Why exactly is profanity sinful?

[Belk]

Currently, the most insulting way of adressing someone in japanese (kisama) can be literally translated as "precious sir".

There is a lesson somewhere in there.

Everyone is sane except for me and thee. Sometimes I wonder about thee.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

We prefer good thoughts over evil thoughts.

What if someone says,

"Dang! I flippin love Jesus!" (but replace "dang" and "flippin" with their more vulgar synonyms)

Is that still an evil thought?

 

[DiligentlySeekingGod]

What if someone says,

"Dang! I flippin love Jesus!" (but replace "dang" and "flippin" with their more vulgar synonyms)

Is that still an evil thought?

If they use foul language, yes.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

If they use foul language, yes.

I had a feeling it would be. But I have to ask, why?

If it's not offensive with one word, why would it become offensive when you change the word to one with the exact same meaning.

It makes no sense to me. The whole topic of profanity makes no sense to me. Like, obviously in a professional setting or in front of children (though I would debate that part as well) but when talking with someone you know isn't going to be offended, I see nothing wrong with using foul language.

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

I think we need to draw a distinction in this thread between the sinful and the merely inappropriate.

 

[Nithavela]

Everyone is sane except for me and thee. Sometimes I wonder about thee.

To clear thinks up, I'm not sane.

 

[Belk]

To clear thinks up, I'm not sane.

No worry's, neither am I. I'm also a liar.

 

[DiligentlySeekingGod]

No worry's, neither am I. I'm also a liar.

So... are you lying about not being sane or being sane?!

 

[Belk]

So... are you lying about not being sane or being sane?!

That would be the pertinent question.

 

[Heinzzz]

The words usually prohibited on internet forums (English ones) aren't, in my opinion.

Raca<<<<-----curse word in Christ's day. Perfectly suitable on most internet forums, though.

But this is an English forum and my guess is that most people here are from mainly English speaking countries. Therefore, certain standards apply (the "letter" of the law), even if the spirit (or lack of one) is overlooked or dismissed.

Ie: He pooped his pants = acceptable
He **** his pants = unacceptable

No one is being "cursed" by either statement.

 

[Sammy-San]

Exodus 20:7
"“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."

Jesus said, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

And He said, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:33-37, underlined for emphasis)

Colossians 3:17
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

1 Peter 3:10
"For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."

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."

Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

James 3:9-12
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

Certain words are considered to be offensive because of what the unwritten rules of culture and society says.

Cultural standards are not absolute-they are very arbitrary. As a general rule, different cultures have different standards over different things which they consider to be right or wrong. Why are society/cultural standards and unwritten rules (ie, about which words are offensive or not) considered to be absolute rules of morality?

However, there are some forms of profanity that I already know the reason why it's wrong. Profanity that is used to demean/insult other people is obviously wrong. Demeaning people is always inheritley wrong, regardless of profanity is used or not.

 

[Sammy-San]

What if someone says,

"Dang! I flippin love Jesus!" (but replace "dang" and "flippin" with their more vulgar synonyms)

Is that still an evil thought?

That would be an evil thought for the simple fact that it's blasphemous.

 

[Rubiks]

Its not the words themselves that are wrong, but that society has deemed them unacceptable in "most" situations. The bottom line is, if people will often take offence to a particular word, it is better not to use it all. Not to mention it is completely immature.

 

[BL2KTN]

Immature is thinking dang or darn are any different that what they're substituting.

 

[Skybringr]

Vulgar language is not 'sinful' in and of itself.

What the Bible describes is cursing, when one condemns another with profane language.

 

[jayem]

Letting fly with some choice 4 letter words may be beneficial when you're hurt. A study confirmed that vocalizing obscenities provided more relief from a painful stimulus than saying neutral words. But the effect diminishes if overused. It's speculated that while most language originates in the left cerebral cortex, curse words may involve the amygdala in the right hemisphere. Which is activated in the fight/flight response and reduces sensitivity to pain.

Neurobiology is so f-#-ing cool!

Why the #$%! Do We Swear? For Pain Relief - Scientific American

 

[Inkfingers]

But what exactly, from a biblical perspective, makes it wrong? I don't understand the exact, specific reasons why it's wrong.

Swearing is judging something (as bad) by the standards of your feelings, rather than saying that the world has already been judged by God's standards. It usurps the role of judge to ourselves, as if our feelings decide what goes or not.

 

[Sammy-San]

I think it would be under Ephesians 4:29, concerning unwholesome talk. Jesus said that from out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks and He said that we would be held accountable for every idle word we speak. However, God is so gracious toward us that even when we fall short of His glory, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness if we confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9). If we are truly in Christ, we will depart from all iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19) and if we walk in the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-26). If we are truly in Christ, we will run away from sin instead of running straight into it (2 Peter 2:20-22). We are not to walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-13).

What is your view on the people who say there is nothing inheritley different about offensive words other than culture? Do you think that is true or false?

 

[Sammy-San]

You say you know its wrong, but you don't know why it's wrong. Isn't there a problem there? If you don't know why it's wrong, how could you know that it's wrong?

I personally don't get it, as long as you aren't needlessly verbally insulting someone.

Is Cursing a Sin? What the Bible Says About Profanity

Making vulgar, guttural references to human sexuality, anatomical parts and biological functions.

Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” To use vile words for the sexual relationship is a sin against God.

 

[Dave-W]

What the Bible describes is cursing, when one condemns another with profane language.

Actually it is condemning someone, regardless of how polite (or not) the language is.