Cussing Christians

Posted by Scott Williams
36 Comments
April 20, 2011
Christian | Controversy | Pastors

I’ve talked about this before, but I’m gonna get straight to the point; I am not trying to sound holier than thou, but I’m gonna keep it real as it relates to Cussing Christians.  I’m not talking about words like sucks, screwed, freakin’ etc.

Not to minimize those words, but I’m talking about the four letter words and their cussing cousins.  There is no need for me to share them, because we’re all grown folks and all have probably heard or spewed them at some time or another ourselves.  I personally don’t use them, nor do I judge people who do; however I do feel as Christ followers we have a responsibility to encourage people to do better.   Doing better can come in the form of encouraging our Christian brothers and sisters to use better language.   The expectations and standards aren’t the same for my Non-Christian friends.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

I have been around too many Cussing Christians and Cussing Pastors; all I have to say is we can and should do better.  Salty springs don’t produce fresh water and salty words don’t produce fresh fruit if you know what I mean. Do you want to be salty water or fresh water?

Share your thoughts on Cussing Christians and Cussing Pastors… Are words like sucks, screwed and freakin’ acceptable?

  • http://www.relationshipsmatternow.com Denise Barreto

    Thank for this Scott- you are speaking to me. I have the worst potty mouth when stressed or super excited. YIKES. Not proud at all nor would I make excuses but I take your challenge. I can and will do better. I know I can eliminate bad words from my vocab. Thanks for the push.

  • http://www.about.me/matthewsloop Matthew Sloop

    Amen, Amen & Amen! As salt and light we have no reason or need to cuss. We truly have breath today to bring glory to our Master and I don’t want to waste any of that breathe on cussing. No judging just saying what i feel called to do in serving my KING!

  • http://6happyhearts.com 6 Happy Hearts

    I stopped cursing 9 years ago. It was totally the Holy Spirit. I was a cursing fool, literally. Recently, I have noticed I am the only one of my friends who doesn’t curse. I do every once in a while, but it’s rare. I make up curse words such as “noo-noo” or “whack a do” or “shut the front door”. But lately I have been questioning if cursing is really all that “bad”. My husband uses “freakin’” & my kiddos use it all the time. It seems to be the curse word of choice in our social circles. I hate it. It’s just as bad as the real thing.
    Your post spoke to me. I want to be salty :)

  • http://www.shariengland.blogspot.com Shari England

    Amen Scott. I always considered myself a PG cusser, but when He cleaned my spiritual house twenty years ago, even that tasted bad in my mouth! Thank you Holy Spirit!

  • http://www.twitter.com/jaconlin James Conlin

    I don’t think it is necessarily the words themselves, but the intent behind it. To me there is no difference between saying “Oh Shoot.” to “Oh… shut our mouth boy this is a pastor’s blog” To me the intent it the same. Scripture is very clear about how we talk about others and that our words should be edifying and uplifting to the body. There are much “cleaner” words that have a much harsher sting, for instance, when we cut people down without using cuss words. Just because the word is considered a cuss word by society at large, doesn’t make it any better or worse than any other word. It is all in our heart.

    I do, however, agree that we should be held to a higher standard as we mature as Christians. There are some things we did in our youth that we wouldn’t consider doing now.

  • emily pierce

    I just sent a message to a friend today asking her not to post things on fb with curse words anymore. True, i used to curse and one slips out now and then, but i strive to do better and be a good example.

  • http://zachcrowley.blogspot.com/ Zach Crowley

    A Cussing Pastor is not “worse” than a Cussing Christian. We ALL represent Jesus Christ. I think refraining from cussing is just another way to show the world that we are different because we have Christ. Cussing makes a person “come off” as disrespectful and ignorant. These are not characteristics Jesus wants His followers to show to the world.

    • http://t03.us Josh Sorenson

      Amen!

  • Ryan Hollingsworth

    I’m a “don’t do it half-hearted” kind of guy; thus, my interpretation of scripture has always been the were “darn” has the same meaning, the same inflection as it’s four letter counterpart that is considered unacceptable by most Christians.

    Thus, considering that you and I may say “darn” with the same feeling being expressed in our heart as someone else using a more explicative word, one can logically make a conclusion that we’re still cursing. The inflection is the same, the intention is identical, the motivation behind the utterance is also the same; thus, how can one conclude using the word “darn” is OK when other four letter words are not?

    On a societal term, the words themselves have been marked. (like a form of verbal judgment) as unclean and unacceptable. As a Christian, we’re taught to not let any idle words come from our tongue, don’t speak condemning words to our brothers in the faith, let every word from your lips be positive and uplifting. With that being said, it doesn’t matter if you say “blimp” when you smash your thumb in the car- you’re cursing all the same.

    Then I consider an explicative said on impulse versus one said in a condemning manner. I could say #*#@* when i drop a concrete block on my toe and in a spiritual sense, it’s the same as if i said “bunnies!” – it’s just a word. Then, there’s the condemning nature that comes with cursing. Are we cursing our brothers? Judging those we see around us? Well, if that’s the case, cursing may be an issue, but your attitude, your perception of God’s love and Grace are a little more important at the moment…

    I was in Nashville a few years ago and saw a guy at a Christian Metal show wearing a shirt that said “I’m a Christian so F*** you,” and that saddened my heart. This guy was clearly trying to say “I’m unashamed of my faith,” but what his shirt actually says to the world is “I’m a Christian and I”m better than you so I’m going to shove it down your throat with my t-shirt”.

    Personally. i choose to diversify my nomenclature as I believe limiting my vocabulary to such terse juvenile terminology is not only detrimental to my professional persona, but degrading and not uplifting to the people with whom I mentor, associate, and minister in the faith. I am not perfect; however, when I’ve become very, very angry I have slipped- but when i get to that point (and it’s quite rare) I realize it’s time to take a time out, reevaluate, count to ten, and recompose myself- then readdress the conflict.

    • http://www.robmcbryde.com Rob McBryde

      Ooh! I am going to start saying “Bunnies!!!” as my new explicative! :)

      After doing that for a few weeks, the ridiculousness of it should help me stop cussing altogether.

      But seriously, your comment was on point. Thanks for sharing!

  • http://Www.logoscommunity.com Thomas Weaver

    So Scott, who gets to decide that sh-t is worse than crap or freakin better than the f-bomb? What do you think screwed means? You don’t cuss but you use the words that mean the same thing? Give me a break. Let your yay be yay and your nay be nay, brother. If your going to take the high road on this, you should not say the christianeeze cuss words either. Keep it real.

  • http://Www.logoscommunity.com Thomas Weaver

    So Scott, who gets to decide that sh-t is worse than crap or freakin better than the f-bomb? What do you think screwed means? You don’t cuss but you use the words that mean the same thing? Give me a break. Let your yay be yay and your nay be nay, brother. If your going to take the high road on this, you should not say the christianeeze cuss words either. Keep it real.

  • http://kellysinging.com KellySinging

    To quote my brother @_TJHall, “Cussing is like pooping from the mouth.” Culture matters and If the world is aware that profanity is wrong by including it in the rating system in movies, then we as Christians should know, too. I blogged once on the need for us not to become desensitized by the world. We are here to catch the attention of the unsaved, and we will do so by being different in our lifestyle. Thank you for posting this!

  • http://www.lookthrough.net Sonny Lemmons

    For starters, I’ll confess: I curse. Not as a regular occurrence, but yes – I slip up every now and again. And for the record, I don’t count “sucks” or its PG cousins as curse words.

    The thing to remember is that it is ultimately no better or worse to walk around a grocery store saying “effing” this or that than it is to drop a concrete block on your foot and say “Praise the Lord,” which I have known many believers to do. They genuinely believe that by saying this it diffused the desire to curse – but let’s be real: we all know that praising God is not on the heart or mind of anyone who may have just shattered a toe.

    It all comes down to what is in our heart and how that comes spilling out.

    We’re judged by what people see us doing, because our actions reflect our motivations. If we act out of selfless love, they see Christ. If we act – or speak – out of anything less, what does that do to our witness?

    • http://www.robmcbryde.com Rob McBryde

      Love this comment…

      “praising God is not on the heart or mind of anyone who may have just shattered a toe.”

      That is a true statement if ever I heard one. :)

  • http://www.marcmillan.com @MarcMillan

    I pray for my brothers and sisters when I hear unclean words & totally agree, out of the many wonderful words in our vocabulary it is a maturity thing, I think as well to get stuck on saying words that have such low meaning and associate with things that don’t encourage, build up or exalt all the things we live or say we believe.
    M_

  • http://www.marcmillan.com @MarcMillan

    Mathew 12:33-36…sorry, forgot, and it’s Jesus who said it, not judging, just reading the red letters like the rest of us.
    M_

  • Micah Billingsley

    Great blog!! I couldn’t agree more… the bar is got to be higher, especially for those that claim the name of the Lord. The Word is very clear on the tongue and it’s capabilities.

    Thanks for writing.

  • http://theoldadam.wordpress.com Steve Martin

    Each of us has sins that we struggle with. The Lord does help us overcome these sins. But sometimes, some are harder than others to control. Sometimes we’ll conquer one and another will take it’s place.

    Thanks for a great reminder that I don’t have to curse.

    I’m also thankful that the Lord forgives me when I do, and He even forgives me when I’m angry at someone (murder, in the Lord’s eyes).

    What an awesome Lord we have!

  • Kelly

    I like the fact that you point out the different standards for unbelievers. I have heard believers correct unbelievers on their language, and it bothers me to no end. It always sounds rude and snobby. When unbelievers swear around me, and then apologize, I always tell them that it’s okay, it doesn’t bother me. And it doesn’t. I want to accept them as they are, just as Jesus accepted me, and in no way do I want to give the impression that to be near me or loved by me, they have to change who they are. It’s all a part of being in the world and not of it. When we are more concerned w/pampering our precious Christian sensibilities rather than radically loving those around us, we do much more damage than we can imagine.

  • http://http//thoughtpool.Tumblr.com @the_jrm

    Personally, I don’t curse. I do think there are better and more productive ways to use my tongue. I also believe that the word “dog” doesn’t bite, just like the word “s**t” doesn’t stink.

    Here’s the thing: we need to do the things that point to Christ and the truth of it is that, when one curses, NO ONE says: “That’s one wholesome Christian!”

    In simple terms, I don’t think you’ll end up in hell if you curse, but it’s something that might be a stumbling stone to one of our brothers/sitsters who might be newer in the faith.

  • Dona

    Thanks for the post, Scott! Yes, I am being convicted about using the “acceptable versions” of cuss words even as I read this. I am reminded of who I represent, and cannot think of my Jesus ever saying anything that would be dishonoring to the Father,etc. Of course, this goes for all the other rotten things that can come from our mouths, ie. gossip, off color jokes, etc.

  • Jeff

    I don’t totally disagree with you there Scott, but what makes those words any different from “freaking” “screwed” “sucks” “dang” “shoot”, etc… which are just alternative ways of saying precisely the same thing. I think it’s more of a heart issue than a vocabulary issue… Jesus spoke of it using the word “Raca” which today doesn’t mean much to us… but back then was pretty hefty… but he spoke of the “attitude” of the speaker, not the words themselves.

  • http://www.runwithitgirl.blogspot.com @jaclynhurst

    I think that cussing is terrible for any Christian. I also think a Pastor would be held to a higher standard and should not cuss. I have been around a youth pastor that would drop the F-bomb outside of church functions, but it made me uncomfortable. I also didn’t really want my brother going to his youth group for that reason…
    I’m convected by reading this though b/c I can do better myself. It’s really about your heart but you also don’t want to leave the wrong impression on the non-believers around you. If you’re lax in this area, is it okay to be lax in others, etc… God deserves better!

  • http://brightlightbigdarkness.blogspot.com Estreitta de Kluetz

    Preach it!

  • http://Www.joshlumpkin.com theJoshLumpkin

    Who are all these Christians walking around with broken toes after having dropped concrete blocks on their feet?

  • http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com Jack Wellman

    You have nailed the proverbial nail spot on the mark my friend. It is amazing the language that I hear and at former times past have uttered by professing Christians. As a bi-vocational pastor, I have learned to fall on my face before my day starts in asking the Holy Spirit to help me guard my tongue and my actions so that they might reflect Christ in wholesome words and acts. Our church elder has had “opps” moments but I say without judgment, “there I go but by the grace of God.” Terrific topic and blog.

  • http://www.oldsolar.com/currentblog.php Rick Ritchie

    In the James passage, there is an object of the curse. How did we get to where the question was the words and not the fact that there was someone being hit by them. It’s as if there were a discussion started about how the same hands we folded to pray we were also using to throw knives and rocks at our brother. And somehow the discussion got sidetracked into what it was okay to throw, apart from any context of whether someone was having it thrown at them. Then some pride themselves on never having touched a knife, when they still throw pillows and cellphones.

    • Nate

      Good one. The commandment is love people. Not be socially acceptable.

  • Ed Taylor

    I’m with Rick. It is not the words, per se, it is CURSING, which is not the same as our modern idea of CUSSING. Do you use your words to tear people down? I don’t agree that certain words are taboo unless there is no way for them to be harmless, like racial slurs. Sure, there is the whole, “not causing your brother to stumble” issue – all things are permissible, but not all things are profitable – but following Christ is not about law but freedom. Thoughts?

  • GeorgeJetson

    I don’t know dude…peter was fisherman…do you think he stopped cussing

  • Ed Taylor

    Did anyone see “The King’s Speech?” Surely you wouldn’t think the swearing in that film would be the same thing Scripture is referring to when it says, “Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing,” would you? I just watched it, and I thought, “Here is a good example of why most words are just words; what matters is not what words you say, but how you hurl your words about.”

  • http://stevesimms.wordpress.com/ Steve Simms

    Good point. We have a direct command to “avoid the appearance of evil.” I worked for 5 years as a chaplain/counselor in a men’s alcohol and drug rehab center (working with more than 1,400 men) and the guys did not respect Christians who cussed (even though almost all of them did). However, they respected me and in all that time only a couple ever cussed in front of me. The world expects Christians to have a more disciplined, more self-controlled lifestyle than they do. Besides, cussing is rather silly — after all, what do feces, damnation, urination, and orther concepts that adolescents like, have to do with an inteligent conversation that’s not about health?

  • Randall

    And we can also cite Ephesians 4:29–”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.” [NIV 1984] I agree that we as followers of Jesus need to be held to a higher standard than those who don’t know Him. I also believe that words such as “sucks,” “screwed,” and “freakin’” are NOT acceptable because they are simply substitute words for those that we already know are vulgar curse words. Find better substitutes that aren’t so obvious if, in fact, you need substitute words to express frustration. The conclusion is that a Christian that cusses brings to my mind the image of the contents of an outhouse spewing from that person’s mouth.

  • http://www.schellerjazz.com Steve Scheller

    This is interesting…one of the clearest works of the Spirit in my life was his giving me a control of the tongue that eluded me prior to knowing Him. I agree that when the world knows something is wrong, we can rise to a better standard.

    However, the James passage quoted refers to cursing, which I believe exegetically and practically differs significantly from cussing. Having spent considerable time in Africa where people live with the fear and affects of people cursing one another, the distinction is quite apparent. Anyhow, Ephesians refers to letting nothing unwholesome come out of our mouths…..I think this might be a better exhortation to consider on this issue. At the same time, we don’t need to get too legalistic about this but just ask the Spirit to give us talk that reflects His heart.

  • Ron

    Teach me to walk by the Spirit. Don’t teache what I shouldn’t do. “The power of sin is the law.”

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