Category: Blasphemy

The phrase salty language in our time has reference to crude or angry speech.  Since sailors have a reputation for such —  cussing like a sailor. The salt in the ocean gives us the image from which the phrase has its origin.

In scripture there is also a reference to salty language or speech, but it is a positive one.  For example, in Colossians 2:5-6 Paul exhorted, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” In Paul’s reference the speech that should be characteristic of the child of God is that which is gracious and wise, seasoned with truth and a beneficial relevance to those who hear.

As with all things Christian, it is speech that emanates from a place of love. As the Lord’s people, our desire and action should be to improve mankind. Things like anger, malice, profanity, innuendo, bitterness, lying, gossip, slander etc., do nothing for others, and so should be absent from our conversation!

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:8-10).

Back in 2018, when Beto O’Rourke ran for the senate against Ted Cruz, I received a political phone call from O’Rourke’s campaign. I decided to make a point. I told the worker I would never vote for someone who used profanity in campaigning, like he did. It floored the young lady. “But, he is so passionate about his positions.” She couldn’t understand why profanity could be considered such a negative.  She had never heard such a thing!

Beto was fairly novel at the time. Of course, societal use of profanity has a long history in our nation. But in the public discourse of political speech (not in the backrooms, but in campaign speeches and television appearances) it was still rather uncommon. Continue reading “God’s View of Profanity” →

A discussion of the Crucifixion narrative in Luke 23. There are three crosses worthy of discussion: A Cross of Rebellion, A Cross of Repentance, and A Cross of Redemption.

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In James 3:6 the text reads, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” The dangers present anytime we open our mouths should give us pause, and encourage us to take great care in our speech. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).

Following are some of the sins we may commit when we open our mouths to speak:

Continue reading “Sins of the Tongue” →

It is obvious that our country has undergone substantial and fundamental changes in the 236 years since our forefathers declared independence from English rule. A country founded upon the promise of religious freedom has become decidedly secular. Traditional moral standards have been replaced by a situational ethic, and what was once scorned is now championed. While there is obvious concern about our present economic and debt problems, few are interested in discussing moral issues.

Continue reading “In the News: Blasphemy and Idolatry” →

We should all be careful in what we say, that we not speak harshly against God (cf. Malachi 3). When by our words we deny the power or goodness of God, we are speaking “against” God.

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