Cuss Words

[5stringJeff]

OK, without naming any of those words in particular (since they'd be edited, and I don't want to cause trouble as a newbie!):

I have a friend who contends that using certain cuss words in a more friendly context isn't really a sin. I contend that since these words are considered by our culture to be cuss words, that regardless of the intent of the speaker, such words are always wrong for us to say. Now I certainly don't want to get overly legalistic, but can someone point me to some Scripture which may shed some light on this topic?

 

[Dmckay]

How about? Matthew 12:36
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

 

[Tabfry]

Colossians 3:8 NIV
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

 

[Dmckay]

Colossians 3:8 NIV
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Another Great one! I wish I hadn't let it slip my mind.

 

[AcaciaGrove]

I think it is in Ephesians where Paul says to only speak in ways that uplift and encourage. Cuss words are not generally uplifting in out society, so I limit how much I cuss.

I will say a cuss word or two in a tastefull way when I am around friends who don't mind. Saying "f--- yeah" (or somehting like that) when I am excited in a football game isn't a bad because my team mates are not offended by that word and it definatly pumps us up.

Context is everything, but in general I refrain from cussing.

 

[craig_on_fire]

Cuss words are created by society. The problem is that to many different people it has a different effect.
How do we go about grading what is ok and what is not?
Why is saying the S-word worse than saying Poo?

I have no problems with anyone who swears. I would definitely say though, that if it offends those around you then don't say it! eg. I'd never swear around my mom

 

[ceedaisy]

This has always been something I wrestle with. I was doing good not cussing until I started working again and my co-workers say lots of cuss words. I'm getting back on track, but find myself slipping. I think if you want to represent Jesus and have a good walk with Him, then you should not cuss. Now, is it a sin? I think it is, if your conscience (God's presence in Man or Holy Spirit) is tell you not to cuss or you feel bad after you say a certain bad word. Have any of you watched Dog the Bounty Hunter? He is a Christian, and always prays with his team before every hunt for a bail jumper. And he prays with the criminal and owes everything he is to God. But while you are watching the show you see that he says a certain f word a lot. And I thought to myself how can this man be a Christian? It occured to me that maybe his unique character can bring more people to Christ than if he were to act prim and proper (not saying we are all like that). Dealing with drug addicts and other kinds of persons is a whole different world. And I really feel in my heart that this is the answer. And, besides, the Bible does say we can judge other Christians (cannot quote verse), however, we cannot judge them morally, because we do not know their heart. Only God knows their heart. I found that to be a really good tool, when I find myself judging someone elses motives. And I guess this is a good way to maybe look at cussing or tatoos or such. Anyway, just my two cents. Hope most can understand what I'm saying here!!

 

[servantx]

Said Lord Jesus:

Matthew 15:11

What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

James 3:1-12

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

 

[billwald]

How about? Matthew 12:36
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

Define "idle words." The sports page? All fiction? What words are not "idle?"

None of you talk at inanimate objects?

 

[Seaioth]

Whatever does not come from faith is sin. Whatever comes out of your mouth is a reflection of your heart. Do not conform to the world... nor wrangle about words...

ass is a donkey
hell is a place
What the flip?!?
Is a replacement, a sleeve up the ace...
You don't need to say you $&%$ing rock, to encourage to reprobate...

The reason why they are considered idle words is because the world uses them. Even replacing them with other words if the hearts intent is still to curse, I'd say its a sin. This "at least your trying" but isn't going to fly. Even keeping silient but thinking it in your heart, you have already sinned and need to repent. So in other words external behavior modification, you can fool others, you can fool yourself, but you can't fool God.

 

[Seaioth]

Also we are not suppose to sanctify the unbeliever. That is to tell someone who is clearly not saved, to do things that a Christian would do, to promote a higher standard of moral living... This is not only ridiculous but sad at the same time, as it projects the image of Christians being hypocrities and bigots, judgmental and uptight. Hate the sin, not the sinner, but why bother to correct this and that, if it is their soul that is the core thing wrong?

Thats like giving a car a new paintjob, when the engine is broken....

They are slaves to sin, so when they swear I do not bother to correct them, but instead live out the example of not conforming to their ways. Many Christians are proud that their unsaved friends are considerate and refrain from using cuss words in front of them, but this is just pushing for external moral behavior, when they are still perishing nevertheless. A while back my secular friends asked me if I preferred that they not cuss around me, I told them if they stop cussing I would much rather it be for the glory of God than the consideration of me. Did they stop cussing after that. No... but Praise God!

You can teach an old dog new tricks, but its still an old dog...

Exalt God, never man.

Salvation is for the unsaved. Sancification for the believer.

