There are many peoplein my faith community and other spheres of life where I can drop the F bomv and it is not a sin for me nor them. Words have power and taboo words especially carry emotive power. But there are also many, many people that I would never cuss in conversation with them. It would offend them and be insensitive on my part. That would be my sin to disrespect their convictions.

Jesus, for me, is not offended with my language. I freely use foul language in prayer. F bombs and other four-letter words may be uncouth and gutter talk, but sometimes it’s all I got. And the Lord apparently is listening more to the unspoken words hidden inside of that cave of a heart of mine than the words that find the light of day.

Thems are my effin’ thoughts…..

I also noticed that some of you were all about typing out the scriptures. Listen I can type out scripture all day long, for real I just spent four and half years of my life at a Christian College. That does not mean I am smarter than anybody but i am practicule. If you dont really study the God Breathed inspired word of God you will take many versus out of text. If your going to post scripture understand the issues and culture of the time that was being addressed. Pretty much do your research.

The fact of the matter is what it comes down to with this petty topic is that of personal conviction. And I recall reading about pushing your personal conviction on people, oh yeah that whole part about loving people and discipling them correctly thats in the Bible.

But really lets just use some basic common sense when it comes to the matter whether right or wrong if it offends somebody, apologize and don’t use it around them. If it’s needed because of the strength of using the word gets the point across use it. But dont use if for lack of better words. I did like reading the part about having a low vocab, because i think that is the issue in many cases. Sin or not let Jesus direct you in how you lead your life.

There are some really helpful thoughts by Paul Tripp on the subject of language here:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YUtPBCELCZc&feature=related

Hope you find this as helpful as I did.

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Peace…

Luke 6:
43″No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Ephesians 4:
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26″In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29Do 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. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Our speech patterns are mostly habitual. I think that Christians need to be more mindful of our speech. As Christians, though we are “in the world” we are not “of the world.” This includes how we use our mouths and language.

Would we curse or use foul language if Jesus, himself, was standing before us?

What makes us think that he isn’t? If Christ is in our hearts, he is not only BEFORE us but WITHIN us! We need to make every word, thought, and deed reflect the fact that Christ’s love and light are shining through us to bring LIGHT unto the world. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our words glorify God.

Curse words are dark, unmindful speech habits. They certainly impact others in a way that is easily seen as not very Christ-like. When we aren’t mindful of what is going INTO our ears, minds and spirits from the culture and world around us, we become very desensitized to language, violence, sex and many other things that are OF the world. We can’t allow this aspect of worldly culture to ooze into our practice and into our lives.

It is challenging indeed to cleanse ourselves of habits and addictions. However, I don’t think that we should make a comfortable cultural “compromise” with regard to language. Our culture is only as elevated and Godly as we make it. How can Christians praise God, pray, bless others and use the same tongue unmindfully by using crude language with each other?

I pray that we will keep our language holy, loving, kind and elevated… that we will let the voice of Christ speak through us that our words will be blessings and will be full of His Light. That while we are IN THIS WORLD, we will be strong and guard against developing negative speech patterns that are OF THIS WORLD.