As a Christian, I have always been somewhat out of step when it comes to swear words. Now, I am not a sailor mouthed bleep spewing filth monster. However, I have always shrugged when it comes to ‘bad words’ because I held an incorrect view. Apparently…
I think this may take some unpacking.
Before I was a Christian, I swore as part of my regular communication. I have always felt that respectfulness was the point of ‘clean’ speech, not word exclusion. If the people I interacted with didn’t care, why should I? I have never been easily offended. There are no words that make me gasp and clutch my pearls. Most of the people I interacted with in life have been similarly minded. So, I have never seen any issues with it.
Then I became a Christian and started spending more time with other Christians, as often happens. Again, being respectful and reasonable, I have, without conscious effort, not sworn around them. But, in the rest of my life, while I have naturally migrated to having cleaner and more considered language (the influence of The Spirit, no doubt.) Playing video games, chess and in heated conversations, I have never held back from the spicy lexicon.
When in the workplace, I have always reflected people’s own dialogue style and did so because I thought I was ‘making them more comfortable.’
Then, the other night at my Bible study group, this topic came up. Eventually when I shared my stance of, well, not really worrying about an occasional use of traditional Saxon vocabulary, well, mostly no one agreed with me. Including our new Pastor who was there. This is a nice bunch of people and no one pushed back hard on the topic, but I knew I was in the minority with my view that “God likely doesn’t actually care much about this, and it’s more about respectfulness than specific word choices.”
Part of my reason for feeling this way, I think, is because I consider myself to be a writer (click at the top of my web page, where it says ‘My Writing’ for proof, if you want), and as a writer, I am enthusiastic about words and their impact. I also know that language change’s over time and what is acceptable now, likely was not about an hour and a half ago (or a little more) and there are words we have recently invented which have become instantly unacceptable. I just never bought the idea that it matters.
The Bible it on my side, right?? Right?
Well, as with all things I speak about, when I got home I thought about the conversation some more, mulling over the points raised.
I skipped checking my Bible because I wasn’t sure where to start, but, the next day, I did some searching for articles *(hoping to find something agreeing with me… obviously.) * Eventually, I did the right thing and went to Scripture, the place where I should have started.
With this framing in place and the scene set, let’s do a littlre readinge and find out just how wrong I was about this…
Ephesians 4:29
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.
Unwholesome is a great word, though the KJV chooses ‘Corrupt’ from the original Greek word ‘σαπρός’ (sapros) meaning bad, unwholesome, as well as rotten and worthless. (ref 1)
Ephesians 5:3-4
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Okay, so Ephesians states that there should be no obscenity. What’s the meaning of obscenity in this context?
As usual, I traced the word back from the NIV to the KJV and then to Strong’s, where it is translated as ‘Filthiness’ but the original word is ‘αἰσχρότης’ (aischrotés) which has choices for translation including shamefulness and obscenity. (ref 2)
Coupling this with the clear warning about ‘Foolish talk’ and ‘coarse joking,’ I can’t help but think we’re seeing a picture of how Christians should speak, and none of it involves the words we are discussing. But is this the only book which tackles this?
James 3:9-11
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
As much as the Ephesians passages could charitably be interpreted as topic rather than words, I think this is a little more direct. The mouth we praise God with should not be a source of cursing. Not only does it put me off cursing, it gives me a clear reason too. I don’t even feel like I need to look up a specific word here; it makes its point holistically.
Matthew 2:35-37
35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Specifically, verse 36 is the relevant point. Will have to give an account of every word we have spoken. There’s something to consider.
Colossians 3:8
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
I think I’m starting to see a theme here, but, let’s look up ‘filthy’… (Ref 3)
‘αἰσχρολογία’ (aischrologia) which, yep, has no ambiguity to it, it literally means what it says ‘Filthy Language,’ or Vile, disgraceful conversation. Which really is quite direct.
Conclusion
There is a way in which you can spin this and say that vile communications is a reference to topic and attitude, rather than word. This is the stance I previously took. But let’s be honest, thats not really the point Scripture is making, is it?
Being literal, the curse words of ancient Greek are not the curse words of modern English. God is not a robot. God is not a checklist. God is not someone who works in absolutes. As such being honest, the point about language and fluidity is being used dishonestly.
I think these passages not only build a picture of how we are expected to communicate, but they also make clear that this is the mouth we worship our Lord with! Think about that for a moment, please, because there is weight to it.
James 3:11 really hit me hard too. Fresh water and salt water cannot come from the same spring. Wow, that’s a powerful line, and it hammers home the point perfectly.
I still think that part of this is about what is said as a topic. Humans can be really nasty without the use of a single curse word, but after reading all of this, I can no longer defend my original stance. Regardless of the audience, we should not be allowing ourselves to think it is okay to use words we know are displeasing to God.
If you have an opinion, and it conflicts with Scripture, then your opinion is wrong and needs to be changed. With this in mind, I am pleased to say that I was wrong. I will now take the Scripture I have read and think about it. I will alter my behaviour accordingly. And, I apologise for my previously unchristian language, without reservation.
References
I have given the Bible hub links to the Strong’s data I have used; however, in reality, I used the KJV+ and Strong’s which is a part of the eSword software. The supplied matches perfectly.
I have not listed the referenced Bible verses here, as I would assume all readers have a Bible. But, I should note that all quoted passages are from NIV, unless stated otherwise.