"Swear not"

This is a post I have put off for too long.

I don't know about you, but hardly a day goes by that I don't hear "Christians" swear, curse, cuss, and in general use language not pleasing to the Lord at all! With most people it's a touchy subject and one they'll be defensive about when questioned.  In my limited experience of bringing it up--or being involved in a discussion about it with others--people tend to come up with the craziest excuses to justify themselves. And when feeling convicted about it they'll often act like you belong in a monastery if you're offended by their language.
Many people don't believe they're sinning when they use common words and phrases (I won't give examples because I don't believe they're needed). Most often, if you make a comment to a fellow Christian about their choice of words (poor choice), they'll respond with one of the following:
"Oh, I don't really mean anything by it."
"That? That's not a swear word, I just meant I was surprised."
"I have to talk in the world's language so they'll understand me."
"It conveys the way I feel better." or,
"Oh, I hear it all the time so it just slipped out."

Of all the excuses I've ever heard given, I have to say the first one bugs me the most. "I didn't really mean anything by it." That logic could be taken to terrible extremes. If you didn't mean it, why'd you say it! And, all of us know the world has no problem understanding us when our speech is clean and pure. I've had people ask if I am a Christian simply because I don't swear. I don't think it's wise (or Scriptural) to use "cleaned" up words or "mild" language. And I'm not going to try to define which words qualify as "bad language" either. That gets into splitting hairs and people just get defensive--especially if they grew up with a mom or dad who used it. Instead, I want to go to the Scripture and see what It has to say about our speech.

Believe it or not, foul language does not add any depth of meaning or level of professionalism to one's speech. Have you ever noticed how silly and immature people sound when they proudly and profusely let language fly? It often makes the speaker sound more ignorant than anything.  

What constitutes bad words and bad language anyway? 
Instead of listing which words are bad words and which are okay to use,  Jesus Himself said, "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matt 5:37, and James 5:12 "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." 

That doesn't leave any room for expletives. Matt 12:36-37, "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." Idle: without purpose or effect; pointless. Most of us have heard enough bad words to know that they are just that--pointless. Their meaning is often disgusting or unrelated to the subject and their intent misused. I've heard believers use the word hell in a lighthearted sense, but there's nothing lighthearted about the place! The Bible actually talks more about hell than it does about heaven. It was originally created for Satan and his angels, and because of man's sin, he also destined himself there. Hell is separation from God. That's not a word to use lightheartedly. And nobody has truly experienced "hell on earth" nor will they. Proverbs 15:4, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." Perverse: (of a person or their actions) showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences. Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." If you look up the verse in Strong's concordance the word corrupt also translates to: 
1) rotten, putrefied
2) corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out
3) of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless.

Here are just a few definitions of grace: 
1) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2) good will, loving-kindness, favor.

And edifying means building one up. In a spiritual sense, building one up in Christ, causing one to grow in the Lord.

Whether or not the bad language used in a conversation is rotten it certainly does not build others up in the Lord, it's not favorable or sweet, and it's not honoring to God.
 

On a side note, refraining from the use of bad or poor language will set you apart from the rest of the world. It only adds to the beauty of your testimony for Christ. God said, "Be ye holy, for I am holy."  As God's children we are to act, dress, and speak differently than the world. I know several Christians who have refused to use bad language and their co-workers noticed it, and gave more credence to what they thought and said. Bad language never makes the speaker sound more professional, tough, or wise.

Ask the Lord to help you.
I need to echo the psalmist's prayer more often, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3

There is no excuse for exclaiming omg. Exodus 20:7, "Thou shalt not (a command, not a suggestion) take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." Unless you're talking directly to or about God in a spiritual sense, any other use is vain.

Guarding our mouths is work. We know the tongue is a wild, untamed thing. One way to combat our tongue is by guarding our heart. "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."
Fill your mind with Scripture. Memorize Scripture. Then, meditate on that Scripture.  Let us join with David, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

One Last thought.
I know some Christians who act like their losing some of their freedom of speech if they can't say certain things. "Everybody else does," is a pretty lame excuse. I think for many their focus is wrong. Instead of looking at it like, "I can't say that, and I can't say this." think instead of the verse, " Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:22. Are euphemisms or questionable words okay to use? The Bible says abstain (restrain one's self from doing/using) all appearance of evil. Have a tender heart and a listening ear, and ask God to help you if you're using words you shouldn't be.