The much of the following was written in response to a young woman’s post about Profanity.

As an older sister in Christ, I must be a Titus 2 woman and share. I just would like you to look at the wider implications of your thoughts.

“In my opinion, profanity is just another form of control.”

When your thoughts that cursing is not wrong are based on your opinion then how is it any different from the opinion of others that cursing is wrong for a Christian? You have just made a decision on opinion verses the Scripture.

When did control become a negative idea?

Ex 32:25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. NIV

Prov 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. NIV

Rom 6:20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. NIV

Phil 3:20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. NIV

We are all under control; we are either under the control of Christ, the control of Satan or under the control of our fleshly desires.

I agree that we don’t have to measure up to a standard that is different than Scripture, but we must attempt to measure up to Scripture through God’s grace and with the Holy Spirit’s help.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. KJV

Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. KJV

There are multitudes of profane words and expressions that use the Lord’s name in vain against the third commandment. My studies also show me that misrepresenting the Lord and His character is also using the Lord’s name in vain. But I think you would agree with that also.

There is not a difference in the foul words you listed; they are all crude and unnecessary words, there are much better choices. They may not be profane, but they are cursing. They are also not the best choices of words to communicate.

Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. KJV

Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God]. AMP

Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. KJV

Your definition part 2 applies here.

2 : to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use

Vulgar means rude, crude, offensive, improper and common.

Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. KJV

Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. KJV

Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. NIV

Ps 139:24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. NIV

Eph 5:3-6
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. a 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. NIV

Notice that sexual immorality, impurity and obscenity are listed as improper and out of place.

Prov 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. KJV

1 Peter 2:13-17
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. KJV

We are to honor all men. No one would ever be offended if you do not curse, however, there are plenty of people who would be offended to hear cursing. Even non-Christians are shocked when a person who claims to be a Christian curses. As Christians, we should never be an offense or a stumbling block to others no matter what our thoughts about our Christian liberty.

James 3:5-11
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set
on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? KJV

2 Tim 3:1-5
1 There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV

2 Peter 1:5-7
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. NIV

How is cursing beneficial or expedient?
How does it edify?
Does cursing have a hold on you?
Can you not curse?
Or is that just the natural fleshly response to a problem?

I pray that you will truly study the issue and see the full context of how a Christian should speak. If the tongue is an “unruly evil” as God says then He also gave us plenty of information about how we should use our words.

As a pilgrim in a foreign land should our language also not give evidence of being a foreigner instead of fitting in?

As a an older woman I encourage you to research the matter more fully.

Titus 2:3-8
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 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. KJV

Matt 12:34-37
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. KJV

We will be judged by all our words, every idle word. If our words do not encourage, rebuke or teach they are idle. Cursing does not fit that description.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. KJV

There are so many verses that mention our speech, speaking and our tongues that I think if you were to research the matter, seriously, you would see that profanity does not fit God’s instructions for us as Ladies or as Christians.

The list of words others might would say are curse words varies but here in my house words such as dang, darn, and oh, my gosh are considered “curse” words and unedifying. Any word that comes out of our mouths in anger or frustration is really an unwholesome “curse” word.

Why did I post about this?

Well, Steve Camp posted about Paul Tripp’s upcoming Conference with John Piper in his post:
PAUL TRIPP-ING – HE REALLY LIKES TO SAY THE “S” WORD…has Piper lost his mind or just forgotten his Bible?

There are many good thoughts and comments here about the impropriety of using such language. Although I feel that some of Camp’s name calling isn’t much better.

The preacher Mark Driscoll is often referred to as the “cussing pastor.” Thankfully, I’ve never heard him nor have I heard cursing from the pulpit. Yet I have noticed an increasing crudity and dishonorable speech from the pulpit. Things that make me cringe, and I’m not talking about over my sin but in the language and the “culturally relevant imagery.”