In my opinion, it just depends. As cultures and societies change, the window of what is considered profane and unacceptable changes. You might be able to get away with speaking a certain way in front of certain groups of people that would be considered inappropriate in front of other groups of people. Since the Bible does not have many clear examples of what words are objectively a sin then it seems more like a judgement call to me.
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With the subheading, "Turn From Evil," for the section starting at 1Peter3:8-10, Peter 'the cusser' writes, "8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because of this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
'Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil...'
I bolded, italicized, and colored where I think the sin creeps in, as pride.
I let a bomb drop just yesterday because someone was dishing 'evil' at me. Still, I'm making progress and not as bad as I used to be. Still, and may always be working on it
That is, of course, until my change comes!
'Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil...'
I bolded, italicized, and colored where I think the sin creeps in, as pride.
I let a bomb drop just yesterday because someone was dishing 'evil' at me. Still, I'm making progress and not as bad as I used to be. Still, and may always be working on it
That is, of course, until my change comes!James 3
Easy-to-Read Version
Controlling the Things We Say
3 My brothers and sisters, not many of you should be teachers. I say this because, as you know, we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.
2 We all make many mistakes. A person who never said anything wrong would be perfect. Someone like that would be able to control their whole body too. 3 We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us. With these bits we can control their whole body. 4 It is the same with ships. A ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship. And the one who controls the rudder decides where the ship will go. It goes where he wants it to go. 5 It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it can boast about doing great things.
A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. 6 The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of evil among the parts of our body. It spreads its evil through our whole body and starts a fire that influences all of life. It gets this fire from hell.
7 Humans have control over every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have controlled all these things. 8 But no one can control the tongue. It is wild and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God’s likeness. 10 These praises and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. 11 Do good water and bad water flow from the same spring? Of course not. 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives? Or can a grapevine make figs? No, and a well full of salty water cannot give good water.
True Wisdom
13 Are there any among you who are really wise and understanding? Then you should show your wisdom by living right. You should do what is good with humility. A wise person does not boast. 14 If you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, you have no reason to boast. Your boasting is a lie that hides the truth. 15 That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God. That “wisdom” comes from the world. It is not spiritual. It is from the devil. 16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. 18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.
James 2
Easy-to-Read Version
Controlling the Things We Say
3 My brothers and sisters, not many of you should be teachers. I say this because, as you know, we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.
2 We all make many mistakes. A person who never said anything wrong would be perfect. Someone like that would be able to control their whole body too. 3 We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us. With these bits we can control their whole body. 4 It is the same with ships. A ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship. And the one who controls the rudder decides where the ship will go. It goes where he wants it to go. 5 It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it can boast about doing great things.
A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. 6 The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of evil among the parts of our body. It spreads its evil through our whole body and starts a fire that influences all of life. It gets this fire from hell.
7 Humans have control over every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have controlled all these things. 8 But no one can control the tongue. It is wild and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God’s likeness. 10 These praises and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. 11 Do good water and bad water flow from the same spring? Of course not. 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives? Or can a grapevine make figs? No, and a well full of salty water cannot give good water.
True Wisdom
13 Are there any among you who are really wise and understanding? Then you should show your wisdom by living right. You should do what is good with humility. A wise person does not boast. 14 If you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, you have no reason to boast. Your boasting is a lie that hides the truth. 15 That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God. That “wisdom” comes from the world. It is not spiritual. It is from the devil. 16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. 18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.
James 2
4 Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. 2 You want things, but you don’t get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. 3 Or when you ask, you don’t receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.
4 You people are not faithful to God! You should know that loving what the world has is the same as hating God. So anyone who wants to be friends with this evil world becomes God’s enemy. 5 Do you think the Scriptures mean nothing? The Scriptures say, “The Spirit God made to live in us wants us only for himself.”[a] 6 But the kindness God shows is greater. As the Scripture says, “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.”
7 So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. You are sinners, so clean sin out of your lives.[c] You are trying to follow God and the world at the same time. Make your thinking pure. 9 Be sad, be sorry, and cry! Change your laughter into crying. Change your joy into sadness. 10 Be humble before the Lord, and he will make you great.
4 You people are not faithful to God! You should know that loving what the world has is the same as hating God. So anyone who wants to be friends with this evil world becomes God’s enemy. 5 Do you think the Scriptures mean nothing? The Scriptures say, “The Spirit God made to live in us wants us only for himself.”[a] 6 But the kindness God shows is greater. As the Scripture says, “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.”
7 So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. You are sinners, so clean sin out of your lives.[c] You are trying to follow God and the world at the same time. Make your thinking pure. 9 Be sad, be sorry, and cry! Change your laughter into crying. Change your joy into sadness. 10 Be humble before the Lord, and he will make you great.
Cursing and Profanity are two different things. Almost everyone in my immediate area says something rude or offensive most of the time, except they are being extremely conscious not to do so. It is in the nature of King County society at present that in literal reality, the city is so anarchical and in such chaos that if you do not say something under certain circumstances, which would be considered very hostile and rude by some political circles, then by not doing so you are being tolerant of deep obscenity and guilty of obstructing justice.
