Profanity
by Samuel A. Matthews
“But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 KJV).
Loved ones, the power of speech is marvelous. A compassionate heart beats sympathetically for those who cannot communicate with the spoken word. Their loved ones have felt the warmth of their embrace, but have never heard their expressions of love and affection.
Profanity is a vile and odious abuse of speech. It is man's stupidity on exhibition. The English language has about 400,000 words. What a reflection upon one's intelligence that he cannot choose enough of these to express himself without cursing! It is evidence of a heart whose arteries run black with sin, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34).
There is nothing "big" about cursing. Filthy speech cannot add one inch to a man's stature. A tongue bred in a gutter provides no basis for boasting. Cursing is an act of cowardice. It takes courage to buck the tide, but those who curse "follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2).
The commonality of cursing has drained the words of their shock value, and they really don’t mean much anymore. Swearing becomes a habit, and the words become “filler” when someone has nothing else to say. They just come out like any other word, and the reactions from others, especially from friends, are minimal, if not nonexistent, due to how frequently they are said.
Some bless God's name in prayers on Sunday and take His name in vain on Monday. "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing" (James 3:10). Such people have a "church house" religion. They put on their Sunday speech to match their Sunday dress, then hasten to change both by Monday.
Profanity is as common as the cold. In the home, school, and factory, at work and play, the repulsive sound of vile speech permeates the air. In its use, many have graduated from amateur to professional status. They are proficient in sin.
Profane speech manifests wickedness. The wicked are "full of cursing" (Proverbs 10:7). Those characterized by such speech shall be ushered into a Christless eternity, for one with a tongue "set on fire of hell" (James 3:6) cannot be an heir of heaven.
Paul wrote: "But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8).
Again, “Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear” (Ephesians 4:29). The term rendered “corrupt” is the Greek “sapros,” akin to sepo (“to rot”). It denotes that which provides no good service.
Our words in the presence of others ought to build men up rather than debase them (cf. Job 4:4). Clothe your tongue with speech that promotes righteousness, encourages man, and is fit for the ear of God.
