Cursing Christians

[MrDanger]

Mr Danger wrote;
To me, I can't explain what you are trying to say because that scripture doesn't apply to the conversation. Honestly, I don't know how that applies to the conversation at all.

Mt 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mt 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mt 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mt 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mt 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Maybe with the rest of the verses you can see that Christ was instructing us to keep our “communication” clean.

Please understand this isn't in an arguementative voice at all, but I knew the full context of the scripture. Putting it all together, Jesus is saying don't swear by anything, and there isn't a need to swear by anything because mean what you say. If you say "Yea" (why am I all of a sudden thinking of an Usher song), then mean it. Let it be true. Don't be deceptive by what you are saying. Swearing it's true shouldn't be necessary because when you speak, you speak the truth.

[one love]

Mr Danger wrote;
To me, I can't explain what you are trying to say because that scripture doesn't apply to the conversation. Honestly, I don't know how that applies to the conversation at all.

Mt 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mt 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mt 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mt 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mt 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Maybe with the rest of the verses you can see that Christ was instructing us to keep our “communication” clean.

Please understand this isn't in an arguementative voice at all, but I knew the full context of the scripture. Putting it all together, Jesus is saying don't swear by anything, and there isn't a need to swear by anything because mean what you say. If you say "Yea" (why am I all of a sudden thinking of an Usher song), then mean it. Let it be true. Don't be deceptive by what you are saying. Swearing it's true shouldn't be necessary because when you speak, you speak the truth.

usher you are crazy

[Full Quiver]

Oletimer, my point was you tried to use a verse to suggest that cussing was wrong when the truth is that verse speaks of telling the truth and your word being good. If you say No then mean no. If you say yes then mean yes. This verse neither says cussing is right or wrong.

[scooter]

I have always identified cursing with Peter's denial of Christ.

When the way he talked was noted as being that of a follower of Christ, he changed his tune in an attempt to fit in with those around the fire.

Christians attempting to justify cussing is like Bill Clinton claiming oral sex was not really sex.

Being that the tongue is so hard to control it is no wonder that today's christianity has problems in this area.

When society's morals are higher than the church, what type of church do we really have? Case in point. I attended a Bible study outside of my church Monday night where the word freakin was used multiple times.

My friend from church works for the City and uses the City's radio. He used the same term on the radio and was brought into the office over its use, not by "Christians", but rather by the City.

I know that gossip is just as bad if not worse.

I see the verses addressing corrupt communication as having a broad meaning encompassing cursing. We can play games with what is is but when the professional world has a higher standard than the church it is sad.

If we were more quick to hear than to answer, it wouldn't be as much as an issue.

[sweetpea]

[JanB]

I have always identified cursing with Peter's denial of Christ.

When the way he talked was noted as being that of a follower of Christ, he changed his tune in an attempt to fit in with those around the fire.

Christians attempting to justify cussing is like Bill Clinton claiming oral sex was not really sex.

Being that the tongue is so hard to control it is no wonder that today's christianity has problems in this area.

When society's morals are higher than the church, what type of church do we really have? Case in point. I attended a Bible study outside of my church Monday night where the word freakin was used multiple times.

My friend from church works for the City and uses the City's radio. He used the same term on the radio and was brought into the office over its use, not by "Christians", but rather by the City.

I know that gossip is just as bad if not worse.

I see the verses addressing corrupt communication as having a broad meaning encompassing cursing. We can play games with what is is but when the professional world has a higher standard than the church it is sad.

If we were more quick to hear than to answer, it wouldn't be as much as an issue.

This is good, Scooter. Thanks for this post.

[scooter]

This is good, Scooter. Thanks for this post.

Response: Maybe we could start a MACC group.

Mothers Against Cursing Christians.

Don't even think about it.

[Pastor Bill]

I think we are talking about two different things here.

There are some things that we can't neccesarily label as sin, but are still not advisable, or acceptable.

No one here is saying these are words we should be using, they are offensive, not to mention if you really thing about what you are saying you probably don't mean it.

The problem is it is dangerous to elevate cultural taboos to the same level as biblical sin. Doing this has caused the CoGoP many problems in the past, let's just not go there. Isn't it enough to say, "while these are not specifically listed as sin, there are many reasons they should be avoided for those reasons, not replaced with something else that is just as bad, or replaced with something good with the wrong attitude.

[oletimer]

Pastor Bill wrote;
think we are talking about two different things here.

There are some things that we can't neccesarily label as sin, but are still not advisable, or acceptable.

No one here is saying these are words we should be using, they are offensive, not to mention if you really thing about what you are saying you probably don't mean it.

The problem is it is dangerous to elevate cultural taboos to the same level as biblical sin.

Just what makes sin sin? And how far can or do we have to lean to enter into sin? By the way, what ever happen to he that knows to do good and doth it not , to him it is a sin?

[Pastor Bill]

I am not speaking against this, but at the same time, we must also consider the differences between personal convictions (that fall under the verse you mentioned) and provable biblical truth.

When we preach that something is a sin, we better be able to back it up specifically with scripture, otherwise we quickly can fall into the trap of legislating our cultural taboos as sin, and pushing away those that may not understand, or embrace that culture. As missionaries go out into the world to preach, they must separate truth from cultural preferences. We as ministers in the US must learn this as well, otherwise we will find ourselves trapped within our traditional church culture and unable to reach the lost that are outside of that culture all around us.

Believe me I am big on seeking God, following where he is leading, and recognizing things in your life that are unpleasing to Him, but I can't preach my life, I must preach His truth. If I can't qualify it specifically as sin, then step back and recognize it as what it is, possibly harmful, degrading and demeaning things should be avoided, and foul language probably falls into that, as do many other things, but without a clear "thou shalt not..." some grace needs to be applied for those that may not yet see such things, or may still be struggling with other things that God has not brought this out in their life yet.

I am not saying these things are good or wholesome, only that we need to apply grace when it comes to things that are a little more gray and we can't jump to a clear scriptural answer without twisting verses. If we do, it's a slippery slope back into a whole lot of legalism that we don't want.

[stevenson]

I was trying to avoid this subject but........

Just my 2 cents, I don't like the use of by-words. Your just using them in place of a cuss word and our minds should not even go there if we have the mind of Christ. IMHO!

[RamboPreacher]

I was trying to avoid this subject but........

Just my 2 cents, I don't like the use of by-words. Your just using them in place of a cuss word and our minds should not even go there if we have the mind of Christ. IMHO!

zactly - the intent is the same, just different words.