Profanity is desecrating something constructed and designated to be set apart. Some people robbed the communion alter in Saint Ignatius Chapel at Seattle University one time, that was profanity. Cursing is calling on Satan to act on your behalf. Of course, if you call someone a name or if they think you're threatening them, or if you do threaten them or solicit someone for creepy sex who isn't gay or a prostitute, you might get in trouble. Given the chaos the city is in, you also might not get in trouble, but get away with it, and then the results will just be between you and your conscience.
My own personal answer to this conundrum (and it's a very very serious local societal political and legal problem here) is to just try to avoid the bizarre sodomites and psychic types, and anyone who doesn't at least appear on the surface to me to be someone appropriate to communicate with. It is always easier to avoid hostile confrontations and to abstain from using words or phrases or invocations or gestures you find uncomfortable and know that you will later regret if you are cautious to target your audience, never approach any one you don't think you can speak to in your own and their own language simultaneously and focus on loyalty first.
Profanity is desecrating something constructed and designated to be set apart. Some people robbed the communion alter in Saint Ignatius Chapel at Seattle University one time, that was profanity. Cursing is calling on Satan to act on your behalf. Of course, if you call someone a name or if they think you're threatening them, or if you do threaten them or solicit someone for creepy sex who isn't gay or a prostitute, you might get in trouble. Given the chaos the city is in, you also might not get in trouble, but get away with it, and then the results will just be between you and your conscience.
My own personal answer to this conundrum (and it's a very very serious local societal political and legal problem here) is to just try to avoid the bizarre sodomites and psychic types, and anyone who doesn't at least appear on the surface to me to be someone appropriate to communicate with. It is always easier to avoid hostile confrontations and to abstain from using words or phrases or invocations or gestures you find uncomfortable and know that you will later regret if you are cautious to target your audience, never approach any one you don't think you can speak to in your own and their own language simultaneously and focus on loyalty first.
Hi RB
I have to say, that when I use cuss words, which is a sin I sometimes stumble into, it is definitely implanted in my conscience that it is not ok with the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me. I am always convicted, and I know that no filthy communication ought to come out of my mouth. I foolishly compromise at times when talking to my older teens, because I think they will relate to what I am saying more readily, and at times I correct myself in front of them and put the effort into rephrasing it without cussing; I am always glad when I do that, it’s much better.
You know what, it stood out to me that you think we are all ‘screwed’ if we use cuss words, but if we confess our sins He will forgive; and no matter what sin we may struggle with, if we keep asking Him to help us overcome, we eventually will get the victory. I have a friend who has been in a real relationship with the Lord for over 40 years; she went through a break-down and developed a problem of using cuss words. It troubled her and for a few years she couldn’t seem to overcome it, last year she really sought the Lord over it and now it is very rare to hear her say a bad word and she is very quick to correct herself. We want to obey Him because we love Him and also we have a healthy fear of Him. He is holy and He commands us to be holy. He is able to present us to Himself without sin and we look to Him trusting Him to refine us and prepare us to meet Him one day. We trust in His payment on the cross but the Bible is clear that we ought not to go on willingly sinning whether that be ‘great’ or ‘small’ sins. I agree that cussing is not as bad as murder, but we cannot justify any sin before a holy God. Maybe the fact you asked this question demonstrates that your conscience is aware that it’s sin.
Blessings 🦋
I have to say, that when I use cuss words, which is a sin I sometimes stumble into, it is definitely implanted in my conscience that it is not ok with the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me. I am always convicted, and I know that no filthy communication ought to come out of my mouth. I foolishly compromise at times when talking to my older teens, because I think they will relate to what I am saying more readily, and at times I correct myself in front of them and put the effort into rephrasing it without cussing; I am always glad when I do that, it’s much better.
You know what, it stood out to me that you think we are all ‘screwed’ if we use cuss words, but if we confess our sins He will forgive; and no matter what sin we may struggle with, if we keep asking Him to help us overcome, we eventually will get the victory. I have a friend who has been in a real relationship with the Lord for over 40 years; she went through a break-down and developed a problem of using cuss words. It troubled her and for a few years she couldn’t seem to overcome it, last year she really sought the Lord over it and now it is very rare to hear her say a bad word and she is very quick to correct herself. We want to obey Him because we love Him and also we have a healthy fear of Him. He is holy and He commands us to be holy. He is able to present us to Himself without sin and we look to Him trusting Him to refine us and prepare us to meet Him one day. We trust in His payment on the cross but the Bible is clear that we ought not to go on willingly sinning whether that be ‘great’ or ‘small’ sins. I agree that cussing is not as bad as murder, but we cannot justify any sin before a holy God. Maybe the fact you asked this question demonstrates that your conscience is aware that it’s sin.
