“…the tongue is a little part of the body and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles. The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. The tongue is among the parts of the body, defiling the whole body, and setting the course of nature on fire, and it is set on fire by hell.
…With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (rf. James 3:5–6, 9-10 MEV)
We live in a day when all manner of profanity and the use of it has become popular. It used to be in the bygone years of my youth when certain words were taboo, definitely not socially acceptable, words you assuredly would not use in the presence of the fairer sex. Now all such perceived boundaries have disappeared as any conceivable “bad word” is bandied about in every form of media.
What amazes me even more is the use of these profane words by professed Christians. There seems to be, especially among those of the younger generations, virtually no inhibitions about dropping the “f-bomb” in casual conversation. Such terminology in days past would have not only been offensive to those within hearing, but also would have been perceived as a terrible tribute to low levels of understanding and the general lack of education in formal social graces relating to the speaker.
It is easy to recognize the overall downward slide of our culture and society. Such a plunge into the polluted language abyss is expected. However, for the Christian community to follow suit is unimaginable, especially with so many passages in Scripture that speak to how Christians are to address and to act toward others. Here are but a few to consider:
“You shall not defile My holy name (as in using God’s Name wrongly, profanely and in ways that dishonor Him), but I will be sanctified among the children of Israel: I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (rf. Lev. 22:32).
“And do not let sexual immorality, or any impurity (which is not only action but language as well), or greed be named among you, as these are not proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse joking, (giving examples of what “impurity” in language is like, using profane words, jokes, etc.) which are not fitting. Instead, give thanks. For this you know, that no sexually immoral or impure person, or one who is greedy, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (rf. Eph. 5:3-5).
Our use of words is powerful as the initial text from James specifies. We can either build up or tear down with our words. If we are “in Christ” as the Apostle Paul terms being saved, we should be using our mouths to cultivate the good of others and God’s glory as a testimony of His reality in our lives. It is by our use of language that shows that we are different from the rest of the world. If we use words and attitudes that please the Lord, exhibiting His love to others, then we will by nature be “separate” as Paul admonishes us to be:
“As God has said: ‘I will live in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate’, says the Lord (rf. II Corinthians 6:16-17a).
My encouragement to us all as followers of Jesus is to watch closely what we say and how we say it. Let us not fall prey to using the language of the world and society just because it is popular. It is a much more powerful witness to be different than to endeavor to “fit in”. Nothing good can come from compromising our values and the truth of God’s Word. Let our words be a fitting compliment to the faith that we hold so dearly.
