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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Nearly everyone curses today - from farmers to factory workers, truckers to restaurant employees; medical personnel and insurance salesmen, teachers, lawyers and judges; politicians, our Vice President and most recently our President. (I daresay even some preachers excuse and indulge in such.) Many Christians do; if not in public then in private, especially if they get really angry. In fact, we seem to have established a standard for cursing; it’s not permissible at this time and place but almost expected in another set of circumstances.
When are you most tempted to curse? When you do, does it make you appear more attractive, well-spoken and in control? In fact, usually just the opposite is true when we are crude and disrespectful. Many have commented on the coarseness of our society today and while that is true, in reality people have always cursed. So what’s the problem? First off, an outer crudity and coarseness can be and often is an indicator of an inner condition, one that as Christians we are warned not to participate in. "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." James 1:26 Conversely, the man who maintains control of the words he uses is said to be able to control all his actions. (James 3:2)
Why? Because the emotions we express verbally often show us to be much less than what we are expected to be by no less than God himself. Many times we curse out of frustration and anger - displaying an utter disregard for the people we are cursing. Again, James deals with this specifically, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." Again, why? "…for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19,20 In fact, Jesus warned that the words of scorn or unconcern we direct at others will bring us under judgment. (Matthew 5:21,22) Why? How can you witness to people you feel such little regard for and treat in such a way?
Today we have become so used to the foulness of language that we curse for joy as well as when we are disappointed or upset. This shows the progression of what was once considered unacceptable behavior except for "extreme" circumstances graduating from the back alley into the main stream. That’s exactly what’s wrong with just a "little cursing" (or any other "little" sin), which turns into a little more; ultimately indulged in much of the time in most any situation. Now - what’s happened to your witness? How are you any different from anybody else? The very person who may be looking to you for direction (even in an off-hand way) may be utterly disappointed and turn away from God because of what you say. Be assured that I’m not saying anyone who has ever cursed or is struggling with the habit now is hell-bound. But what standard are we striving to attain? So what if someone else does it - or if everyone else does it? Each of us will be judged by how well we represent God to the world, not on what someone else does or doesn’t do.
Scripture discusses the difficulty of taming the tongue. "…the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person (if we let it), sets the whole course of his life on fire,... All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man (on his own) can tame the tongue... (Let’s remember though that, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." Luke 18:27) For, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." James 3:3-10
What is cursing - really? Well, Exodus 20:7, and 22:28 talk about not misusing or blaspheming God’s name. Is that it? Paul says that we must rid ourselves of such things as anger, malice, and filthy language. Colossians 3:8 And in writing to a young person of faith, set the standard of behavior for him when he says, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Our mouths often act as not only an outlet to our emotions but reveal the motivation of our hearts as well. Our words express who we are. That’s why what we expose our minds to and what we store up in our hearts is so important. For, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) What we say may not reveal us in our entirety but can certainly be a barometer of spiritual maturity and discipline. Jesus, in discussing the things that dirty our lives said, "Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him (clean or) ‘unclean.’" (see Mark 7:6-23) In fact, He declared that, "…men will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36,37
If we need to further verify the importance our words possess we can find it in Proverbs 18:21. "The tongue has the power of life and death." Say again?! Absolutely. We can encourage or demoralize, build up or tear down, compliment and insult, be cruel, crude and rude; or we can show love, concern, witness and save. What awesome - frightening power in the words of our mouth; something we rarely give much consideration to.
Many still ask for a word-for-word description of cursing; hoping as long as they don’t use the Lord’s name in vain they’re alright. Does the Bible define anything else as cursing?’ I believe it does. "Do not allow any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,..." Ephesians 4:29 "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place." Ephesians 5:4 Now, if you want unwholesome talk, filthy language, obscenity and coarse joking strictly defined - forget it. Scripture really can’t be much more explicit without listing all the "bad" words for you, and that’s not necessary. Everyone of us is smart enough to know the difference and abide by what the Bible says if we want to.
So what’s the cure for those who have already developed a habit of cursing? (A difficult one to break as it becomes a part of who we are and how we automatically express ourselves.) A committed resolve to stop, grounded in a genuine desire to be different; God’s word shielding us from the temptation to be like everybody else. The Psalmist set the pattern when he declared, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you." That the "…words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart may be pleasing in your sight,…" Psalm 119:11 and Psalm 19:14
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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