Very few things infuriate Christians more than 'goddammit'. You can lie, steal, commit adultry, etc. and, while not condoned, there's always room for forgiveness. But when it comes to saying the unutterable, you'd might as well tatoo a 666 on your forehead cause your going straight to hell. It's as if the view of God is that He's seriously pissed now that you've said that. The self made righteous person feels compelled to defend God. Somehow, that view of God just doesn't line up with the God I know.
I'm not even sure how saying that in a moment of anger equates to 'taking the Lord's name in vain'. It's not like you're consciously asking God to damn someone or some object to hell. Radical Muslims and Christian cults may, but when I hit my finger with a hammer, it's the furthest thing from my mind. It's either an expression cemented into my mind or,as some have said, demons manifesting.
Christian culture injects certain values were all supposed to share, like vote Republican (unless it's Jimmie Carter or Pat Robertson) disdain homosexuality, oppose abortion, and, most important, don't say those words. We ignore the overwhelming divorce and obesity in our churches. Our private lives are completely different from the one we project on Sunday. Yet, were adamant to promote our religiosity with these values we've inherited.
Everybody out of the pool. Somebody fucked it up. We need clean water and a new perspective. Wash away all the commandments we've added. It was only supposed to be 'Love God' and 'Love your neighbor' but we've been pinching loafs in the pool. And we wonder why the unbelievers don't want to join us.

I don't quite understand the "love your enemy" part. For example, How could one love someone that murders a good, caring person? This part always bugs me every time I hear it. What about killing to protect your family and very close friends?

Next, what about TV characters/actors that cuss? Will actors be “damned” for cussing in a performance? Yes, performances filled with nothing but shit and fowl mouthed actors are bad but a few cuss words aren’t too bad.

Saying “G.D.”, “d you” and “goto hell” are very bad. Those are VERY bad things to say . BUT, sometimes they just pop out. I try with everything in me, to avoid saying them. I 98% avoid it.

Good points Anna! God bless you, your child and your family.

Christian thoughts -

I've cussed/swore before but, I usually apologize to God afterwards. I often feel a presence around me. I feel that it's a guardian angel. I'm 26 and have duchenne muscular dystrophy and am stuck in bed. Whether Christian or not, cussing gratuitously is bad because it disrespects others, yourself and God.

I named my condition because it will help explain my thoughts better. I feel that God as well as my family and close friends, helps me deal with this situation better then I could alone. I thank God a lot for my family and close friends and my doggy.

Others are far worse off then me, my family and my close friends, but when my pain get's too bad, I'll cuss at my condition because it hurts and makes it nearly impossible to hug my Mom, Sister and my doggy. THAT'S what makes me cuss my condition the most. Sometimes cussing can relieve pain, hurt, ETC.

It may be a blessing in disguise but I'm tired of all the work my condition requires of my famiy and friends. I nag alot but try to cut down on it.

Chruch CAN be a good thing, but I feel that the Bible "thumpers" out there drive good folks away from God. God is about caring, friendship, LOVE and COMPASSION. God is not about rules and regulations. One cannot force a person to believe.

Some make cussing sound like it's akin to murder and cross burning.

First let's be absolutely clear about the mandate from God via the Bible. Do not use the Lord's name in vain. No other instruction concerning the use of specific verbage is given. As I am certain that this was not oversight by the Creator of the Universe, I must conclude that all other sentance construction is limited only by the breadth of my lexicon.

Language is power. The power to share, empathize, express, control, manipulate, complement, question, answer, insult, flatter...Limitless power. To limit your use of language is to limit your power to do whatever it is that you choose to do in life.

As men we need to be comfortable in our own skin. Speaking from our own hearts. Owning whatever language we choose to use. Worrying less about the choice of words and more about the content of the message. Leaders of men do not censor their speech as to not offend. Rudolf Giulianni, Vince Lombardi, Douglas MacArthur, Ronald Reagan. Choose whatever words you will, but say what you mean, and mean what you say.

