammer? What do you say when you get irritated or mad? Do you swear or say a cuss word?

A few years a Christian comedian posted a YouTube video titled “Alternative Cuss Words.” He had posted a request on social media asking for alternative Christian cuss words. He received more than ten thousand responses.

SLIDE 3 My question is can Christians curse or swear? In other words, is it a sin to curse or swear?

The use of foul language has increased in the last few decades. Some will remember “Gone with the Wind” caused a stir when it ended with a cuss word. The four-hour movie has one cuss word and it was boycotted because of it. Today, I think “G” movies have more cuss words than that and no one thinks much of it. Should we? Or have we just gotten so used to it that we don’t pay attention?

Many think the words we say are unimportant. It doesn’t matter, they are only words. It reminds me of the phrase I heard repeated many times when I was growing up:

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me.

Is that true? Do words not have the power to hurt us? We know words can hurt. We’ve all had some hurtful words spoken to us, some of which we remember to this day. But what does God think about our words? Does he even care? Are our words important? Do they even mean anything? The Bible says they do.

In a popular TV show, the main character is going through some financial problems. As he sits in the break room at work, a fellow employee suggests he declare bankruptcy. He’s just not sure it’s a good idea but is quickly talked into it, being told that bankruptcy is the easy way out. Convinced that’s what he wants to do, he leaves the break room and loudly states to everyone in the office, “I declare bankruptcy.”

Does just shouting “I declare bankruptcy” actually make your debt go away? No, there are legal steps he would need to take for it to actually happen. Just loudly stating for others to hear doesn’t change anything. However, this can give us a good idea of how the Bible considers our speech.

In the Bible, words are understood to carry power. For example, we read: SLIDE 4

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death. . . .

SLIDE 5 In Genesis 1, all God had to do was speak the words and the universe came into being. That’s how powerful words are. Our words aren’t that powerful, but they still carry meaning.

If you are reading with us in our two-year Bible reading plan, we recently read Genesis 27 where Isaac blesses Jacob. He had intended to bless his older son Esau, but Jacob took advantage of his elderly father’s poor eyesight and pretended to be his brother. He put on some of his brother’s clothes so he would smell like him and even put some goat skins on his arms and neck so he would feel hairy like his brother. I don’t know how that would work, but it did and his father blessed him. After Isaac blessed him, Jacob left. Later, when Esau went to his father to receive his blessing, Isaac realized what had happened and said he’d already given away his blessing to Jacob. Isaac did physically give Jacob anything, he simply spoke some words. The words we say are important and carry weight. That’s why Jesus taught: SLIDE 6

Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. (ESV)

SLIDE 7 Wow! That’s pretty strong, but it tells us just what God thinks about the words we say.

The book of James has this to say about how we talk to and about others. SLIDE 8

James 3:9–10 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. SLIDE 9 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

SLIDE 10 A curse is the opposite of a blessing. Instead of speaking something good about a person’s future, you speak something bad. Isaac blessed Jacob, but in Numbers 22, Balaam is hired to curse the Israelites. We need to understand that God doesn’t consider a blessing or a curse to simply be a wish for something good or something bad to happen to someone. Blessings and curses are considered to possess an inherent power of carrying themselves into effect. Our words are important.

Think too about swearing. When the Bible talks about swearing, it’s not talking about bad or vulgar words but about a promise to tell the truth. Before you take the witness stand in a trial you are asked to swear that what you are about to say is “nothing but the truth.” And if you don’t tell the truth there will be some penalty imposed. Even the courts think our words are important.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us not to swear, either by heaven because it is the throne of God, or by the earth, because it is his footstool, or by anything else. He said to simply let our yes be yes and our no, no.

I hope you have the picture, our words are important and God will hold us accountable for the words we carelessly say. So, what about cussing? Does it matter if we say vulgar or offensive words? What did our text in Ephesians 4 say? SLIDE 11

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

SLIDE 12 The words we say should be used to encourage and build each other up. Paul tells us not to use foul or unwholesome talk.

The Greek word refers to that which is rotten, putrefied, and no longer fit for use. It can also refer to something that is morally worthless. So, what are foul or unwholesome words?

I’m not sure if it’s still true, but there was a list of words that were not allowed to be aired on television. Those words made that list for a reason and the reason is that in the English language, we have a list of words that are considered to be crude, crass, vulgar, or indecent. Those words would not have been used in public a generation ago but are used frequently today — even on TV — without thought.

