Baptist View on Cussing; Taking the Lord's Name in Vain: and the "F..." Bomb ???

[righteousdude2]

In working on my book, I was pulling up past research from polls on other forums and I forgot to ask this Board their view on swearing and cussing. Plus, there is one additional poll that will follow, on voting.

Surprisingly, the other Christian forum I used, and this was an exceptionally liberal, open-minded group of mostly men, felt that cussing was not that much of a sin. They did object to using the Lord's name in vain, but, the "F..." bomb was not that offensive to them. However, the majority of those responding did not approve of believers using this word.

So, unless I come across another subject that I forgot I asked about, over the last 4 years (not 3years like I had thought earlier), this should be my last survey/poll of the board.

AGAIN, thank you all for your fantastic response to each poll. I received some great data, and this board has helped to keep the subject matter pretty much down the middle of the road.

although I asked for your permission to use comments, I have decided not to use comments in the book in order to keep the page count down.

Please feel free to add your opinion, BUT, don't forget to take the attached poll.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

[Alive in Christ]

To me, it is incredibly inappropiate for a redeemed, born of the Spirit, child of the living God, to....

Speak sewer language.



This ex-dope smoking, liquor drinking, adulterous lost man used to think it was sooo cool to speak sewer language.

Yet...from the instant I was born again in 1984, not...one...single....sewer language word has come from my mouth. They left my vocabulary completely.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but what is good for edification, that it might impart grace to the hearers.

 

[Alive in Christ]

accidental duplicate...

 

[HAMel]

There is Barn Yard language and there's taking the Lord's name in vain. One hurts your testimony and the other is a sin, not to mention a slap in the face of the Lord.

Those who need to rely upon such words to express their emotions are lacking in vocabulary.

 

[Amy.G]

Bless you Scarlett. :flower:
It takes guts and a humble spirit to confess to sin on a public forum or anywhere else. I too let things come out of my mouth that I shouldn't. I'll be so glad when we shed this earthly sin infested flesh and then and only then will I be totally pleasing to my Lord.

 

[saturneptune]

Surprisingly, the other Christian forum I used, and this was an exceptionally liberal, open-minded group of mostly men, felt that cussing was not that much of a sin. They did object to using the Lord's name in vain, but, the "F..." bomb was not that offensive to them. However, the majority of those responding did not approve of believers using this word.

Please feel free to add your opinion, BUT, don't forget to take the attached poll.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

I had a real problem with the curse words in the Navy. They have no place in the Christian walk. One can get so wrapped up in them that they just become regular words. A person who is born again, if he or she does slip, knows instantly that the word was wrong. The only other comment I have is that taking the Lord's name in vain or mixing a curse word with any term used for the Lord, is to me much more offensive than people who curse.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Taking God's name in vain is vile. But it is not "cussing".

Cussing uses language that predates Anglo-Saxon. It was the "folk" language of the British Isles prior to the Germanic and later the French invasion that has shaped our language so much.

These were still commonly used words 150 years ago, until the genteel changes of Queen Victoria. Then they became slang and considered language of the lower class or cuss words.

So oddly enough English has 3 words for many things. Folk, Germanic and French/Latin. (The Germanic invasion labeled them as "folk", a 4-letter word that was a play on how the vocabulary sounded)

The folk words are "short" and "sharp". We use a bunch that are not 4-letter still today in our vocabulary. We call a male deer a "buck", not a hart or a stag. We see trees that are "oak", "elm" or "ash". We use "kingly" as well as royal or regal. We will not list the scatalogical or bodily function words, but those are the ones oft considered "cussing".

 

[SaggyWoman]

Some people get more upset about Christians cussing than they do about the lost dying and going to hell.

 

[Jon-Marc]

I consider the use of God or Jesus Christ as profanity to be the most offensive, and I've deleted many recorded TV shows because of those without watching them. The "F" word runs a very close second as an offensive word in my opinion--very vulgar. In my opinion, any use of profanity shows a weak will a limited vocabulary.

I do not consider profanity to be an "adult language". I consider it to be a very immature language--needed only by those who lack the vocabulary to hold up their end of a conversation intelligently without injecting offensive words and terms to fill in where they lack the words.

I was 16 (and not yet a Christian) when I realized that I could turn profanity on and off at will, and I decided to turn it off entirely and haven't used one word of profanity since then. It's all a matter will and having the vocabulary where such words are no longer needed. As a Christian, it's a matter of letting God be in control.

 

[Martin]

Before I was a Christian, during my teenage years, I went through a period where I cussed like a sailor. That passed and years later I became a Christian. I don't "cuss", but I have caught myself using terms like "crap" or "doughnuts" (I think those terms used in frustration are just as bad). A problem I am working to correct.

 

[Bob Alkire]

I think a lot of cussing or any other bad habit we have, has to do with how one was raised, what our parents put a lot of pressure on.

Cussing wasn't a problem, because I didn't like being slapped every time I did it or my family found out from some one that I had.

I still don't cuss or cut in when someone is speaking and will stop speaking when you cut in on me when I'm speaking the first time and on the second time I try and walk away.

My problem was until I was saved was I would tell a person I heard all I wish to hear on the subject or we will need to just disagree or take your hand off me and by the third time of telling you I try and walk away and it the person kept trying to keep it going, I would put them on their rear, never any problem with that person on that subject again. How ever Christians say my old way is wrong and I have to agree, but we will use words and try and to the same thing and discredit the Christian we disagree with. I don't believe either way is correct.

 

[righteousdude2]

Good Stuff, so far...

I appreciate the honesty coming forth from those on this board.

To quote 1 John 1:-10 - "If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]."

I don't cuss like a drunken sailor. And, I'm not even close to being in the same class of a sober sailor. Still, there are times, that my flesh gets the best of me, like when I slam the hammer on my thumb; get cut off by another driver who carelessly and recklessly cuts me off, while putting my life and safety at risk; or, in a moment of anger (itself a sin): etc.

I think you all get the point... so, like John wrote, I am one of those who could "never" tell the Body of christ that I am without sin, and, like John, I am forever grateful that I have an advocate who stands waiting for my remorse and those ever so important words of repentance, so He can "freely" apply the blood.

Will I never be totally free of the flesh ?!?!? Like Amy G., I look forward to the new life and body, in order to be "totally" pleasing to my Lord and Savior.

Am I using the flesh as an excuse to continue to sin, God forbid !!! I'm simply a realist, because, I know that I'm not perfect (not yet), just forgiven!!!

Keep those comments coming. I have appreciated your candid responses, as it shows that you have nothing to hide from your brothers and sisters, nothing that God doesn't already know about you... :thumbs:

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

[Jon-Marc]

I agree with Bob. Probably the main reason profanity was never a big part of my vocabulary is because my parents didn't cuss. My mother would sometimes use some colorful words, but nothing that could be called profanity.

 

[jaigner]

Some people get more upset about Christians cussing than they do about the lost dying and going to hell.

Yes. I think that is a grievous misplacement of priority.