I am aware that many Christians are confronted by extreme profanity nearly every day. It has become a common part of communication for many. Where once in our society it was considered inappropriate to use profanity in public situations, this is no longer so. As a preacher I am thankful that I hear it less often than others.
But, there are a couple of recent events that have brought the pervasiveness of profanity in our culture to my attention. The first is personal. While golfing with Josh last week, a man drove past us, asking for our permission to play through and join the foursome ahead. He explained that his friend had to leave, and rather than finishing the last few holes on his own, he wanted to join up with the group ahead.
You would have though such a simple request would have been made with a polite manner. He may have even thought he was being polite. But, the short request was accompanied by an alarming number of oaths and cuss words. As he drove off, Josh and I both just shook our heads.
The second event is one you may be aware of. Beyoncé, the famous singer, found it necessary to apologize for the language in one of her songs. I am sure that there are explicit lyrics in many of her songs, and this one had it’s share of them. Explicit as in profane, and very sexually charged language. But, that wasn’t the reason for the apology. She made the mistake of using what was referred to as an “ableist slur.” She used the word spaz. The word is certainly objectionable, but it is amazing that our culture takes such issue with a word such as that, but have absolutely no problems with the racist, misogynistic, profane and sexually explicit words that pepper the song.
God certainly does not condone the language that the world has made so common. There are plenty of verses which make this clear:
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8).
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
“neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4).
“Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:6-8).
Profanity is found in the mouths of the profane. The Hebrew writer called upon his readers to pursue “holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”, lest there be “any fornicator or profane person…” (Hebrews 12:14,16).
Our speech (public and private) is not just heard by those present, but also by God. When people apologize to me for using offensive language, I tell them, “You don’t need to apologize to me, you need to apologize to God.” “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalms 19:14).
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