Edited by author 03-30-2006 03:46 AM
Pam, great article.
As we talked about at the writers conference, I deal with this issue very briefly in a chapter of the book I'm working on. The larger context is a chapter on Christians' habit of reading poorly, and this poor reading's effects on our political beliefs. In fact, the swearing portion might be a tangent I should cut, but it's an issue that bugs the shit out of me, so I couldn't help but rant a bit about it. My biggest beef with swear words is that they are too often used as fillers. Some have talked here about the anger behind the words being the problem. Too often the words are so muddied by overuse that they can't even properly convey anger. My father made it through six years in the military and only swore once, but when he did, everyone took him very seriously, because they knew how exceptional that was. That's a good object lesson for why we should try not to swear: not so we will avoid offending people, but so that the words can be the communicative tools we want them to be. Frankly, people like snooty Christians can cut us all (especially us cussing Christians) far more deeply with a a sarcastic tone or a sideways look.

Here's that exceprt from the book I'm workiing on. Pardon me for quoting myself (so tacky, I know) and tell me what you think:

...Second, as Nietzsche said, the Bible is “pricked and pulled”. Passages are taken out of context to support positions which, seen as a part of a whole, are baseless. For example, many Christians believe that Jesus’ admonition against swearing refers to so called “curse-words”, the seven words George Carlin informed us cannot be referred to on television. There are verses which warn people against filthy speech and (more important, from your English teacher’s perspective) careless words, so an argument can be made that they should be avoided. However, the words themselves are not filthy, nor need they be used carelessly. They are the product of economics, of keeping up with the Joneses. When upper class people found all talk of bodily functions distasteful and low-class, replacing practical terms like toilet with ridiculous innuendos like “water-closet”, lower class people were told that the words which were common and accurate, like “shit”, were dirty and verboten. Thus the commodity became manure, and the word actually took on more power than it previously possessed. Now a word referring to something common and innocuous (previously possessing an unpleasant smell and texture, perhaps, but not a moral weight) could offend dainty Victorian sensibilities. Jesus probably wouldn’t support needlessly offending dainty Victorians, but he didn’t say anything about it one way or the other. In the NIV translation the words “dirty” (used twice) and “filthy” (used ten times) never refer to language. The term “profane” (33 times) and “profaned” (34 times) refer to actions or speech which are disrespectful to God. Thus referring to manure as “shit” is not profane. It’s accurate. When Jesus talks about swearing (in the fifth chapter of Matthew) he specifically refers to the kind of swearing to avoid, and the seven words you can’t say on television are not included. He is talking about taking oaths (in the name of God, country, the king, etc.) and says not to do it because we lack the authority to control these things. It is a command to speak only for ourselves so that the consequences of our failings fall upon us alone. He clarifies later (in the 23rd chapter) that oaths are binding, that swearing creates a contractual obligation to turn over the thing by which we swore if we break our word. Thus, swearing by anything beyond our own word of honor is irresponsible. Ironically, many Christians in the United States lobby to keep words like “shit” out of the public square while accepting an institutionalized ritual of swearing on a Bible in courtrooms and the oath-taking of public officials. They use a physical book which is not their property (and thus cannot be returned if they perjure themselves) and may even be symbolically representing the meaning of the text, which they cannot forfeit because the Bible’s truth is not their property, either.

Edited by author 03-21-2006 09:38 PM
Well, you can't say shit or fuck on the tele or on the radio so I guess you can't as a Christian either, right?

haha, just kidding.

Who determines what's bad? I guess it all goes back to where your heart is. Just like all sin is created equal, all curse words are created equal. There is no hierarchy of evil cuss words. Fuck is not necessarily the worst thing you can say to someone. I'm a cussing Christian I guess and it really ticks me off when someone calls me out on cussing, but nothing else that I say.

