My friend Roger and I spent Saturday shooting pictures throughout Walt Disney World capturing what seemed to be true instances of happiness. However temporary, it was obvious many Disney guests were having a great time enjoying their vacation or simply taking time off from a hectic lifestyle. Then there was Brandy and Lesley…
Both gals in their early twenties, blessed with outer beauty yet cursed with spiritual death. Highly intoxicated by alcohol, Brandy and Lesley stood in a designated smoking area at EPCOT’s World Showcase, the only Disney theme park where beer and wine flows generously. Roger also stood among the smokers enjoying one of what should turn out to be his last cigarettes seeing how he’s decided to quit smoking. He felt compelled to pull me into their conversation where I was amazed by the girls’ use of profanity.
Over the next ten minutes, my efforts to witness to both young women seemed to bear no fruit other than insults to my and Roger’s faith in Christ. As I attempted to investigate each woman further, I was reminded of my own youth and faced with the fact I would have probably reacted the same way if someone had criticized my use of profanity way back when.
Sharing scripturemade them giggle, offering prayer had them laughing. The cussing continued and eventually became simply overwhelming. As Roger and I walked away, I was reminded of scripture from Matthew and Luke’s gospels...
“And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14)
Hoping we had planted or nurtured a seed, Roger and I continued our quest for photographic glory however, we admitted to each other our animated discussion with both young rebels shook us up a little. As Christians, we just couldn’t help but hurt for anyone refusing a relationship with the Lord!
What does the bible say about cursing? Quick research delivered many verses on this topic: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:11)
Also in Matthew, the bible reads “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” (Matthew 15:17-20)
Jesus taught in the Bible that when a man curses or uses profanity it is a sign of evil that was in that man’s heart. It is popular today for both men and women to curse. No one ever thinks of it as an evil condition, but rather something that everyone does. These small words of cursing the Bible says, will defile the whole man if they are not repented of and stopped. Cussing and using the name of the Lord in vain will not only cause one to draw away from Christ, it is at the root of most verbal abuse against Christians and children.
Popular movies and TV are responsible for causing society to accept foul language as the “norm”. They portray cursing as a way to vent anger and tell people off. The very attitudes behind cursing show that it is not right as cussing is used to demean others. Cursing words vary from mild expletives to horrible blasphemies. Since the devil is the one who inspires these evil utterances he causes people to use our Lord’s name in the most ungodly ways.
Even Christians have been tricked into using bad expressions when they are upset. They are takeoffs of the Lord’s names such as: “Geeze” or “Jes” (short for Jesus), “Good Gosh”, “Gosh Darn”, “Lordy”. This is known as “shoot cussin”. However, it is clear adults nor children should use bad language if we are to be like our Lord. As Christians, we are commanded to avoid using curse words to emphasize our intentions.
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (Colosians 3:8)
If swearing and cursing have been a problem in your life ask the Lord to forgive you and deliver you so that your words may be good and loving words full of grace and truth. He will help you overcome this problem through His power.
Then continue to seek the Lord through His word the bible… Here are two of my favorite verses about cursing:
“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 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. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:34-36)
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
With this in mind, beware the words you use and remember God is always listening. Trust your heart but mind your tongue.
Let’s pray.
Father God;
We thank you for your blessings in our lives
For your love, your forgiveness, your grace.
Lord we pray you will continue to inspire us
To search within and keep refining ourselves,
So that we may continue to live out
Your plan for our lives on earth.
Father we ask that you continue strengthening us
To seek, know and trust your word the bible
And drive us to be more like you and follow in your footsteps,
And reflect this in all the words we speak each and every day.
Lord we pray for your guidance, that you show us the path
We need to take so that we may rejoice with you in heaven .
God we thank you for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
