All throughout the world, there have been many accounts of weapons of mass destruction. There were bombs, guns, swords, and bigger bombs; yet, a more hidden weapon that often goes unnoticed is language. Although the human mind is what generates language, language is one of the two ways we are able to express our minds (the other being actions).
I believe that profane language can be summed up into three separate categories: Words that should hold extreme significance, obscene language, and soft cussing.
The Power of Words
We know that words hold immense power.
Proverbs 18:20–21 “From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
In verse 20, it expresses that what someone says could provide for their stomach. The tongue not only has power of provision but of death and life. God himself existed as the Word before the beginning of time, before anything was.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
‘Word’ translates to the ancient Greek word Logos, which is often used in tune with “the word of God.” From scripture, we also understand that words are meant to edify people and to glorify God.
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Speech is meant to build up one another, and to enable us to walk together with other believers. From scripture, we understand that speech was created for us to serve God.
Daniel 7:14 “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.”
Finally, our word choice is a state of reflection from the heart:
Matthew 12:34b “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Misuse of Weighty Words
When you think of profane language, this isn’t the typical bubble that pops into your mind, but upon a deeper look into the concept, it becomes apparent that it is considered profane. Words such as God, Jesus Christ, damn, and hell have become simple throw-away words for when you stub your toe, or when you are in disbelief. It doesn’t matter how awestruck you are, these words hold incredible significance, and should not be thrown around lightly. Using these words in an inappropriate matter takes away the significance of what they really mean, and belittles what they really mean. Within the ten commandments itself, it explicitly states to not take the Lord’s name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 “Thou 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.”
Unfortunately for us, it has become vastly implemented into daily communication. I am still guilty of misusing these words. It becomes so simple to say “damn” when your friend’s grandma does a backflip. “What the hell” has become so plain, it’s become a comical phrase that’s being thrown around. You yell “God” when you’re annoyed and “Jesus Christ” when you’re even more annoyed. It takes away the meaning of these words, what they truly represent, and in what contexts they should be used. This disconnect of magnitude is disharmonious and improper, thus, I advise against it.
Obscene Language
Typically when you think of profane language, this is your list of no-no words. From a societal view, profanity is not unacceptable, yet we still teach our children to be cautious when using these words. Often it is seen as unprofessional, but people are still able to make arguments for it. As Christians, we are called to edify people with our words. Why would we still use language that does not reflect Christ? We have freedom in Christ that allows us to abstain from foul language, but it becomes a challenge at times. This is in no case a new revelation, yet one that has already been acknowledged to be difficult.
James 3:8–12 “But no human being can tame the tongue, It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and saltwater? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”
For us, we who are born again, we cannot, out of the same mouth, proceed to bless and to curse. It is not a simple task. The apostle Peter confessed Jesus as Messiah, yet also denied the Lord with a curse. James explains that there cannot be a contradiction. It is simply impossible for a spring to yield both salt and freshwater. If saltwater is yielded, then the entire spring is bad.
Soft Cussing
The most difficult, yet thought-provoking portion, I found existed within the nature of soft-cussing. I hear all around shoot, frick, dang, flippity flapjacks, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. Okay, maybe not the last one, but you get the idea. When swearing, a lot of it simply comes down to the heart, the mind, and the intent. In the end, words are just words. When the word shoot is used, it’s done to practically have the same terminology as its alternative. Similarly with frick. People end up translating it in their heads. Although in essence, there may seem to be no harm in using representative words in a light-hearted comedic manner, it actually goes much further. In one of Pastor Jacob’s sermons, he expresses:
“Christians often think that if they dabble in a little bit of sin, they’re in control, but really that’s all a deception. Once you start to dabble in sin, you’re not in control. You’re in the driver seat and the sin is in the passenger seat … you’re in control and you enjoy it, but really, the trick of sin is that it will make you think you’re in the driver seat, but by the time you’ve invited sin in, sin’s already bound your hands and feet and thrown you in the trunk, taking you for a ride.”
To risk getting a habit in saying an “alternative” cuss word on an event not for comedic purposes, just purely for the same reason one would use a “certified” swear word already displays wrong intent. There is a risk of using language patterns in other aspects, and letting yourself be put in a vulnerable position of that, itself, is already a sin. “If you give the Devil an inch, he’ll take a mile.” You’ve been deceived.
Vulgarity to Connect with the Secular
If you use words to connect with others culturally, it reveals your priorities: to be culturally acceptable over the fruits of Godliness. We are called to be set apart, to be different. To engage with those in the world is not to become like them, rather to be different.
2 Peter 1:4 “by which he has granted to us precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
We have his promises so that we may escape from the corruption of the world, not to join with. Secondly, there is no humility. When the Lord came to the Earth, he did not conform to those, yet he set an example of what should have been. If one believes that they have a better connection if they join, they don’t believe that the power of the Lord is what draws others, but themselves and their relativity.
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Ultimately, an argument can be made that profanity and swearing could be used appropriately, in extremely serious situations; however, these situations are so rare and obsolete, it should scarcely occur. Even so, it is often debatable whether a cuss was used appropriately or inappropriately, biblical or unbiblical. With this uncertainty, it is best to not use such language, rather than performing “mental gymnastics,” perform nothing, speak from the heart. It is better not to sin, then to unintentionally sin.
