Swearing

[WhenFinallySetFree777]

*~Random Thought~*

One of the godliest songs I've ever heard in my life is Wake Up Dead Man by U2. Here is the first verse!

Jesus,
Jesus help me
I'm alone in this world
And a f***ed up world it is too

I'll take blantant, truthful honesty and a curse word that is more a social faux pas than a sin over contrived praise and worship songs that all have the same sanitized, churchy, cardboard lyrics any day of the week.

 

[Iceman_Aragorn]

what's so bad about swearing? it's a perfectly normal thing all around the world except for here. not only are we sexual prudes but also what comes out of our mouths.

This set off the flags in my head. Both in regards to swearing and pre-marital sex, not only does the Bible tell us not to conform to the standards of the world around us, but the Bible specifically addresses those two issues too.

We are instructed to not use foul language, and we are instructed to have sex only within marriage.
Now, does that make me a sexual prude? If so, then I accept the label. We are told that, aside from homosexuality, bestiality, insest, and adultery, just about nothing in the marriage bed can dishonour God...that is, once married, I don't think I'd be called a sexual prude even by the world's standards, but before marriage, I won't touch my GF anywhere covered by underwear and a pair of shorts.

Just thought I'd point out that the rationale of 'the rest of society does it, so its okay' does not work for Christians (and I was assuming this is what awesome liver was getting at, so if you weren't I apologize, though my point remains).

Edit...I guess I should contribute to the original thread and not derail it:
(To be honest, I'm not that offended by others swearing, unless they are Christian and know they shouldn't be swearing....a good comedy act where the comedian uses the occasional swear to emotionally accentuate his point doesn't detract from how hard I'm laughing)

so heres some stuff to think about:

Matthew 5:34 But I say to you, do not swear at all...
Matthew 12:36-37I tell you on the day of judgement people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, his religion is vain." (James 1:26) "The tongue... is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not to be so, my brothers." (James 3:8-10)


And some thoughts of my own: if you use a word not commonly recognized as a swear, but you use it in the same way, there's not really a difference... If someone ticks me off and I call them a flagging flagger, its the anger and intent of the words, not which particular words I use, that are problematic.

Is it wrong to curse and swear and take the Lord's name in vain? Well, figure that out from the above verses... but even moreso, can you honour God and make yourself better person by swearing? Does swearing show mercy and forgiveness, or mercy and hate?

 

[awesome liver]

i'd hate to break it to you but christianity isn't exactly a subculture. we are a good part of the rest of the world and swearing is different from the context in which most people see it. swearing is just regular every day language. it's not different from what 1st graders use with their pet slangs. as you said, it's the intent of the words.

 

[Leanna]

what's so bad about swearing? it's a perfectly normal thing all around the world except for here. not only are we sexual prudes but also what comes out of our mouths.

Are you a Christian?

Here are some things that the Bible says:

James 3

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.

Proverbs 4:24

Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.


Actually, there's really a lot in Proverbs about the importance of our speech.

Are we trying to be like the whole world? Is that a worthy goal?

I don't think so.

 

[Leanna]

i'd hate to break it to you but christianity isn't exactly a subculture. we are a good part of the rest of the world and swearing is different from the context in which most people see it. swearing is just regular every day language. it's not different from what 1st graders use with their pet slangs. as you said, it's the intent of the words.

You know they say it "Perception is reality."

If people perceive a word as vulgar, then it is vulgar for those people.

When the OP stated "swearing" we all knew which words she was referring to, yourself included.

 

[awesome liver]

everyone knows the bad words but not everyone considers them badwords.

 

[Iceman_Aragorn]

true, but just because you may not consider, for example, the f-bomb a bad word, or maybe you are just not offended by it, doesn't mean its not a swear. Just because someone uses the word in every sentence as an adjective attached to everything, or as a replacement noun for every other word (which I believe would mean that they are using it, in your words, as 'everyday language'), also does not make it any more okay. Moral relativism doesn't fly with Christians, as we believe that God has laid out some objective moral standards that are true and right regardless of time period, personal preference, or even popular opinion.

 

[Iceman_Aragorn]

btw, happy birthday awesome liver

 

[WhenFinallySetFree777]

I think many of the verses that are being quoted against cursing are more appropriately used and were more intended for saying harsh and foolish things period, not necessarily in the vein of "this word, this word, and this word" are automatically sinful. One verse quoted was the one against swearing. I could be wrong since I am pulling this out of the memory bank, and correct me if I am, but the rest of that verse says something along the lines of "you cannot affect one hair on your head, so do not swear on this thing or that thing that you or someone/something else will do something." That type of swearing and the type of swearing discussed here are in two waaay different ballparks, so that verse would not be in much of the correct context at all. That's what happens with a lot of these verses - we just use them with cursing, and forget that it's not about not using "this word, this word, and this word" so much as it is about what is in your heart in mind when you say what you do.

Now, no Christian should go cursing up a storm all the time, as that obviously will not give anyone a very godly impression of you, but I have to echo the sentiment that the intention behind words is more important than the words themselves. Granted, some selected words do carry some connotated intention in the more common situations in which they are used, but I get more convicted saying a non-curse word in an purposely angry way than from saying a curse word in some silly inside joke with a friend or if I just stub my toe - in fact, especially in the "silly joke" situation, I don't get convicted at all. I know the anger is in my heart when not cussing, and I know it's not there in the situations where I do curse, such as those listed above.

 

[keyz]

Now, no Christian should go cursing up a storm all the time, as that obviously will not give anyone a very godly impression of you, but I have to echo the sentiment that the intention behind words is more important than the words themselves. Granted, some selected words do carry some connotated intention in the more common situations in which they are used, but I get more convicted saying a non-curse word in an purposely angry way than from saying a curse word in some silly inside joke with a friend or if I just stub my toe - in fact, especially in the "silly joke" situation, I don't get convicted at all. I know the anger is in my heart when not cussing, and I know it's not there in the situations where I do curse, such as those listed above.

This is very true. You know I've heard people say, "You freaking moron!" and it has the ability to be more hateful than someone who would say, "You dumbass." I've seen Christians be just as hateful in the midst of their "Christian cuss words". Some how crap, poop, gosh, darn, freaking, and heck is more spiritual than the equivalents.

It's so much a matter of the heart. Flesh is flesh.. God looks so much deeper at our hearts.

 

[awesome liver]

true, but just because you may not consider, for example, the f-bomb a bad word, or maybe you are just not offended by it, doesn't mean its not a swear. Just because someone uses the word in every sentence as an adjective attached to everything, or as a replacement noun for every other word (which I believe would mean that they are using it, in your words, as 'everyday language'), also does not make it any more okay. Moral relativism doesn't fly with Christians, as we believe that God has laid out some objective moral standards that are true and right regardless of time period, personal preference, or even popular opinion.

i would argue the last point by placing many pro-lifers in the same group as pro-death penalty people. it's like having your cake and eating it, too!

 

[inchristalone221]

As for me, I only swear occasionally when I get really frustrated or angry. It's usually directed at myself, but unfortunately sometimes other people hear it.

The person I'm crazy about right now NEVER swears (that I've heard), and she spent a while with her last boyfriend trying to make him change his language. So, I might have to work on it a little.

 

[spokenforbyHim]

Do you swear? Does your bf/significant other swear? If so, does it bother you? If so, how do you deal with it...like if it is a slip up and they don't usually do it...just sometimes?

I don't swear. My boyfriend occasionally swears. It doesnt bother me too much. It only really bothers me when someone takes the Lord's name in vein. And he doesnt do that, so...it doesnt bother me.