Is it a sin to use profanity ?

[RaceBoy]

I've wondered for a while now if profanity/cursing is a sin. We hear it all the time in real life and on tv, but is it actually a sin ?
I've read some verses that somewhat imply it in a certain context. But I haven't seen any straightforward answer anywhere. And if cursing is a sin, then is it a major one (killing unjustly, sexual sin, etc.) or a minor one (worrying, etc), because if its a major sin then we would all be screwed.

 

[Magenta]

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is
helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

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.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always in grace, having been
seasoned with salt, to know how it behooves you to answer each one.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

 

[JohnDB]

I've wondered for a while now if profanity/cursing is a sin. We hear it all the time in real life and on tv, but is it actually a sin ?
I've read some verses that somewhat imply it in a certain context. But I haven't seen any straightforward answer anywhere. And if cursing is a sin, then is it a major one (killing unjustly, sexual sin, etc.) or a minor one (worrying, etc), because if its a major sin then we would all be screwed.

All I can honestly tell you is my experience. And it wasn't a positive one.
I once removed all the curse words from my vocabulary...focused hard on it to to clean up my speech.
BUT
I found myself being a jerk by making cutting remarks and belittling others.
It was worse...

For out of the abundance of your heart flows what is there....

Look....
Using salty language demonstrates your lower intelligence by a lack of vocabulary and ability to talk without coarse language. Develop new ways of saying things. Use your head.

Less is more when cussing....

BUT

I hold the distinction at my church as being the only one to cuss in the senior pastor's office but I wasn't cussing at him. (I lost my balance on a ladder after getting bit by electricity)

Everyone still laughs at me about it today too....I'm never going to live it down.

 

[kaylagrl]

All I can honestly tell you is my experience. And it wasn't a positive one.
I once removed all the curse words from my vocabulary...focused hard on it to to clean up my speech.
BUT
I found myself being a jerk by making cutting remarks and belittling others.
It was worse...

For out of the abundance of your heart flows what is there....

Look....
Using salty language demonstrates your lower intelligence by a lack of vocabulary and ability to talk without coarse language. Develop new ways of saying things. Use your head.

Less is more when cussing....

BUT

I hold the distinction at my church as being the only one to cuss in the senior pastor's office but I wasn't cussing at him. (I lost my balance on a ladder after getting bit by electricity)

Everyone still laughs at me about it today too....I'm never going to live it down.

Oh boy!! lol I love the honesty in that story. I recall my uncle use to work at the church campground. It had a huge dining room. One day he was working on fixing something and was under a table. When he got up he slammed his head and without thinking something ornery came flying out of his mouth, in the crowded dining room. rofl Sometimes it slips out. But I agree, it's something we need to avoid doing. Read Shakespeare, he was good with language and insults.

 

[JohnDB]

Oh boy!! lol I love the honesty in that story. I recall my uncle use to work at the church campground. It had a huge dining room. One day he was working on fixing something and was under a table. When he got up he slammed his head and without thinking something ornery came flying out of his mouth, in the crowded dining room. rofl Sometimes it slips out. But I agree, it's something we need to avoid doing. Read Shakespeare, he was good with language and insults.

Well... when Jesus told the Priests, Pharisees and Scribes they were a "Brood of Vipers" it definitely got him out of the running for "Rabbi of the Year" award.
It was an equivalent of something akin to the "F-Bomb".
Language is subjective and transitory.

 

[Deuteronomy]

I've wondered for a while now if profanity/cursing is a sin. We hear it all the time in real life and on tv, but is it actually a sin ? I've read some verses that somewhat imply it in a certain context. But I haven't seen any straightforward answer anywhere. And if cursing is a sin, then is it a major one (killing unjustly, sexual sin, etc.) or a minor one (worrying, etc), because if its a major sin then we would all be screwed.

Hello RaceBoy, as you have already seen from the Scripture verses that @Magenta's posited for us, profanity should be considered a sin (in almost every case). Here's another passage to consider too (with several commands that come with a very serious consequence, if disobedience to them is what characterizes a person's life, that is).

Ephesians 5​

1 Be imitators of God, as beloved children;​

2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.​

3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;​

4 and ~there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.~​

5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.​

There are a few cases when I do not believe that the use of profanity is sinful, just like there are certain cases when I do not believe that lying is sinful, but these ALWAYS involve necessary reactions to certain, sinful/criminal behaviors, by people who,

1. do not deserve the truth (because we know that they would use it to hurt us or to hurt others if they knew it .. for instance, I do not believe that Corrie ten Boom sinned when she lied to the Nazi's to protect the Jews who were hiding in her house), or those who,​

​

2. need to understand clearly that we will neither condone nor suffer/sit idly by when they are attempting to harm us, or someone else (I'm referring to the kind of people who hurt others as criminals, people who never hear anything from their victims unless it is heavily laced with profanity, no matter how loudly their victim/victims may be screaming at them).​

​

Apart from those two kinds of criminal behaviors, closely following the dictates of Ephesians 4:29 should keep any Christian free from sin whenever he/she speaks

Ephesians 4​

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.​

God bless you!

~Deut
p.s. - here is something that Amy Carmichael, missionary to the people/children of India, had to say about this.

​

 

[Deuteronomy]

Just FYI, I will vote "yes" in the poll (even though I named one situation where I do not believe profanity is a sin, in the middle of post #6
above) because typically/normally/99% of the time, etc., profanity is sinful according to the Bible.

