Before doing this Bible study, please read the one-minute introduction: Wholesome Speech: Shining Like Stars in Our Fallen Culture. It talks about the importance of representing Christ in our speech, refusing to use profanity even though it's widely accepted by culture.
If you google the psychology behind cursing or cussing, you'll find that many sources claim it's a positive thing, relieving stress, dulling pain, and increasing camaraderie among friends. We shouldn't be surprised. Our world always has and always will find ways to affirm sinful choices.
And it's no surprise that profanity is universal. In every language profanity involves using a deity's name in vain or using crude language associated with body functions.
Sadly, many Christians have decided the profanity is fine as long as they don't take the Lord's name in vain violating the commandment in Exodus 20:7.
So let's look at God's opinion about profanity:
Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
The Greek word translated "unwholesome" is defined as something rotten, useless, corrupt, or depraved.
And notice the verse immediately following verse 29:
Ephesian 4:30: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
When we use unwholesome words we grieve the Holy Spirit.
2. Additional Guidelines for Speech.
2. Additional Guidelines for Speech.
Ephesians contains a number of pertinent passages about our speech.
Ephesians 5:4,11-12: 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]... 11Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret. (AMP)
Ephesians 5:4,11-12: 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]... 11Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret. (AMP)
Christians aren't meant to be sour and humorless. We're supposed to have a merry heart (Proverbs 17:22) but our enjoyment should be clean and wholesome.
copyright 2014, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2023
I was just thinking, that often children not of God curse in anger, and anger often replaces sadness, and hurt. Basically, many times you see someone angry, it's sadness manifested as anger.
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