An excellent lecture on this very subject can be found here:

http://www.mckenziestudycenter.org/audio/?audser=108

Audio file #26 “Language and Appearance.” The first 30 minutes addresses swearing and it’s the best, most articulate, most sane and, not least of all, most biblical argument I’ve ever heard delivered on the topic.

The rest of it is also good. It’s on another subject entirely (appearance/dress) but it’s still worth hearing.

Thank you. God bless.

Well, I think the best advice I ever received from a pastor of a church I attended years ago was “be above reproach, do not be the reason someone else falls”. We are human & the occasional slip up is quite possible. However, if Jesus is truly the center of your life you should be trying to be as much like him as possible, as this is what we are called to do. Often times I hear non-believers say Christians are no different than anyone else, they are gettin drunk & having affairs just like anyone else. It is our job as true Christian, to be Godly examples, so that others can see there is a difference. So if you are cursing along with your co-workers or throwing back a few beers at the local bar, are you truly being an example of Christ? We are called to live in the world, but not be of the world. Dare to stand out as Jesus did!

Yup, I think that it is the motive behind it. In all honesty, we should have so much guard over our mouths that we say nothing at all when offended or hurt. We are not to say the Lord’s name in vain ever, under no circumstances, but isn’t “Gosh” just replacing the “d” with “sh”? It still means the same thing, (but at least it’s a step in the right direction, if not the right thing.)
It is our mouth that defiles us, and since that is the case we should be worried about a lot more than just a four letter word with an exclaimation mark every once-in-a-while. We always need to watch our tongues.

My two cents…

I had a friend (actually a coworker who lead me to Christ) who was a severe Baptist. He never said any of the words that he should not say. But when anyone would do something he didn’t like, he would refer to them as “a stinkin’ moron” with such venom, I always thought he should just use the words he said he would never use. It made me realize that it’s the thought that counts. I might say “Aw sh__!” when I stub my toe without sinning mentally or having a wrong attitude. Admit it… toes can be sensitive!! On the other hand I can use G-Rated words to commit character assassination, or belittle someone. I think it’s the attitude that counts.

My wife’s roommate when we were dating (a great Christian gal) was famous for saying: “Cursing isn’t sinful, it’s just rude!” I agree with that…too many people use foul language as away of getting attention or just being over the top. That’s rude! If you have strong feelings, use strong language to make your point. Just make sure that your attitude is in line first, and remember that it is sinful to cause another to stumble when you exercise your freedom.

–Brian

It’s strange that may church people will never dream of using crude language, but have no problem with loose screws outside marriage. O sherbet I cussed! A thousand apologies.

Talk about straining out the knat and swallowing the camel!

hmm….. interesting, but it shows also how hard it is to avoid saying something that may offend “someone”. I thought from th e reaction that he must have “dropped the F-Bomb” or something similar, instead he apparently described God as occasionally “kicking our a _ _” when we are disobedient. I don’t think I would have batted an eye if I had been present and definitely would not have thought he needed to apologize.

Another article on this subject, giving it a scholarly (and also humorous) approach.

http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=3055