"Cussing"?

[faceofbear]

I do not swear (save for occasionally either on accident, or in writing), so I am not asking this for a licentiousness to curse. However, I know I am not the only one who has questioned this, and I would like to ask for other Christian's opinions.

Is cussing a sin? But before you answer, please read my explanation.

I've found often that when the Bible is speaking of avoiding foul language it is more in terms of not gossiping or using the Lord's name in vain. It is to not spread rumors of other people, thus avoiding a filthy mouth, gossip.

I am of the mind, however, that cursing is not directly wrong, if a Christian can do it in a clear mind, and without offending others. That is, in private, if a Christian can swear with a clear mind, save for the use of God's name, it is not a sin.

It seems to me we've adopted this idea that saying something such as "s-h-eye-t" is bad. But in reality, it seems to be just a social thing. It seems to be derogatory, and pervasive, when in reality, what is the difference between s-h-eye-t, see-r-a-p, poop, or waste? There is none. I remember being a kid, my mom told me pee was a bad word. Thus, growing up, I could not say pee with a clear conscience. But, after being exposed to people who had used the term, it no longer bothered me, and in fact, I realized it was socially normal. So, is saying pee a sin? And if not, what makes saying p!$$ a cuss word? What makes it a sin? What makes it different?

Now, do I have any biblical text to support my opinion? Some, but not many. I would like people to give their opinions, with a supporting verse, and a explanation of what that verse means, preferably by a commentary of some sort.

 

[Hupomone10]

I'll add some scriptures later, but first I wanted to just argue from common sense and decency.

Are these words needed? Do they help the point we're making by putting emphasis and power to the words that our argument doesn't have without them?

There's probably nothing wrong with drinking sewage water either. It has a lot of protein and nutrients in it, I'm sure. But one shouldn't insist on his freedom to do so and then get mad if no one wants to smell his breath.

Just an observation.

H.

 

[98cwitr]

Didn't Myth Busters do an episode on this?

Mythbusters- Kari Byron Swearing Test | No Pain, No Gain - YouTube

 

[C-Man]

I cut meat for a living. One day, I took a nice slice out of my right middle finger on the electric bone saw we cut pork with. My language, at least for a few seconds, would certainly have made a sailor blush.

 

[twin1954]

We first need to make a distinction between what is against the Word and actually a sin and what is just vulgar. Taking the Lord's name in vain is more than just a GD but to even speak His name without the reverence due to Him whose name it is. To use the name Jesus as an expletive is much worse than to use the "f" word. Saying "my lord" or "lordy" or any of many ways that folks use His name as an expletive is considered as Ok by society but not by God. Vulgar language is something altogether different. Using the "f" word or the many other expletives that people use as a matter of normal conversation only makes you look stupid and course. You can be a genius but using such language reflects a lack of ability and vocabulary to communicate effectively. It may have its use in bringing you down to the level of the ignorant and vulgar if that is what you are trying to do. But what it really reflects is a degeneration in society to the brute beast mentality. My wife once asked a fellow who constantly used such vulgarities at work if he used that kind of language at home around his wife and kids. He never spoke with that language again at work. it doesn't make you fit in it only shows that you are vulgar.

 

[Skala]

If you wouldn't do it in front of Jesus, it's probably a sin.

If you can't imagine saints in heaven in their glorified states doing it, it's probably a sin.

I personally can't imagine cussing in front of Jesus or imagine saints sitting around in God's glory in heaven dropping F bombs.

 

[faceofbear]

We first need to make a distinction between what is against the Word and actually a sin and what is just vulgar. Taking the Lord's name in vain is more than just a GD but to even speak His name without the reverence due to Him whose name it is. To use the name Jesus as an expletive is much worse than to use the "f" word. Saying "my lord" or "lordy" or any of many ways that folks use His name as an expletive is considered as Ok by society but not by God. Vulgar language is something altogether different. Using the "f" word or the many other expletives that people use as a matter of normal conversation only makes you look stupid and course. You can be a genius but using such language reflects a lack of ability and vocabulary to communicate effectively. It may have its use in bringing you down to the level of the ignorant and vulgar if that is what you are trying to do. But what it really reflects is a degeneration in society to the brute beast mentality. My wife once asked a fellow who constantly used such vulgarities at work if he used that kind of language at home around his wife and kids. He never spoke with that language again at work. it doesn't make you fit in it only shows that you are vulgar.

I had a writing Professor, who was a Christian, told me that he had once told a Co-Worker, "Profanity is the feeble attempt of a weak mind trying to express itself forcibly." To which the guy responded, "That's 'GD' 'F'ing brilliant." I found it quite humorous, but true.

I just, I guess, don't see what is so wrong about it. I do agree it is coming from a weak mind, being someone majoring in literature, I see it constantly in books from characters who are largely ignorant. But, I just don't understand what the difference is between saying the f-word or "fricken/friggen/freakin/etc." Or saying heck, instead of hell, etc. IDK. Or "Oh my goodness, oh my gosh, oh my lamb," instead of, "Oh my G-d." It's essentially the self-same thing.

