Adventures in Missing the Point

Language

Most churches frown upon the use of certain language. Sometimes they just refer to it as vulgar language or something of the sort, but it's more typically referred to as cussing, cursing, or swearing, depending upon the person or the situation. Most use the Bible to support this. But, what does the Bible really say about using certain words? Is there ever even a point where it specifically speaks about the use of certain words?

While I would say no to that very last point, don't go assuming that I am perfectly good and fine with cussing. My point is not to say that you should just go out and swear/curse/cuss all that you want. That's not at all my point. My point is to change the way that we look at this topic because so many have missed the point.

I will start off by saying that I much prefer to use cuss/cussing as opposed to the others. That's because the Bible does speak on swearing and cursing, but in completely different manners than what we would define as cussing. Swearing has to do with oaths and cursing, while having an application in relation to language, has to do with basically putting a curse on a person, or more so putting them down.

So, I would challenge anyone to come up with a place in the entire Bible that specifically speaks to certain words not being able to use. While it does speak of not using the Lord's name in vain, even condemning the use of "oh my god" completely misses the point of what using God's name in vain really means. While there may be a point as to why it's not really a good thing to say, if that's all you leave it at, you've badly missed the point. But, I'm not going to go into that now, unless someone would like that. But, my point is that there is no place in the Bible that specifically condemns the use of the words that we typically refer to as cuss words. While it could pretty easily be argued that there are at least a few of them that in the vast majority of their contexts will always be wrong, it's because of what the words say more so than the words themselves. In fact, some of the Greek/Hebrew words in the Bible come very close to being what could be considered cuss words back then, with as strong of language as they are. So, we need a new way to determine what we should and shouldn't say.

Most of what I am going to say surrounds around the idea of content over specific words. That is, what the words are actually saying as a whole over just the specific words that are being used within what is being said. I strongly believe that the Bible has much more to say about the content of our words than specific words.

Much of my point has to do with the reality that you can say much worse things not using cuss words at all than you can at times even while using cuss words. You can badly talk down to a person without using any cuss words, and you can speak in a way that could be considered helpful while using cuss words.

Again, my point is not to say that cussing is a great thing, or even a good thing. My point is that we need to reconsider the language that we are using as a whole. We fall short and fail others greatly when our whole way of using language rises and falls just upon what words are used as opposed to what the words are saying.

For example, how much worse, if at all, is it in calling someone an a-hole as opposed to telling someone that they are a no-good, useful for nothing, insignificant waste of air? While even the first one, or other negative names using cussing at a person can be used in a joking or friendly manner, they're still not the best thing to use. However, in any way telling someone that they're a waste of space of air, or whatever of that nature is just as harsh, and I would say even harsher. That is because you're basically telling someone that it would have been better for them to have never been born. You may not have used cuss words to do it, but you are still very much in the wrong. That is entirely my point.

Again, I'm not arguing for cussing. I'm not even going to sit here and argue that in some cases, being rare and wise, that cussing can be beneficial in punctuating certain points. Mostly, I just don't really care that much. My goal is to get people to start considering everything that they are saying and realizing that some terrible things are said when cussing is really the only thing that is consider that bad of language.

Ephesians gives great biblical advice for how we should speak. 4:29 states, "Let every rotten word out of your mouth not proceed, however whatever is good towards the building up of the need, in order that it might give grace to those hearing." This makes it clear that what we say should not be full of rotten words, or things that tear a person down, but instead be building up and give grace to the person we are speaking to. Again, the negative can be done through using or not using cuss words. So, we need to pay more attention to our speech as a whole not just certain specific words and getting rid of them.

Ephesians 5:4 states, "and indecent behavior and foolish or crude talk, which were not appropriate, but rather thanksgiving." This shows that it should be thanksgiving that comes from our mouth and not foolish or crude talk. I believe one of those is at times translated as "coarse joking," or something of that nature. It could pretty easily be argued from this verse that the f-word and s-word have very few contexts where they would not break this concept. Thus, they should probably never be used. However, we cannot forget at all that there are plenty of other things we can say without using either of those words or other cuss words that break this as well.

Based upon all of that, I could somewhat easily argue that cussing isn't really that bad. I could even argue that there are likely situations where the use of some may even be considered appropriate. However, I have zero desire to do that. Somewhat because I've been raised and always taught that they're bad, but mostly because it's still a huge grey area between the two. Between whether it's a good use or a bad use. It's better to just avoid them at all costs rather than try to determine when they can and can't be used.

But, as I've said multiple times, what I'm trying to argue here is that we need to watch our for our language which never uses any cuss words whatsoever. We need to be aware that what we might say may be more tearing down towards other than building up, no matter which exact words we use. The content of what the words we are saying as a whole often has more power than any of the specific words that are used within it.

I hope I made it clear what I meant. I know people could easily take parts of this out of context and miss the bigger picture of what I was trying to say. Let me know what you think. If you think I missed anything, or just plain don't agree with what I said.