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Curse Word, Swear Term,& Colorful Metaphor

  Recently a young man was kicked off a Southwest flight bound for Chicago because of his shirt.  His shirt boldly proclaimed a dirty word that still isn’t allowed on television.  The airline has a clear policy on every ticket about offensive language and dress.  The young man was convinced that no one was offended by the language but the crew held their ground.  I glad they did and help keep a modicum of decency for at least that flight.  It seems however that profanity is becoming much more accepted part of our culture.  Many don’t think a thing about filling their speech with any swear and curse word they know.  


   But what about the Christian? How should we view this kind of language? What does the Bible teach about the vocabulary we use?

   Well first let’s figure out what we are talking about.  What makes a word a bad word?  I think a simple way is to look at the words we use to describe this language

            Swearing:  To swear is to make a solemn oath.  A person wanting to make sure that what they were saying to people was truly believed by them would swear by something (Ex. Matthew 23:16-23).  It was way to give force to your words.  That’s what many do with modern day swearing, a way to give emphasis the statement you are making.
            Cursing:  A curse was a proclamation of doom and ridicule on a person.  It was a way for one to call another to task for their actions (Ex. 2nd Samuel 16: 5-10).  Modern cursing is a word that is use to demean and insult, a way to show ridicule and scorn.
            Profanity:  To profane is to treat a thing that is sacred with disrespect.  It is to use a word of reverence in vain (Ex: Exodus 20:7).  The modern day use is seen in taking a word and using it as an exclamation that holds no meaning to the word.  It is those that take holy names and use them as derogatory euphuism.

   So what how this help us in what kind of language we should use?  Let’s consider some verses:

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.  
James 5:12
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  
James 3:9-10
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 
Colossians 3:8
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.  
Ephesians 4:29

   Look I’m not going to tell the words you can and cannot use, but the Bible makes clear that ideas  we are reflecting in our words matter.  If we are filling our language with empty vain words that harm, profane, and denigrate, if our speech reflect a mind that disregards God and others,  if our speech is vulgar and shows a worldly view rather than a Godly one, it should be censured.  Jesus told us in Matthew 15:18, "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.”

Is your mouth as clean as your heart should be?  
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