Swearing

[Heart of Sword]

A while back, there was a little "debate" (not a heated one, thankfully) about whether swearing was "bad" or not. It ended neutrally, meaning that we hadn't figured it out. I don't recall anybody finding anything in the Bible about it, but I found something interesting:

Colossians 3:8
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Sorry that this took so long.

[Sesshoumaru]

I knew it was bad without reading the Bible. Our bodies are a temple: A dwelling place for God. When we defile ourselves (drinking, smoking etc) we offend God

[Heart of Sword]

Ah, so you think differently about it now? Good, then. ^_^

[Sesshoumaru]

Ah, so you think differently about it now? Good, then. ^_^

Mmmm kay??

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Drinking in moderation is fine. But to excess is not.

[agasfas]

If I remember correctly, it was the "debate" or "discussion" about South Park and how funny a member thought it was that the show had a few hundred curse words in a single episode (or movie). Is that the thread you're talking about?
http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?t=16652&page=1&pp=10&highlight=south+park

Anyways, I've always believed that our words (and actions) reflected our true character and soul. Curse words were only created to give or imply a negative feeling towards something...Saying curse words then justifiying that it's okay by thinking it's only bad if we use it a certain way or tone is only decieving ourselves. Well, in my opinion.

Nice reference Heart of Sword.

[Fsiphskilm]

[i]"What co

[enishi]

Drinking in moderation is fine. But to excess is not.

mhm. while i choose not to drink, i dont see a problem with the occasional drink or two.

also, we are told to follow the law of the land, and laws are instuited by God. in america, we arnt supposedto drink untless we are 21, so ive gone by that. also, we're told not to be mastered by anything, and its very easy to get addicted to (as i made the mistake when i was younger). with all these stipulations on something like drinking, i personally see it as an easy thing to fall into (or back into)excess drinking. so, i dont really mess with this anymore.

i know this is going a bit off topic, but i felt like posting my two cents.

[Fsiphskilm]

In other

[Orange Kitten]

In other words,

Jerry Springer and South Park are two different things.
One uses cursing as a method of hatred, and the other uses it as a method of humor.

Agreed
I for one, use it as a method of humor.
Yes I do cuss, but not in certain places (like here) out of respect. I don't mind if people do or do not cuss. Each have valid reasons.

My main argument in defense of cuss words, is that they are just references to "nicer" words. Say for example, the S-Word. You say Poop and it's fine. You say S-word, it's wrong. Well, if they both mean exactly the same thing, whats the difference? I don't see how one word can be "clean" and another meaning the same thing can be "dirty."

Society determines which words to use and not to use. Doesn't make sense to me.

[Nate]

Society determines which words to use and not to use. Doesn't make sense to me.

I agree completely, and I've often wondered who determines if a word is "bad." Who decides these things?

Who is the person who said, "This word is a bad word. You can't say this word."

Well, whatever.

Remember, though, that swearing is not limited to foul language. Swearing is also a form of an oath, to say, for example, "I swear on my father's grave that..."

A couple of times it is mentioned...let me look it up...here we go:

33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your`No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. - Matthew 5:33-37

Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. - James 5:12

Just thought I'd put that out there. ^^

[dragonshimmer]

mhm. while i choose not to drink, i dont see a problem with the occasional drink or two.

also, we are told to follow the law of the land, and laws are instuited by God. in america, we arnt supposedto drink untless we are 21, so ive gone by that. also, we're told not to be mastered by anything, and its very easy to get addicted to (as i made the mistake when i was younger). with all these stipulations on something like drinking, i personally see it as an easy thing to fall into (or back into)excess drinking. so, i dont really mess with this anymore.

i know this is going a bit off topic, but i felt like posting my two cents.

I personally think drinking or swearing is wrong.

BUT, I also think these kind of things are based on PERSONAL conviction coming from God. For me to drink or curse would be wrong. I feel God telling me that these things are not right for me, which could possibly mean that if I let them, these things could cause me to stumble or falter in my faith. However, I know this is NOT the case with many other people. I just do what I know is right for me. I walk in my path the way He commanded me to, and I very rarely ever worry about minor issues such as this in other people's walk. That is their burden, or not. I only wish that people would respect my convictions as much as I repsect theirs, or lack thereof.

One can find verses in the Bible to both support it or to prove why it's wrong. It all depends on how you take it and what side of the argument you personally want to support.

However...I think there is a DEFINITE line that should be drawn on either issue.