~Deut

James 3
6 The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
​

 

[RaceBoy]

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is
helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

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.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always in grace, having been
seasoned with salt, to know how it behooves you to answer each one.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Those are the verses that seem to imply it without actually saying its a sin. Rather it seems more like a recommendation not to use "un nice" language but does not specifically call cursing a sin.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Those are the verses that seem to imply it without actually saying its a sin. Rather it seems more like a recommendation not to use "un nice" language but does not specifically call cursing a sin.

Hello RaceBoy, these commandments do not tell us that breaking them is sinful (actually, #3 does indirectly, because God includes a consequence in Exodus 20:7 for doing so), so are they just recommendations not to act in an "un nice" manner too?

How do we know

Thanks

~Deut

​

​

 

[RaceBoy]

Hello RaceBoy, these commandments do not tell us that breaking them is sinful (actually, #3 does indirectly, because God includes a consequence in Exodus 20:7 for doing so), so are they just recommendations not to act in an "un nice" manner too?

How do we know

Thanks

~Deut

​

​

No as these are straight forward. Not only has God repeatedly upheld these, some of these are also implanted in our conscience and are found (in a different context) in the law today.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hi @RaceBoy, the opening of Ephesians 4:29, "let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth......." seems a pretty straightforward command to me, especially since the balance of that verse goes on to explain what the command means/how to obey it, etc.

As far as profanity being proclaimed as something that is sinful in other parts of the Bible, consider again what is said in Ephesians 5:1-5 about it (see post #6 above) and/or look at the Decalogue's Commandment #3 again and what its written consequence is for those who disobey it.

Finally, there have always been secular/civil laws on the books concerning the public use of profanity, some that even make exceptions to the free speech protections that have been secured for us by the First Amendment.

So it seems to me that what you said regarding the Commandments in the Decalogue is just as true for the commands that I posited concerning profanity in other parts of the Bible.

*(I am happy to agree to disagree with you about all of this, just FYI ).

~Deut

 

[MatthewWestfieldUK]

Natural stress relief, there is a time and place

 

[brighthouse98]

Eph 4:29-32 has your answer. Now some people may say Jesus himself used bad language, lol ( Matt 23:13-17) This sure was not graceful to them was it?? LOL However Truth is more important at least to me rather then grace. HOWEVER we should at all times practice Eph 4:29-32!!

I am blunt,but the Lord has tempered, my words and he will yours as long as we choose to work on hearing more before speaking.Think twice before we speak once!! Takes practice, but Holy Spirit was help you!! Is it a sin though?

Well lets put it this way,it sure does not help your witness does it?? So just work on it and remember be led by Holy Spirit rather then your feeling( Rom 8:14-15) Since Holy Spirit helped me get over my bad language he sure can for you as well!! Blessing!! Stay in his Word!!!! That to me was key to overcoming in this area of my life!!

 

[RaceBoy]

let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.......

To be fair, I'm sure there are lots of words that could be considered "unwholesome" so i don't think that's speaking of profanity alone.

 

[Deuteronomy]

To be fair, I'm sure there are lots of words that could be considered "unwholesome" so i don't think that's speaking of profanity alone.

True, but considering all of the various meanings of the Greek word (σαπρός//sapros) (that is translated as "unwholesome" in v29), profane words would hardly be excluded

As I already said, let your speech be governed by ~all~ of the dictates that are found in Ephesians 4:29 (see below) and you will never need to ask the Lord, or anyone else, to forgive you for using inappropriate/unwholesome words

God bless you!

~Deut
p.s. - if you're looking for Biblical examples telling us that profanity is sinful, consider again the consequences of such behavior in passages like Ephesians 5:1-5 (remembering too that the ONLY Commandment that includes a written promise/threat of punishment for disobeying it, within the Decalogue itself, involves the use of profanity .. Commandment #3/Exodus 20:7).

Exodus 20​

7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.​

​

Ephesians 4​

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.​

​

Ephesians 5​

1 Be imitators of God, as beloved children; ​

2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.​

3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; ​

4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ​

5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.​

​

 

[tourist]

I read somewhere that those who swear constantly as part of their vocabulary have unsophisticated minds.

 

[Pureness]

Yes, but than again no sin is better than the next one.

 

[Moses_Young]

I've wondered for a while now if profanity/cursing is a sin. We hear it all the time in real life and on tv, but is it actually a sin ?
I've read some verses that somewhat imply it in a certain context. But I haven't seen any straightforward answer anywhere. And if cursing is a sin, then is it a major one (killing unjustly, sexual sin, etc.) or a minor one (worrying, etc), because if its a major sin then we would all be screwed.

It surely depends on how you define profanity? If we today called someone a bastard, or a devil's spawn, or even a dirty foreigner, some may take offense and claim it's profanity. But such terms are from the bible, and clearly not sin in the context used there.

1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

Isaiah 57:3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

 

[Latitude01]

It's all in the intention and not in the words. The disciples probably weren't the finest of people if they were fishermen... probably their language wasn't the purest... I don't think Jesus dwelled on it either... It's superfluous.

 

[aeb2000]

Above all, it is always a sin to take God's name in vain.

As for other curse words, my question is why would you say those things in the first place? What makes you think that you need to ask yourself the question of whether or not it's right? As Christians, we're supposed to speak words that glorify God. Using language that is coarse, dirty, abased, is definitely not our best attempt at doing that..