I remember the first time I swore. I won’t tell you what I said, but I was only about 7 or 8 years old. I heard one of the older kids in the neighborhood use it. I had an opportunity to sound cool but I didn’t actually have the guts to say it out loud (I was a church going goody two-shoes) so I spelled it. It was funny until the kid I said it to told his mom who in turn came right over and told my mom. When I saw her coming over I knew something wasn’t right. My mom asked me if I said it and I honestly told her “no, I only spelled it”. She didn’t think it was as funny as I did. Needless to say, the pain in my rear end was enough for me to not do it again.
Fast forward about 11 years when I am attending a Christian college. This time of my life was probably the farthest away from God I had ever been. I had a mouth like a sailor when I wasn’t around people at the college. It became so easy to do and made me fit in. I worked for the Grand Rapids Press delivering bundles of papers to the street corners for the delivery people. One Saturday night while waiting for my turn to load my truck, my boss asked me, “Does everybody at that Christian college talk like you?”. It hit me like a brick upside the head. At that time I realized that people do watch and listen to what you say and do when you claim to be a Christian. From that moment on I made a commitment to myself to not allow profanity to come from my mouth. It is very rare when that kind of language ever comes out of my mouth.
Here are a couple of verses about this:
Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs"
Colossians 3:8 "Rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips"
James 3:10 "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be"
Is swearing something that will keep you from going to heaven? No, but people are watching and listening.
The one that really irritates me is how so many Christians use God’s name in vain. Flippantly saying “Oh my God” in general conversation seems so harmless but the ramifications are detrimental in God’s eyes.
Matthew Henry described five categories of actions that constitute taking God's name in vain:
1) hypocrisy – making a profession of God's name, but not living up to that profession;
2) covenant breaking – if one makes promises to God yet does not carry out the promised actions;
3) rash swearing;
4) false swearing;
5) using the name of God lightly and carelessly, for charms or spells, jest or sport.
Something to reflect on – Are you someone who struggles with profanity and/or using God’s name in vain? If so, do you want to change that? What steps will you take to make the necessary changes in your speech? Do you have a friend who you can share this with to help hold you accountable? One thing I’ve learned with accountability is that you need to ask a follow up question once you’ve been asked how you are doing in a certain area. That question is “Are you lying to me?” as you look them in they eyes.
Written by: Jeff Abner
