As I changed lanes on the busy freeway, edging my way in between two cars, I had to brake suddenly and got scared, letting a curse word slip out. My friend sitting next to me was surprised, and I’ll admit I was embarrassed.
Recently my language has worsened, but only when I’m driving. Some people get road rage; I just get a potty mouth. This is something I have to continually give to God.
What is the point of this story? Do the words we say really matter anyway? Isn’t it true that our language is constantly changing, and that words that were unacceptable 10 or 20 years ago are now perfectly okay? According to postmodernism, everything is relative, so none of it makes any difference.
Yet, that’s not what the Bible says. Paul tells believers to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature (Colossians 3:5). He elaborates by saying, “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage … and filthy language from your lips.”
There is an increasingly lackadaisical attitude toward cussing among believers. Many words and phrases once considered “taboo” are now deemed acceptable. It is no longer enough to say one was frustrated, exasperated, outraged or the like (insert articulate synonym here!). This often detracts from the speaker’s true meaning and makes them seem less intelligent. There is a vast difference between frustration and outrage, and catchall curse words can’t account for this disparity.
Cussing is acceptable as long as it is not directed at someone, some argue. However, curse words may be offensive even in an “everyday” context. Using the “F” word is totally fine to some, yet much like a slap in the face to others. If something is offensive to a fellow believer, should we not respect that, and change our behavior?
On the other hand, cussing was the norm for many people growing up. Breaking this habit is easier said than done for them. James reminds us, “We 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” (3:2). We should recognize that we all fail; none of us is perfect.
Some say that cussing helps gain credibility with nonbelievers. This seems especially valid if one is in the armed forces or law enforcement. Bob Kopeny, pastor of Calvary Chapel East Anaheim, dealt with this exact problem when he was a police officer. He sought advice from Bob Vernon, professing Christian and Assistant Chief of Police for the LAPD.
Vernon stated that in all his years as an officer, he never found that cussing gave him more credibility with anyone; rather, it was his “command presence,” the way he carried himself that conveyed this. He didn’t have to resort to foul language; neither should we. More importantly, Jesus, our ultimate example, did not use foul language to gain rapport with His audience.
We should nix cussing because we’re set apart. Among believers there should not be “any obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:4). Our speech should be “building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph. 4:29).
I’ll admit it — cussing feels good. It’s a nice release to just let it rip sometimes! Yet for some reason, God doesn’t think it’s good for me. Sin is like that — it seems like a great idea at the time, and the downsides appear minimal. Lusting, gossiping or telling a “white” lie seem equally as harmless.
Yet the Lord knows the consequences of each of these offenses. As our society drifts farther from God and becomes increasingly saturated in postmodern thought, it gets harder to take a definitive stand for truth. We must remember Jesus’ warning, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” (Matt. 5:13).
Let’s strive to be the salt, the preservative of all things good and righteous, making God’s Word the ultimate authority in our lives, not the surrounding culture.
