To what extent is swearing a sin?

You are right that we need to live the right way.

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"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)

In Jesus, you are important enough now to minister God's own grace . . . by means of what you say and pray.

Now, there are curse words which mean sex and bowel movement. Do you think yelling "oh, sex" and "oh, bowel movement" is ministering God's grace? And people yell these terms in a way which treats sex and bowel movement like they are dirty and bad . . . possibly, then, disrespecting how God's creation is designed and works so well. We should honor God who has been sharing His creation with us.

Also, when people say or yell sex or bowel movement, they can be complaining about not getting things their own way. So, what's behind that mouth is what is wrong . . . partly because it is written >

"Do all things without complaining,"

in Philippians 2:13-16. So, it can be the meaning that is wrong. Of course, culture could turn a clean word into the dirty word, and what would be the diff? But curse words can indeed be used especially for cursing and complaining. And we in Jesus bless, and the thank God >

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 1:18)

In any situation, with God we can make good use of that situation, while thanking God. But this takes prayer and growing in Jesus and much deep correction so we can be so creative with God. And Jesus has taken the lead, by using the cross for all the good we have with our Father because of Jesus crucified. So-o-o . . . just screaming sex or bowel movement when things don't go your way is . . . lazy. We can invest better.

And you are His ambassador, as a new Christian. So, it doesn't matter if someone is or is not bothered by something; what matters is what pleases God.

So, have you been reading the Sermon on the Mount?

I notice how at the beginning Jesus talks about how to be > poor in spirit, merciful, meek, pure in heart . . . right? So, yes Jesus is mainly concerned with how you are becoming. So, God bless you, and you are welcome to keep writing and questioning, however this is helping you > I'm just offering what I just thought of. I am sure God can improve on this

I often use expletives when I hurt myself. Many confuse "taking the Lord's name in vain" with common swearing or uttering expletives. Not at all the same thing.

7Cobalt said:

These past few months I've been trying to live a better life for Jesus, I used to swear like a sailor and I've been trying to stop that, I removed all the swear words from my autocorrect, but is having a ton of old texts with swearing in them on my phone a sin? Was it a sin to have them in my autocorrect? Is it even a true sin to swear? I know the Bible mentions to avoid using your words to hurt others, but is it really the same thing if you're just using it as an exclamation or a description around someone you know doesn't mind it, is that a sin?

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Eph. 4:29 "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."

I don't like to swear, curse, or anything such, and don't like to hear it, because it feels as a defilement of spirit. Jesus said "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." So, in my estimation, anyone who speaks 4-letter expletives (of the common kind) is defiled of heart.

I don't care about O-M-G, golly, dang, or other benign words. The common expletives (we all know what they are) are usually associated with hate, prejudice, and overall wicked attitudes. But anyone who speaks or writes them without any regard to how they are received is not following after the manner of Christ.

1 Jn. 2:6 "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."

I certainly appreciate your candor, and hope you see what I say here as loving advice, as I am trying to build up your faith in Christ and God's word.
TD

Hello @7Cobalt, if the words you use pass these tests .. e.g. Ephesians 4:15, 29, 31, 5:4-10; Colossians 3:5-8 cf Matthew 5:22, 7:12; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 13:1; James 3:3-12; 1 Peter 3:15, and if you'd have no problem saying them if Jesus was standing next to you, then I'd suspect that you are good to go

God bless you!

--David

Never ever ever damn any person to hell... never pray for God to befall any evil upon another man.

Those are very real sins.

And never ever take God's name in vain. Which means, don't be calling yourself Christian if your not.

Other than that, don't make God look bad through your bad behavior... and depending upon the crowd your with, that can mean different things.

7Cobalt said:

These past few months I've been trying to live a better life for Jesus, I used to swear like a sailor and I've been trying to stop that, I removed all the swear words from my autocorrect, but is having a ton of old texts with swearing in them on my phone a sin? Was it a sin to have them in my autocorrect? Is it even a true sin to swear? I know the Bible mentions to avoid using your words to hurt others, but is it really the same thing if you're just using it as an exclamation or a description around someone you know doesn't mind it, is that a sin?

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You know that inkling feeling you get about something, like what led you to post this on here, that's God dropping hints for you. This is one of the ways he communicates with us, by using our intuition and those feelings of what we know we should be inclined to do. Now if you don't get the message the first time, God will contact you again. It's like when your Father calls you and you don't hear him. The next time he shouts so you can hear him, maybe you ignore him. The next time he calls you he'll be so outraged, that you Will finally hear him and get the message loud and clear. Better not let it go that far. Choices!

I think you already know the answer to your own questions.

1 Timothy 4:12-13
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

7Cobalt said:

These past few months I've been trying to live a better life for Jesus, I used to swear like a sailor and I've been trying to stop that,

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First off, I was a Sailor therefore I know of what you speak.

If God removed it from me, your in good hands.

Pray about it, and give it to HIM, that means let Him deal with removing it, you will realize one day that you have changed, "NO" that God has changed you.

The more you attempt to do it the more you will fail.
If you set up a Law for yourself you will break it.

In my own experience, non-believers are not usually impressed by Christians who use foul language.
Trying not to swear, however, is much easier said than done. When a heavy box drops on my toe, the words "Oh dear" or "Oh bother!" do not immediately come to mind!
Still, it is better to avoid using bad language wherever we can.

Swearing is not cool in any part of society, I'm not innocent as I can swear like a trooper and know it's wrong so I have try very hard not to. I was told at school 'swearing shows a lack of vocabulary' and I agree so, I try hard not to swear. Plus as another member of the forum said people do not like Christians who swear and they are right. Also, ask yourself would Jesus swear? No! The things I do detest is those swear and blaspheme at the same time and use the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] phrase on any occasion they deem fit.

I used to swear all the time, I've now learned not to. I'm not perfect. on rare occasions something pops out (usually in frustration), but I quickly ask for forgiveness and try even harder to not mess up. I honestly don't know how any Christian willfully swears without any guilt about it.

God please help me glorify you more better by letting the words that come out of my mouth be clean always.

I do not believe it is a sin, not when your not using it to hurt others.