Every culture has words it thinks are offensive. However, words that are offensive in one culture may not be considered offensive in another. The first example I think of is the word bloody. I don’t know why, but in Great Britain, it is considered a cuss word but it isn’t in the US.

When I was in college, one year one of my friends took a lot of naps. I would call him a lazy bum. My roommate from Australia picked up on that and started him that too. When my roommate went home for Christmas he called his sister a lazy bum one morning when she slept in late and his mother almost knocked his head off. We don’t think anything of it, but in Australia, that is very offensive.

Paul doesn’t give us a list of words or subjects that fit into this description. I think one reason is that what one culture considers offensive may not be considered offensive in another. Even what is considered offensive may change from generation to generation. There are words that are considered so offensive today that they are only referred to by their first letter. There’s the “B” word or the “N” word. To say them could get you in trouble.

Some people have argued that the Bible uses cuss words. One example they’ll give is from Philippians 3 when Paul says that he no longer values the things he once considered to be of great importance. He once valued the things of this world, but now he values knowing Jesus. He says in verse 8: SLIDE 13

Philippians 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. SLIDE 14 I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

SLIDE 15 The word in question is the word “garbage.” Most versions of the Bible translate it as garbage or rubbish, but the KJV says “dung.” SLIDE 16 The Greek word means “refuse (garbage) or excrement.” While we have cuss words for excrement that doesn’t mean that the word Paul used was a cuss word in Greek. While I am sure there were Hebrew and Greek cuss words and that there are other words that “could” be translated into English using profanity it doesn’t mean that the word was profanity in the original language. Therefore, I find the argument worthless.

In Ephesians 5, Paul wrote: SLIDE 17

Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

SLIDE 18 Paul says that filthy and crude talk should have no place among believers. I think it’s interesting that Paul says that instead, we are to be thankful. What does being thankful have to do with it?

John Piper points out that:

If your heart is right and brimming with gratitude to God in all things, that will be a monitor on the kind of crudeness that comes out of your mouth.

He then makes this observation:

People who use a lot of four-letter words, a lot of scatological talk, a lot of harsh, crude, rough, crass talk are generally sounding pretty angry. They’re not content. They’re not happy in Jesus. Something is out of wack in their heart.

Is that true? Have you observed that? Are people who use a lot of profanity angry most of the time? I don’t know. Back in Ephesians 4, after telling us to not use foul talk, Paul wrote: SLIDE 19

Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Paul is linking foul language and our attitudes. While some may cuss in jest, the vast majority is said out of irritation and anger. Jesus said: SLIDE 20

Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

SLIDE 21 Therefore, I think it’s fair to ask those who use a lot of cuss words, if their hearts are right with God. Are those things coming out of a good heart?

The book of James has a lot to say about our speech as well. James compares the power of the tongue to a spark that is able to set an entire forest on fire and says that if we can control our tongue — if we can control what we say — we can control our whole bodies. Therefore, we are to use self-control in the things we say and speak words that are helpful to others.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul talks about the attributes of love and says that love is not rude. There are three main ways the Greek word is translated into English. SLIDE 22

KJV: love does not “behave itself unseemly”

NASB: love “does not act disgracefully”

NIV: love “does not dishonor others”

SLIDE 23 I think we understand. There are some words that dishonor or disgrace another person. The Bible says that love doesn’t do that. Once again, our main text says: SLIDE 24

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Or as Paul wrote to the Colossians: SLIDE 25

Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

SLIDE 26 How do we know what words are gracious and seasoned with salt? What we should say and not say, regardless of whether we’re using “bad words” in our conversation? After all, it’s not only cursing and swearing that Scripture condemns. Here are some suggestions from God’s word. SLIDE 27

2 Timothy 2:16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

SLIDE 28

Matthew 12:36–37 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. SLIDE 29 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

SLIDE 30

Colossians 3:8–10 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. SLIDE 31 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

SLIDE 32 And of course, when we’re tempted or struggling, we can always ask for help:

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

SLIDE 33 So, instead of asking, “Can I say bad words without sinning,” we should ask, “Are my words reflecting the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in my life?” The words we say should be used to encourage and build each other up. Are we using your words to build others up? Are our words helpful and good for others? Will Jesus look better before others because of the words we say?

When we do slip up and say something we shouldn’t though, God promises to forgive us. Whatever sins we have committed, God promises that when we confess that he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.