[Hitokiri]

Drinking is perfectly fine. I have grown up around alcohol, my dad drinks, my entire family drinks, and some of my friends drink underage and legal. However, I see a problem if you drink, as someone said, to excessiveness. By indulging yourself in alcohol to the point of drunkeness. My father and my entire family drink to moderation. My dad will have a few beers at a family get together or a few beers while watching football. I think that is fine cause he is not drinking to get smashed. I know I will drink when I turn 21. I have already drank "illegally". I have a bottle of champaign at my best friends wedding by my parents permission as well as at new years party for the past 2 years. Though, I drink only 2 or 3 glasses for the occassion. Not to get hammere't

As for cussing, I think Christians shouldn't and never cuss. Orange Kitten and Kammerite brought out a good arguement that "why are they bad words and what considers them bed?" Basically that they are just words. Yes, they are just words but they are words deemed by society to be "bad". God says not to conform to the world however, if we are to bear witness, we in fact, need to play the Christian part which I loath to say. The secular world expects Christians to behave, not cuss, not lust, drink, or what not. We of course sin and that's a fact. But because that's how we view us, by cussing, or by drinking excessively, they view us as hypocrites which sadly, negatively affects our witness to them and they will judge us as not Christian. Works the same way with my "goth" issue. Does by me dressing Goth hurt my witness to those who are freaked out or don't believe that I am a Christian by judging how I dress? Goes both ways that what comes out of mouths reflects our witness in thier eyes.

That's my dollar and forty cents worth.

[Fsiphskilm]

Becuas

[Maledicte]

In any case, the Bible (KJV in particular) uses some words now regarded as cuss words, though some may argue that since they were used in a different context, that doesn't make them swear words.

On another note, I feel that cussing in excess (you may have known/heard what I am talking about) is not only wrong, but extremely inappropriate and makes one sound rather stupid. even worse is when some people--Christians too, sadly--try to bypass the "unspoken" factor and make up their own "acceptable" cusswords. I feel that point of ridiculousness should not be crossed.

[Ashley]

I'm wondering why if we had such an extensive thread on the matter, why this topic has surfaced again? I suppose as long as things stay even tempered and polite, it may stay open but if it gets rough or heated in here, we will lock it.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I figure that if there is a margin of error that it might be wrong to do, I simply don't do it. Better be safe than wrong is my opinion.

[ShiroiHikari]

I'm of the opinion that if you think swearing is wrong, you shouldn't use euphemisms either because it means the same darn thing. personally I don't swear in front of people that I know it will bother, but around the house I do. (I get frustrated a lot and saying "the eff word" is a lot better than breaking something/someone.)

[Cognitive Gear]

Well, I know that for me personally, it's not a sin. HOWEVER, I personally do not drink or swear etc.. The reason why I do so is found in Romans.

Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.

Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.


Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink] acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Rom 14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Rom 14:21 [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I don't do these things because A. I don't want to be stumbling a brother or sister in Christ, and B. because we are called to be different from the world, and this is the single easiest way I know of to do so.

It's funny to see how the same issues that plagued the early church still plague us to this very day. Only with different topics, of course.

[enishi]

ah, if i came across strong to anyone i apologize. i wanted to post my thoughts on the matter, and my conviction. mine may not be yours, but im not out to stir up decention among other believers. i dont think i stepped on any toes, but if i did, i apologize.


and by the way ikimatsu, your rock lee sig is freakin sweet. that is all ^_^

[Fsiphskilm]

It's been ye

[c-girl]

I watch what I say, 'cause I know whatever words come out, will never be able to go back in. It's just like that wierd demonstration they give at school and at church with the toothpaste tube, where you try 'n put all of the toothpaste back into the tube.. It's impossible!!! >o.O< Swearing can really add hurt into other words. I should know.>.< Being cursed at is not fun or funny!

[Mave]

Similar to what I responded to the returning sins thread, I found that focusing on Jesus relieves me of my anxieties, stress and anger within my heart, which usually lead to swearing. It isn't about me struggling to hold back from swearing, it is about healing and peace in my heart that no longer gives me the need to swear.

[Fsiphskilm]

yea some

[c-girl]

Lol! >^.^< True true! Some girls at school said they curse because it helps relieve stress... But isn't there other ways to relieve stress besides cursing? >o.O<" Gosh. It's like every other word they say is a curse word.. So they must be really stressed people..

[Fsiphskilm]

Too bad for

[Bobtheduck]

I must admit, I was in the middle of the controversy one time in this discussion. I will now lay out my beliefs and say no more on the topic, for those that did not get a chance to see them. I must say this topic has caused me a great deal of heartache, particularly when it comes to using so-called "four letter words" (like "word" and "four") in writing and in other media.