 

[CaptainMercy]

Phi 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Jam 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Of all the scriptures on this subject, James 5:12 seems to be the most pointed one leaving no room for swearing at all! Remember what the Bible said of the Israelites during the time of the Judges? Every one was going about doing what was right in their own eyes! Your friends may not get offended by such words, but every idle word is recorded and what is spoken in secret will be shouted from the house top. Also it will be carried on the wings of a bird what is spoken or done in secret.

 

[dignitized]

the funny thing is that the word which is actually the worst is considered to be among the least offensive! Damn is an actual word of Curse and as such has power in heaven and on earth. The “F word” on the other hand which is thought to be the worst of them all has no spiritual significance at all.

 

[firenze]

As far as I know, the "F" word takes its origins in field farming slang.

 

[dignitized]

and I'm sure slang has meaning in heaven

 

[Fangtastic]

They're just going to throw the switch on me man.....This is something I fully battle with. Swearing,i.e.bad language even in a nice context I know to be marked under the sin file.This states it right here.

How about? Matthew 12:36
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

 

[thehayesman]

I believe in that passage that Paul was making the point that you should be careful even about the little things, of which cursing would be one.

I would not say that any word in itself is wrong, context is everything. In our society, since those words are designated to connotate evil and ill wishes, I think that its best no to use them. However, in some subcultures I think that these words are becoming something different and may be useful to communicate the gospel.

Overall the intentions of the heart, and the understanding of your intention by others are the two important factors. Are you truly cursing someone or blessings them? You should bless at all times.

 

[LionOfTheNorth]

idle words could also be defined as shooting the breeze.

we should perhaps look at it holistically and not technically, afterall, the devil is in the details.
idle words are words which go nowhere, and do nothing, right? unless someone can whip out a greek concordance (i own none, sniffle) and give us more possible meanings, i say this covers any useless talk, esp. casual cussing and talk which has no nature but to support sin.

funny thing is, back in my evil days, we used foul language to support and punctuate some of the most pertinet things iv'e heard out of unsaved lips. we were actually put of by lil' HS girls or punks who said foul language for the heck of it--or all forbid, to sound cool! afterall, they were misusing our greatest weapons and reducing their impact...

i think better verses than the 'idle talk' coment can be used to negate the swearing for christians idea:
"its is not what enters a man that defiles him, but what comes out of his mouth that defiles him." (paraphrased)
**that crashing sound you hear is me entering the conversation!!**

 

[dignitized]

Q: would God be offended by a vulgar words?

Lets not forget that for a long long time - vernacular language were considered vulgar and as a result, many people could not read or understand the scriptures. Most words are only considered vulgar because of the ideas the invoke in our heads. I say - big deal. Honestly. So you get a thought in your head that is not as pretty as you would prefer. Most invoke images of sexuality which thanks to our puritan roots and their hang-ups over sex are considered *gasp* dirty. OR - words that invoke images of baseness and filth and other harsh images - images which are not pretty. Should we remove Crucifixion from our lexicon because it invokes an image which is not pretty?? Not sure? How about if you actually get to see how terrible a thing it is and not just the cleaned up versions which we usually see.

DOES THIS OFFEND YOU?

 

[LionOfTheNorth]

"positively necromantic" --mr. blank, former Mormon Elder

"it takes a man to pull that kinda stunt" --anonymous friend of mine.

"that makes you think..." --my bud the Samurai Gunman

the fat difference between the cruxifiction and making lewd comments about parental sex is the kind of disturbance it renders! That Christ took 40 lashes, 3 nails, one wreath of barbs, 5 hours of torture and mockery, 6 hours of crucifixion, and a spear to the side so that we could speak and I get to know him on personal and fealtic terms--that is very intense, very bloody, very deep. but the offense of seeing punk X trying lewdness with my lady or attempting coitus with someone's mother is another ball of wax...no depth there, it think we can start defining offense and sinfulness from thsoe points easily.

personal, not scripture--one thing i see in the americans is that they tend to see violence as a sort of entertainment of as some kind of demonic horror. i'll just say that he didn't do the cross to be a jester, nor is that sight some shocking vile atrocity to be recoiled at. (despite the fact that, yes, he's being exectuted slowly) it is violent and bloody. it is also sacred...he did alot more than just die horribly that day. that is what jesus looked like on the cross...and i'll be sure when i have kids to tell them why it was so....
as i do not fear the dead cow in my burger, as i am not revolted by a roast, so the blood of christ that sustains me will not casue me any wooziness or vomit. i wil partake, remeber, and in doing so gain life.


shall we get back on the road of discussing cussing? christ doesn't equal a cuss.