Blessings 🦋
It is in my honest opinion that when you are truly saved, your entire lifestyle changes. I hear people a lot of the time say that curse words are in the Bible. However, you have to factor in the meaning. Back when the books of the Bible were written, those words had different meanings than what they do today. If you’re using curse words today, with today’s definitions, and your using it in a way that harms, hurts, or offends others, then you’re in the wrong and I believe God will hold you accountable for those words. The Bible says the tongue is sharper than a double edged sword. Be careful with your words. God bless.
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It is definitely wrong to use the Lord's name in vain.
One should not use profanity either as it sounds bad and shows no class. I think it is a sin when profanity is used in an angry tone or used to denigrate someone else. However, some profane words are not used in this manner, such as BS. I am not sure if saying that is a sin but it can certainly sound uncivilized. At one point of my life, I did know young Christian men (high schoolers to early 20s) who went to church but used bad words joking around.
One should not use profanity either as it sounds bad and shows no class. I think it is a sin when profanity is used in an angry tone or used to denigrate someone else. However, some profane words are not used in this manner, such as BS. I am not sure if saying that is a sin but it can certainly sound uncivilized. At one point of my life, I did know young Christian men (high schoolers to early 20s) who went to church but used bad words joking around.
Yes, it is. In Colossians 3:8 "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."
But we all know sometimes it was not serious like that, people didn't mean that. Dirty talks or profanity are very common in the network. Teenagers use them and think it's kind of cool. Even sensible and kind adults can't control themselves using profanity when driving. So I think if profanity is not intentional harm or humiliation, it won't hurt.
But we all know sometimes it was not serious like that, people didn't mean that. Dirty talks or profanity are very common in the network. Teenagers use them and think it's kind of cool. Even sensible and kind adults can't control themselves using profanity when driving. So I think if profanity is not intentional harm or humiliation, it won't hurt.
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This is honestly one of the cringiest thing is that I see Christians getting stressed out like all these serious issues in our society and cursing is the one people focus in on. Like I get it people point to all kinds of verses in the Bible but honestly it's pretty vague I would agree that it can be rude and unbecoming but honestly I don't think it's a very serious issue. I could go on all day about various benign things that Christians randomly obsess over stuff like when I was growing up parents we're concerned about their kids playing Pokemon because it would teach them evolution. I personally try not to swear all that often but I don't make a big deal out of it.
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James 1:26
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
James 3
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,[a] for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.[c] 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters,[d] this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters,[e] yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for[f] those who make peace.
Footnotes
James 3:1 Gk brothers
James 3:6 Or wheel of birth
James 3:6 Gk Gehenna
James 3:10 Gk My brothers
James 3:12 Gk my brothers
James 3:18 Or by
James 2
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
James 3
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,[a] for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.[c] 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters,[d] this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters,[e] yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for[f] those who make peace.
Footnotes
James 3:1 Gk brothers
James 3:6 Or wheel of birth
James 3:6 Gk Gehenna
James 3:10 Gk My brothers
James 3:12 Gk my brothers
James 3:18 Or by
James 2
1 Samuel 16:18
One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him.”
Judith 11:23
You are not only beautiful in appearance, but wise in speech.
Proverbs 4:24
Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
Proverbs 6:12
A scoundrel and a villain goes around with crooked speech,
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.
Proverbs 16:23
The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
Proverbs 16:27
Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.
Proverbs 19:1
Better the poor walking in integrity than one perverse of speech who is a fool.
Proverbs 22:11
Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.
Proverbs 29:20
Do you see someone who is hasty in speech? There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.
Sirach 4:24
For wisdom becomes known through speech, and education through the words of the tongue.
Sirach 6:5
Friendship, False and True
Pleasant speech multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
Sirach 9:18
The loud of mouth are feared in their city, and the one who is reckless in speech is hated.
Sirach 20:18
Inappropriate Speech
A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;
Sirach 21:16
A fool’s chatter is like a burden on a journey, but delight is found in the speech of the intelligent.
Me: has anyone ever shown you their low IQ?>??
One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him.”
Judith 11:23
You are not only beautiful in appearance, but wise in speech.
Proverbs 4:24
Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
Proverbs 6:12
A scoundrel and a villain goes around with crooked speech,
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.
Proverbs 16:23
The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
Proverbs 16:27
Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.
Proverbs 19:1
Better the poor walking in integrity than one perverse of speech who is a fool.
Proverbs 22:11
Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.
Proverbs 29:20
Do you see someone who is hasty in speech? There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.
Sirach 4:24
For wisdom becomes known through speech, and education through the words of the tongue.
Sirach 6:5
Friendship, False and True
Pleasant speech multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
Sirach 9:18
The loud of mouth are feared in their city, and the one who is reckless in speech is hated.
Sirach 20:18
Inappropriate Speech
A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;
Sirach 21:16
A fool’s chatter is like a burden on a journey, but delight is found in the speech of the intelligent.
Me: has anyone ever shown you their low IQ?>??