Why exactly is profanity sinful?

[Sammy-San]

Profanity is just manmade words-syllables. Curse words are only considered "wrong" just because they are offensive, based on arbitrary society and cultural standards.

I am not trying to justify profanity use. I know it's wrong. But what exactly, from a biblical perspective, makes it wrong? I don't understand the exact, specific reasons why it's wrong.

 

[tansy]

Depends what you're thinking of, I think. As the above person says, I think words that are perhaps 'vulgar' aren't necessarily wrong. However, profanity, or swearing in the sense of 'taking the Lord's name in vain', is.
I also think it's wrong to use certain words which I won't repeat, against people.
The word 'cow' is actually a very innocuous word, unless one calls someone else 'cow'. Same goes for other everyday words, which, depending on tone of voice and intent, when used regarding another person, imo is horrible, if not sinful. But just my opinion.

 

[KitKatMatt]

I agree with "it's only bad if you're using it in a bad way".

If you're trying to degrade or demean someone, it's bad. No matter what word you use.

A lot of people use "curse words" as an exclamation or to add emphasis to something- like when they're surprised, or scared, or hurt. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

 

[keith99]

Profanity is just manmade words-syllables. Curse words are only considered "wrong" just because they are offensive, based on arbitrary society and cultural standards.

I am not trying to justify profanity use. I know it's wrong. But what exactly, from a biblical perspective, makes it wrong? I don't understand the exact, specific reasons why it's wrong.

There isn't anything I know of regarding the 4 letter words or other vulgar or slang terms for body parts or functions.

Some cursing falls under 'Taking the Lord's name in vain'.

But many Christians seem perfectly willing to read things into Scripture that simply are not there.

 

[DiligentlySeekingGod]

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

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."

 

[Paradoxum]

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.

 

[pyramid33]

Why exactly is profanity sinful?

We prefer good thoughts over evil thoughts.

 

[pyramid33]

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?

The Spirit of God is merciful.

 

[Inkachu]

Profanity is just manmade words-syllables. Curse words are only considered "wrong" just because they are offensive, based on arbitrary society and cultural standards.

I am not trying to justify profanity use. I know it's wrong. But what exactly, from a biblical perspective, makes it wrong? I don't understand the exact, specific reasons why it's wrong.

The sin is in the offense. Intentionally using a word or phrase or term that you know is going to offend another person (or God), is where the "wrong" comes into play. We're supposed to remain sensitive to both our own conscience, and the consideration of those around us. Using profanity, especially on a frequent, casual basis, dulls and desensitizes us to what's appropriate and considerate. This is where you wind up with threads like this, where people have become so numb to the effects of cursing that they're oblivious to how it may affect other people.

 

[Joykins]

It's probably useful to distinguish profanity (think: sacred vs. profane) from obscenity. The only thing "wrong" with obscenity is that it is coarse or rude. Profanity, on the other hand, can be irreverent, blasphemous, etc.

 

[DiligentlySeekingGod]

The sin is in the offense. Intentionally using a word or phrase or term that you know is going to offend another person, is where the "wrong" comes into play. We're supposed to remain sensitive to both our own conscience, and the consideration of those around us. Using profanity, especially on a frequent, casual basis, dulls and desensitizes us to what's appropriate and considerate. This is where you wind up with threads like this, where people have become so numb to the effects of cursing that they're oblivious to how it may affect other people.

The Apostle Paul spoke of people who sear their own conscience with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2).

 

[Paradoxum]

The sin is in the offense. Intentionally using a word or phrase or term that you know is going to offend another person (or God), is where the "wrong" comes into play. We're supposed to remain sensitive to both our own conscience, and the consideration of those around us. Using profanity, especially on a frequent, casual basis, dulls and desensitizes us to what's appropriate and considerate. This is where you wind up with threads like this, where people have become so numb to the effects of cursing that they're oblivious to how it may affect other people.

Offending someone isn't necessarily wrong.

I do agree that one should consider the feelings of others, but that doesn't make all swearing wrong all the time.

 

[Inkachu]

Offending someone isn't necessarily wrong.

I do agree that one should consider the feelings of others, but that doesn't make all swearing wrong all the time.

I didn't say that all cases of someone being offended constitute a "sin" being committed. Nor did I say that all swearing is wrong, all the time.

I'm not aiming this comment at you, Para, but MAN do I get tired of people putting words in my mouth in this area of CF (Discussion & Debate). I'm constantly having people go "so you think this? you're saying that? you mean this?" and I have to sit there and go "No...and no...and no..." It's exhausting. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say. If I didn't say it, don't assume I meant it. If you make an inference based on a post of mine, that's YOUR conclusion, if it doesn't include something I specifically said. If you want to clear something up with me, by all means, PM me and ask about it. But muddying up these threads with implications and assumptions is just... bleh... wearying.

 

[BL2KTN]

Using profanity, especially on a frequent, casual basis, dulls and desensitizes us to what's appropriate and considerate. This is where you wind up with threads like this, where people have become so numb to the effects of cursing that they're oblivious to how it may affect other people.

Do you have any evidence whatsoever that referring to fecal matter with a different phoneme than poopy or doo-doo makes one "desensitized to what is appropriate and considerate"? Any evidence. Also, could you please quote someone who has "become so numb to the effects of cursing that they're oblivious to how it may affect other people"? I don't see anybody in this thread who has indicated this.

 

[Paradoxum]

I didn't say that all cases of someone being offended constitute a "sin" being committed. Nor did I say that all swearing is wrong, all the time.

You said: "Intentionally using a word or phrase or term that you know is going to offend another person (or God), is where the "wrong" comes into play."

Which does seem to mean that offending someone is wrong. If you didn't mean that, it's not my fault.

 

[roylee1970]

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."

So if I'm doing something and I mess up then say the s or f word where exactly does it go against any of these examples of scripture you have given?

 

[Belk]

Profanity is just manmade words-syllables. Curse words are only considered "wrong" just because they are offensive, based on arbitrary society and cultural standards.

I am not trying to justify profanity use. I know it's wrong. But what exactly, from a biblical perspective, makes it wrong? I don't understand the exact, specific reasons why it's wrong.

Because the primitive cultures where this idea originated believed that words held power and that you adversely effect the physical world by cursing things and people.

 

[DiligentlySeekingGod]

So if I'm doing something and I mess up then say the s or f word where exactly does it go against any of these examples of scripture you have given?

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).

 

[roylee1970]

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).

I can see where it could be interpreted that way. I also question it. If I’m using those words in this example in place of darn or whatever there would be nothing unwholesome about it. Men have chosen to make the word offensive or unwholesome and in some cases it is. If you choose to say f-you then it is intended to be offensive because it is aimed at offending a person. If I choose to use it in place of darn or some other harmless word then it is neither unwholesome nor offensive. If someone chooses to take it that way am I sinning? I could choose to take offense to anything someone says does that make them sinners? I think the sin comes in the context a person chooses to use the word in not the word itself. I think in most cases that would make the use of profanity a sin but to say using profanity is a sin is going too far.

 

[Nithavela]

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.