 

[coconut711]

That's something I've been wondering about for a while too. I think that if we are against cuss words we shouldn't use replacements either (like crap, freakin, dang, etc), because it has the same motive behind it. So I try not to get offended when people cuss because I use the "replacement" words, and really whats the difference?

 

[twin1954]

I had a writing Professor, who was a Christian, told me that he had once told a Co-Worker, "Profanity is the feeble attempt of a weak mind trying to express itself forcibly." To which the guy responded, "That's 'GD' 'F'ing brilliant." I found it quite humorous, but true.

I just, I guess, don't see what is so wrong about it. I do agree it is coming from a weak mind, being someone majoring in literature, I see it constantly in books from characters who are largely ignorant. But, I just don't understand what the difference is between saying the f-word or "fricken/friggen/freakin/etc." Or saying heck, instead of hell, etc. IDK. Or "Oh my goodness, oh my gosh, oh my lamb," instead of, "Oh my G-d." It's essentially the self-same thing.

You're right, there is no difference. " Oh my gosh" or " Oh my goodness" is blasphemy and ought never to be uttered. It is only a so-called civilized way of taking the Lord's name in vain. The "f" word doesn't even compare.

Having said that I am against using the "f" word along with all the other vulgar language that only makes you seem like a brute beast instead of a human with intelligence. There is a reason it is called "foul language."

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

What you say doesn't matter as much as the condition of your heart when you are "cussing". If you think about it, you don't even need to utter any sounds to be "cussing". What matters to God is the condition of the heart.

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. (Luke 6:45)

 

[Hentenza]

James 3
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

I try to remember that I can not tame my tongue. I try. I have done a decent job, however, it still happens on occasion. What keeps me grounded on continuing to try is the teaching above. With the same mouth that I bless and worship God comes out the cursing. It ought not to be this way.

 

[faceofbear]

Hentenza,

Genuine question for you: It appears to me that James is talking about cursing men with it, not necessarily "cussing." So, isn't this just referring to cussing at men, or gossiping against them, etc.?

 

[Julian of York]

Did anyone mention the Third Commandment and I missed it?
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."

JoY

 

[98cwitr]

Can we define "in vain?"

 

[Lorian]

Cussing is so difficult to overcome when others around you are using fowl language.

 

[Hentenza]

Hentenza,

Genuine question for you: It appears to me that James is talking about cursing men with it, not necessarily "cussing." So, isn't this just referring to cussing at men, or gossiping against them, etc.?

It is a deeper teaching. James 3:1-12 begins by warning teachers by what they say but them it progressively begins to expand the teaching. We see the use of more general descriptive words and analogies.

James 3
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a [a]stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in [b]what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our [c]life, and is set on fire by [d]hell. 7 For every [e]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [f]race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both [g]fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce [h]fresh.

Look at the progression from specificity to general warning. I don't think that it is specific to just cursing men but that cursing men is a result of the fire of the tongue. If such a small part of our body can fulfill the comparative analogies here then it is indeed capable of setting fire to the course of our lives. This is just something that we have to be aware of.

I also believe that there is a direct relationship between the heart and what comes out of our mouths so we can "cuss" others even with words that we don't consider "cussing words". I am convicted of this as I have done this many times. At the same time the opposite is also true. Some times we use words that we know are "cussing" words without any ill intent or hardness of heart as in joking with friends or reacting to a hammered thumb lol. One can argue that the verse above only covers the instances of cursing when ill intent is intended.

Personally I have tried and continue to try to fully rid my speech of known cussing words. I can control that aspect much better than the other.

 

[dies-l]

No, cussing is not itself immoral. But, it is immoral to disrespect other people, and it is well known that some people find cussing to be disrespectful. So, I would say, as Christians, if we don't know how others in our presence feel about it, the we ought to not do it.

 

[dies-l]

If you wouldn't do it in front of Jesus, it's probably a sin.

I wouldn't have relations with my wife in front of Jesus, and that's not a sin. I probably would feel pretty awkward going #2 in front of Jesus, and that is not a sin. Come to think of it, there are a lot of perfectly okay things that I probably wouldn't do in front of Jesus.

If you can't imagine saints in heaven in their glorified states doing it, it's probably a sin.

I personally can't imagine cussing in front of Jesus or imagine saints sitting around in God's glory in heaven dropping F bombs.

Personally, I think this sounds pretty circular. "I can't imagine the saints in heaven cussing, therefore cussing must be a sin." To which one might ask, "why can't you imagine the saints in heaven cussing?" to which the only reasoned reply would be "Because cussing is a sin."

 

[Hentenza]

I wouldn't have relations with my wife in front of Jesus, and that's not a sin. I probably would feel pretty awkward going #2 in front of Jesus, and that is not a sin. Come to think of it, there are a lot of perfectly okay things that I probably wouldn't do in front of Jesus.

If Jesus appeared to me as He did to Paul going #2 would probably happen involuntarily.

 

[dies-l]

If Jesus appeared to me as He did to Paul going #2 would probably happen involuntarily.

I would feel REALLY awkward if I did that involuntarily in front of Jesus.