
Today I guess I will talk a bit about that because I can do it quickly and easily (I'm at a laptop in class now and I don't feel like typing if I can use my ScanMarker later to quickly do notes) ...and if you have been on the website, lately I'm sure you can understand why I have been dying for a "shorter" post sometime soon anyway.
I get that its a random topic but bear with me I'm mostly going to let you think through this on your own :)
In middle school I overheard an argument between two kids where the one said the Bible said "no cursing" and another kid was like "I dont believe it". I intervened with a bit of Scripture but I dont thing the second kid was really buying the KJV words. Here is what the Bible says, I'll let you have it too:
- James 3: 9-12 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
- Colossians 3: 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
- Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
- Psalm 10: -8 (of the proud and wicked) His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
- Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers .
- James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
- Luke 6:43-46 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
- 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- Titus 2: 7-8 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you
- Exodus 20: 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain
- Psalm 109: 16-17 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart. As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
- 1 Peter 3:10-11 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
- Matthew 5: 21-22 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Jesus made a big deal about loving others. Calling them a...
- *insert noun* or a
- *insert verb-ing noun* or to
- go to *insert place* or
- yelling *insert verb* you or any other sexual and disturbing vocab or
- just you know *insert four letter word or your choice* for no good reason or
- *insert hand gesture*
...doesnt really help us out any. In fact, it makes us look like hypocrites and gives us a bad name. Instead of pointing any sort of glory to God, it sounds hurtful, mean, and like we have anger or hatred stored up in our heart to speak that way. (Which I bet curse-y people do and *hugs* and sorry for having to deal with that burden so frequently)
But when I say that, someone says "Oh, why so serious?" and "Dont be one of those. Its okay now. Its cool to curse in our advanced day and age. Communication skills-- seriously, Kate!" well, Kate: *sighs*
The fact is, that we are supposed to be serious about our faith. The point is not to fit in with everyone else! Let them think we are legalistic or crude until we are able to show them what Christianity is really all about and if we lose friends in the process... then what sort of friends have we made? Cursing is not, actually, a necessary thing, whether you are a teacher or student or whoever else I have come across recently.
Just ask Jesus. Just look at all the writers I just mentioned ^^^ and God who inspired it to be talked about soooo many times in the Bible. Perhaps there is a reason to the madness.
Just ask that kid who sits in your Sunday School class *raises hand* who has worked hard to stop the habit of cursing and youre not helping!! because temptation is a hard thing to battle! There is a verse for that too that y'all need to cut it out.
What is profanity in the first place? The word profane originally identified people or things that were secular as opposed to religious. Using God's name carelessly, for example, is profane because it ignores the Biblical truth. Also God promotes equality and calling a certain group of people *insert word that starts with n* both insults and dehumanizes them.... and makes it seem like the rest of us are any better: Lies! Lies!
I'm not going to go into the differences between profanity, vulgarity, obscenity, etc but in essence, when you go for a job interview, you are told to be polite and positive. Ive never had an interview but I can only imagine that cursing someone out would not set you off on the right foot. Its not professional or really adding much value to the environment.
This, simply is because the tongue tells a lot about a person and can be really powerful to persuade someone, destroy someone, etc.
There was a time I went from not knowing these words to a phase where I was hurt and confused and quite the prolific (is that the right word?) curser. I dont want to suggest that I am perfect, but I do want to say that from my experience the sooner you break the habit the better.
In other words, if you are busy tearing others down, you might need to check your priorities and check for "pollution" in your heart.