As the words "cursing", "swearing", "profanity", and "obscenity" do not necessarily refer to individual words, and "filthy language" is a translation that comes from the point of view of a language like English that has a branch of vocabulary considered uncouth, I don't think that the Bible forbids the use of any individual words. It's the whole of what you're saying: attitude and context.

If someone says "You're F'ing awesome", let's look at those four, as well as the "filthy" thing.

1. It isn't a curse. It is, in fact, a compliment.
2. Swearing is promising... The fact that word got used to describe these words comes out of culture and not the Bible and annoys me to no end and I will not discuss this matter further.
3. By saying I'm awesome ("f'ing" being a modifier meaning in this case "very") they are in no way being disrespectful to God.
4. Obscene... Now this one is harder to argue. Some may say that since the word "F'ing" refers to a sexual act in a rough way that any use is obscene. I disagree, but I cannot convince many others of this. I believe that, in this example for instance, the word is just a placeholder for an unknown modifier. It is much more casual and less clinical than using the proper modifier for that particular compliment. While lack of intelligence could be argued there, and I think lack of vocabulary isn't necessarily a sign of low intelligence, the same could be said for the use of the word "awesome" in such a flippant way. The word "awesome" in that case had been drained of its meaning and just means "good" in the modern American English way and not what gets translated as "good" in King James English. So, the "lack of intelligence" thing applies to a myriad of examples other than the so-called "dirty words"

Let's, on the other hand, look at another sentence.

"I promise on this Bible, I will kill you and the men whose money you hold for services you've undoubtedly given woman!"

Ok... This sounds a bit cheesy, but just hear me out.

1. This is a curse. Bad, and even death, is wished upon someone.
2. This was a bit groan-worthy to include, but this is swearing. He is making a promise and even attaching something greater than him to it. A classic oath.
3. Swearing to kill someone on a Bible... That's pretty profane... In case you didn't realize, profane has a similar meaning to sacrilegious.
4. This is obscene because the person is inferring that the person is a prostitute. This is a bit of a stretch, I admit, but we don't know by that statement whether the woman really is a prostitute. It may just be an insult, and in that case would be obscene.

I think this classifies as "dirty talk" biblically speaking. Coming from this conclusion which I understand not every will reach, I arrive at my next statement. Could we then, in works of fiction or retellings of fact, not allow curses and obscenities such as that? Would we be sinning in putting them in dialogue in our written works and spoken in plays and movies? I severely doubt that. I think the same applies to those individual words that are so offensive to so many. I will go so far as to say that to be legalistic about leaving them out in many cases could be harmful to the story.

I have spoken my opinion, and that is the last of it for now... Until another 6 months go by and another thread like this is started.

EDIT: HA! I lied... Ok, after this I really mean no more... I forgot to mention that if anything causes someone to stumble or lose faith, don't do it around taht person. Controling your tongue means keeping stuff like that off of it around those who are offended. It means speaking no insult or curse to those that harm you and telling no secrets and gossip. Controlling your tongue means not speaking doubt into someone or bringing condemnation upon them. Yeah... This is really the last I have to say. Really...

[Fsiphskilm]

Bob

[Heart of Sword]

I'm wondering why if we had such an extensive thread on the matter, why this topic has surfaced again?

Oh, because it kind of ended weird and I didn't want to gravedig. If I did anything wrong, then sorry!

As for swearing.

If I hear someone swear, I automatically assume that they are either a carnal Christian or not a Christian at all. As for what's a swear and what's not, I believe that anything that is...how do I put this...abbreviated, such as "F-word" and "S-word", is a swear. For example, "s***" is abbreviated as "S-word" while "poop" is not abbreviated at all. Nobody writes p*** when speaking about poop.

However, society does dub words as bad. For example, in America, calling someone a devil is just an insult while flipping someone off is REALLY, REALLY "bad". In Japan, calling someone a devil is REALLY, REALLY "bad" while flipping someone else is just an insult. And in some country that I can't recall, the "I've got your nose" gesture is considered extremely profane.

[Hephzibah]

I don't swear, atleast from an Aussie perspective I don't. You see, over here the word that sounds like a dam is not offensive in the slightest! If you say "D--- you', then it is, but not if its just d---. Now, when I lived in the States for a few years, my bro got in trouble at school cause he said that word.
Never-the-less, I have been weaning myself off that word, because I had a friend who was offended by it (same as shut-up... does anyone else in the world find that offensive???). In short, I believe that swearing is bad, but if someone thinks that the words I say are offensive, I will try to stop saying them in their presence, unless it's to do with Jesus and all.

Afterall, "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. ... It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall."