Rant session: Cursing

Would you talk that way if Jesus were in the room?

Cursing should in no way be an indication of elevated social status to any individual under any circumstances. Our culture today has increasingly become desensitized to the basic function of one of the most powerful weapons in the human body, the tongue. It is encouraged and accepted so freely by the world; by so called, “influential” people like movie stars and Hollywood stars in general. Not only has it become a language in itself, but also it has become so fluent to many today, and has brought a more negative atmosphere to our world and to those around us.

            One of the things that never fail to make my heart sink is when people that I respect and are my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, spit out cuss words senselessly. With complete honesty, I do hold these, so called, “believers”, to a slightly higher standard than “non-believers”; of course for accountability purposes. I can only say this because as a fellow sister in Christ, I am one to take the Bible and everything that applies to me, to heart. I genuinely believe that when my God inspires Paul to say, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” in Ephesians 4:29, He is purely commanding us to only speak of things that are wholesome and good. No part of this verse says, “ Try to not let any unwholesome talk come out.” HE COMMANDS US. Immediately following, He continues, “…but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” We as Christians are called to be full of God and full of purity whether it be through our actions or words. The tongue is “a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell… it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:5-8) Our tongues are such as small part of the body that requires nearly the most control over. God inspires John to say, “whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4:20-21) If we claim to have agape love for Christ, the commitment type of love, we cannot go on cursing at our brothers and sisters; or, for that matter, any other “imago dei”  (“image of God”) bearers. It is ultimately the choice of the one who speaks to control what comes out; whether encouraging or not.

            Unfortunately, our society has been drowning in a sea of apathy especially concerning cuss words, but most importantly, on a deeper more sensitive issue. Particularly our generation of young adults and even as young as grade school, saying “Oh my G*d!” has become just another acceptable phrase in the dictionary of cursing.  Growing up, I was always taught of how severe this phrase is. It is most severe because it is directly related to one of the most important vertical commandments of the Ten Commandments; “you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) It is clearly commanded that we, as princes and princesses of the King of the universe, do not misuse His precious name. EVER. It breaks my heart every time someone that I respect and love, splutters the phrase out with such ease and insensitivity. I firmly believe that this phrase is taken way too lightly in our day and has become counter to what some of the foundational commandments that were given to us as Christians.

       If we claim to praise and love God with our tongues, we must only use it for His honor. After all, we are supposed to be His “image bearers”, Christ-like examples for all of those around us. James 3:10 claims, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” We are to be either one or the other, not half-hearted. I stand firm on the fact that if enough Christians took the first step to controlling one of the most dangerous weapons of the human race, there would be an undercurrent of joy and unity throughout the body of Christ that will restore the negative predispositions and clear up just a blur of confusion about Christians, of the non-believers all around. Those who are seeking the Christian faith will not be fooled by one of the basic commands that distinguish believers from non-believers: using our tongues for the sole purpose of glorifying and honoring God.

Authored by: my 1st guest writer, Beth Wong