The Poison of Profanity

We live in a time of words–in person, print, on radio and television, and throughout the Internet.

I receive about 50 promotional emails, respond to scores of personal inquiries, participate in 10-20 phone conversations , and probably send out 30 texts every day. That’s besides all the personal conversations, scanning and watching the news/TV, and wondering how those celestial satellites can handle trillions of spoken words simultaneously.

We are awash in words in the 21st century–many laden with the poison of profanity.

What can we do about it?

The Poison of Profanity

There are many big issues in our world, but this week I’ll focus on a personal one that seems to be growing in our culture. 

Profanity.

It’s everywhere, carelessly and casually. Profanity defiles and demeans people and breaks the heart of God (Genesis 6:5,6). It’s like taking a slow poison that kills praise, purity, goodness, and uplift in our minds and hearts.

When I was young–junior high age–cursing and swearing became a terrible habit. I picked it up from other kids–mostly guys who wanted to appear tough and cool. I was impressed with their “swagger” and decided to mimic them.

At age 15, when I gave my life to Jesus, God convicted me of youthful sins and draw me to repent (change). Since I hadn’t committed any major sins in my young life, the Holy Spirit aimed his sanctifying gun at my speech. 

The potty mouth must go.

With God’s grace and power, I confessed the sin of profanity and made a commitment to be “pleasing to the Lord” in my speech. He honored that pledge. I haven’t said one cuss word or foul expression in the past 57 years.

But I’ve heard and read plenty of them. 

(A caveat is in order. It was a bit easier for me to stop swearing because I don’t have a temper. I’ve noticed that those who have a short-fuse-personality tend to fall back into this sin more than others. God made me  more cerebral (introverted) and also highly disciplined. However, I’ve struggled with other “easily besetting sins” in my life that others have successfully conquered.)

There are two main forms of profanity in the West. The first is “taking God’s Name in vain” by cursing. It originated in antiquity when people took oaths and wanted to invoke a power greater than themselves.

Today, we simply use the words “God,” “Jesus,” “Christ,” “damn,” and “hell,” to emphasize points and make us appear “tough” or bigger than ourselves. Some people change them slightly to “Gosh,” “Jeez,” “darn” and “heck” to pacify their conscience.

The truth is all types of cussing involve being careless with words.

The other type of profanity uses “dirty words” (related to human excrement or sexual acts) to “puff up” self. Hence the S-word and F-bombs being slung around in person and in print. Their cute substitutes are “shoot” and “freakin.'” 

Social media in particular has become a 21st century red light district for splattering dirty words in people’s faces. That’s because it’s safer to do in your basement on a phone or computer than face-to-face. But it’s also becoming more and more common in all forms of media.

It bothers me when I hear well known women podcasters spewing F-bombs to keep up with the guys. Robert Bellah, a Pulitzer prize winner, wrote in Habits of the Heart that early American women preserved virtue and purity in our culture for hundreds of years via their chaste lives and becoming speech.

Now many are giving in to the men’s more profligate and profane speech habits.

Let’s look at four scriptures (among hundreds) that mention the importance of good speech.

You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name” (Exodus 20:7, New Living Translation).

The third commandment warns us to not misuse God’s sacred name and identity. It leads to punishment. Why? Because it defames the glory of our Creator and Redeemer, lowers Him into the gutter, and encourages others to disrespect Him.  

Here’s another command about swearing from Jesus: 

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone (Colossians 4:6 – New Living Translation). 

Our home church pastor is currently doing a a sermon series called “Four Things Every Kid Needs to Hear.” (These messages  prompted this article which I’ve been pondering for months.) It stresses the importance of life-giving words to children as opposed death-laden diatribes which pollute and squelch their spirit.

The same is true for adults. Every word we speak should be “seasoned with salt,” that is, attractive, flavor-filled, to bring truth, encouragement, faith, and hope.

Here’s a clear warning about our speech, again from Jesus:

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36).

If that doesn’t spark repentance, I don’t know what will. One day when every human faces the judgment (justice) of God, He will expose every careless word spoken in our lifetime.

Talk about sobering.

Reminds me of the famous Chick tract called “This Was Your Life” which describes God revealing all we’ve said and done to show us the “receipts” of his fairness about our eternal future. Those who fail to reconcile to God through Christ face the just separation from heaven of the damned. The repentant and faithful are forgiven and brought into eternal friendship with God.

Our words will be a big part of final justice. Jesus said, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).

Last week when we shopped at the local grocery store, I saw a middle-aged mother (not a hippie or Antifa-type) wearing a provocative T-shirt. It read: “I Am the Director of the S–t Show at Home.” My heart sank as I felt verbal pollution ooze into my consciousness. I was both revolted and sorry for her–and this generation of women–who are poisoning their minds and families with the evil of profanity (and everything that goes with it).

What should we do?

We must lead a revival of wise words, the fear and love of God, a desire to bless others, and fresh “habits of the heart” that refuse to use perverse speech. We must discipline our tongues with self-controlled thoughts. “The mouth speaks that which fills the heart” (Luke 6:45). 

Good speech can’t be legislated–but can be taught and encouraged by awakened people. We must speak up about the evil poison of profanity and start with ourselves.

As I wrote in the subtitle of my book Restoring America’s Conscience:

“Our Nations’ Conscience Can Only Be Restored the Way It Died–One Person At A Time.”

Start with yourself. Begin today. 

And bring truthful and encouraging words to all you meet.