Category: Profanity
Subject: Profanity
Sermon: Do We Know How to BLUSH?
God’s people need to be able to blush! Shame is a good thing, as it limits ungodly conduct, speech and appearance.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
The Patternists: Profanity
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.
Sermon: Desensitized!
Christians must be careful to not become desensitized to Sin, as we encounter it frequently in our culture.
Sermon: Using Euphemisms
The use of Euphemisms can be healthy and helpful. In fact, euphemisms are often found in scripture. However, when they are used to mask profane thoughts and ugly words, they are sinful!
Profanity
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:35-37).
This passage has many applications for us, but I would like to talk about the type of language the Christian should use, and more specifically the fact that it is sinful to use profanity.
Whether the language is scatological, euphemistic, or blasphemy against God, it is evidence of an evil heart. Profanity is so common in our day that men consider it a trifle. God does not.
If you claim to be striving to be righteous, and yet use profanity, your language betrays you. Faithful Christians don’t cuss!
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8).
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Our Caged Canary
This past week I posted a short video about the use of profanity that came as close to going “viral” as probably anything I will ever submit to Facebook. Since Tuesday the video has been viewed about 2,200 times, shared by over 50 people, and liked and commented upon in much greater numbers than typical. It seems the article touched a nerve. I thought I would reprise the general message in this article, and offer a few more thoughts.
First, note that profanity is defined by Webster as “an offensive word” or “offensive language.” Cussing has become much more common in our society. This is a symptom of the coarsening of our culture, and does not excuse the use of such words. Any individual who considers himself polite and respectful should refrain from using profanity. When speaking in “mixed company” or in the presence of those you do not know well, it is very possible that profane words will offend.
The Problem with Euphemisms
Language is a problematic thing for Christians. They find themselves, time and again, caught in sin because of their tongue. Truly James knew of what he wrote when he penned the following: “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2). Gossip, slander, idle words, profanity, taking the Lord’s name in vain — all of these corrupt fruits of the tongue cause brethren to sin. It is important we remember that “no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). If we keep a tight rein on our tongues, we can control them. But, we can never assume that we are beyond the danger of sinning with our speech.
One problem area of speech is that of exclamations. It is a natural thing when one is surprised, excited, angry or hurt to exclaim. Exclamations are the words and short phrases that we blurt out without forethought. And that is the problem, we engage our mouths without engaging our minds.
Sermon: Some Uses of the Tongue
We all can be inconsistent in speech, sometimes saying what is needful and helpful, and sometimes sinning with our tongue. This “ought not to be so” (cf. James 3:10). Some good and bad speech is discussed in the lesson.
Sins of the Tongue
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:
From the Preacher’s Pen: Respectful Conversation
Have you noticed a lack of respectful consideration in the conversations you enter? Never before in my lifetime have I witnessed raised and angry voices, profanity and innuendo as I do in the present. It is pervasive on television, in movies and, (perhaps because of the influences of the former), in the daily conversations you overhear or in which you participate.
Often, the person who is guilty is speaking with someone he doesn’t even know. He sprinkles his conversation with curses and vain repetitions, and never once considers how the listener he has just met may be offended by his speech. And it is not only men who speak this way. Increasingly we hear women and children being overtly profane in their daily conversation. On top of the corrupt speech we see insults, snideness, gossip and other offensive habits of speech. The same is true in our written conversations on Facebook, Twitter, and other types of social media.
Christians are to be the “light of the world” (cf. Matthew 5:14) in this aspect of their lives, as in any other. Paul said, “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” (Colossians 4:5-6). We would do well to remember this admonition the next time we open our mouths, take out our pen, or put our thumbs to our virtual keyboards!
In the News: A Profane Nation
I received an email a few days ago, from the Bible Questions website (biblequestions.org). They frequently send out examples of the questions and answers that are archived on the site. The question in this email was, “Why is profanity so common?”
I liked the answer given. First, it was noted that the frequency of public profanity has skyrocketed. One stat given was an 800% increase in frequency over earlier periods. Now, the survey date was not given, and the time frames were not clear, but it is obvious that profanity is heard more and more often in public. It is not only uttered by men, but also now by women and children.
Invitation: Euphemisms
Invitation delivered by: Joshua Jackson
Josh discusses the importance of grace in speech, pointing out that the use of Euphemisms (substitutes for profanity and blasphemy) are inappropriate for Christians.
You Offend Me!
I can’t count the number of times I have come across someone who freely used profanity in my presence, only to apologize upon learning that I am a preacher. While the apology is appreciated, it is also somewhat curious. First, why make an exception for a preacher? Is the denominational clergy/laity distinction really so strong in our society today that people feel a different set of rules apply when in the presence of a preacher? No such distinction exists in scripture, and it is interesting that it affects even the most profane of individuals in our culture. Second, as the offender obviously realizes that such language is inappropriate, why is he so quick to use profanity even around people he does not know? Does he think it acceptable to offend people, as long as they are not clergy? When did it become O.K. to act so offensively in public?
Sermon: Watch Your Language
A practical lesson from Dennis Scroggins, teaching the importance of purity in speech.
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
