Cursing, Not Just for Bars Anymore!

It was reported last week that a city in Missouri is considering a "ban" on swearing which would include restaurants & bars. As I was listening to a national news show discussing the absurdity of this, because after all, it infringes on our "right" of free speech, the thought came to me that cursing doesn't only happen in bars and nightclubs. It happens in our Christian homes, Christian schools and right in our churches! It seems to me that we don't have so much of a cursing epidemic, as this show stated, but rather a lack of holiness and ignorance to God's Word. It wasn't so long ago in our society that "gosh", "darn", or "heck" were considered "swear" words. Today, there are only a few words that are taboo. Sadly, as the "world" has lowered its' standards, so has the church.

We found this to be true first hand when, after homeschooling my son from 4th-6th grade, he re-entered the Christian school realm. After his first day of school he came home to report with astonishment how many of the children at his school regularly use curse words. Now that he's entered high school, the shock and astonishment are in reverse. It comes when he notices someone who does NOT use foul language, they are the exception and not the rule! No wonder there seems to be a decline in morality across our nation, as there is a decline in holiness in our evangelical homes and churches. Could it be that so many of our Christian children are using this kind of language, not because of hearing it on tv or at the movies, but in the home! Of course, some would say, "you're so old-fashioned, get with the times". My Bible that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever as well as "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth does speak". May I suggest that that we do not have as much a language problem as we have a "heart problem". We have lost our fear of God and His Word. We gloss over the Scriptures that, while they don't list every curse word for all generations the principle remains. It clearly says in Colossians 3:8 "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Also, Ephesians 5:4 says, "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place." Out of place for whom you may ask? The believers of course, not those hanging out in the bars!

Unfortunately obscenity, foul language and coarse joking are so common today that we begin to take them for granted with the mindset, "everybody's doing it." Everybody, whoever they are, may be doing it but that doesn't change the fact that the Bible, not me, calls this sin and "out of place" for a believer. The Bible also says that "judgment begins in the house of God" which is exactly where this battle needs to begin. It's time for those who take the name of Christ to take serious the admonitions in His Word to be "Holy for He is holy". If we want to see our nation changed, we, the church, must lead by example and quit straddling a fence which is so easy to fall off!

II Chronicles 7:14

Kellie Williams