Cuss words convey intense emotion and sometimes they are necessary when portraying a situation--especially in art. But I do believe that allowing oneself to cuss gratuitously isn't just wrong on a Christian level, but on a secular level as well. It shows lack of self-control and an abundance of impulse and can have the tendency to reflect poorly on one’s character.

I actually used to cuss to God in prayer (which probably makes me the worst cussing Christian in here): “WHAT THE F***, GOD? WHAT THE F*** DO I DO?!” but then it dawned on me that, duh, God knows how strongly I feel without me cussing and without me even saying anything at all.

Like most of you have said, it’s all about context and intent. Everyone f*cks up. We’re human. We’re also called to be set apart from the rest of the world so cussing like a sailor is probably not in a believer’s best interest. I’m still working on my mouth.

I’m also an English major so I personally should be reconsidering my diction :) Also, I’m sorry if the italicized words with no asterisks in the beginning are offensive. My English teachers don’t allow “vulgarity” in our papers, but when talking about a word, we’re allowed to italicize it regardless of the word because it’s just that: a word.

As a believer, I guess I would have to ask myself if "cussing words" were the kinds of words I would use in the presence of Jesus.
Are those words that I would use in the presence of God's Throne, where all around Him, creatures he created are saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy" and all those who have gone before us are in his presence. If I am controled by the Holy Spirit, are those the words He is directing me to use?

Yes, cussing is a part of life and expression, but it's one of those things that I don't think is God's best for my life. I don't judge those who are not believers who cuss, but as a person comes to know Jesus, there is a sense of wanting to "clean up". It's not overnight, but it should come. Our speech is to be edifying and encouraging and to be honoring to Jesus.

I am of the opinion that a habit of cussing has no place in a believer's life.

I am a Vineyard Pastor's wife in the bible belt and I help my husband pastor our church. I have been know to let a few cuss words fly at home. (I am Italian and my family did not come to know Jesus until I was in middle school; by the way, I drink wine on occasion too!)

Anyway, as Christians, I feel there are more intelligent and wholesome ways for us to express ourselves than to cuss.

thanks for letting me share!

wow, I'm back from my writers retreat to find quite the rousing discussion going on here.

as I read through the thread I'm asking myself,Why is this such a hot topic?

I think it's not simply the issue of cussing that this debate is about but rather the perspective of what it looks like to live under the grace of Jesus. For some of us cussing, no matter the context, is offensive for us to engage in. It is a sin. For others, cussing is simply a form of communication that is not even on the sin radar.

This has been an interesting discussion. Thanks to all who have taken time to contribute.

(if you're late to the dialogue feel free to jump on in...)

Anna, i wanted to respond to your questions "what if Jesus cares?" But I really want to ask you, "does He?" Wouldn't the story of the prodigal son lose it's power if upon the return of the son, the father gave him a towel, instead of a hug? Now, I realize that you're not speaking of SALVATION, but SANCTIFICATION, or at least, I assume you are. But ultimately, the question of who dictates the "changes" that are made after salvation has still been left UNANSWERED. A common pat answer would be "the Word dictates the changes, of course", but Jesus rebuked the religious leaders that bogged their "converts" with a stack of rules and regulations that had nothing to do with connection with Jehovah. So, we rely on the Holy Spirit to govern our choices of words and trust that those around us follow that same leading. There's a danger of diluting true faith by policing behavior.

What does constant policing convey to those being policed? To me, as someone who has been a victim of constant policing in the church, and a member of a COMMUNITY of victims of policing, it conveys an acceptance *with strings attached*, a conditional love, and at the very least, a bait and switch. So, were I of weaker blood, I would buckle under the weight of those demands and walk away, disappointed with God and his alleged followers. This is a MAJOR problem with the church today. We fail to address and acknowledge the brokenhearted. We feel the need to remind each other of the stumbling blocks, the shit on our shoes, the symptoms of a bigger issue of pain in our lives.

Cussing isn't necessarily profane in all cases. Profanity is defined as abuse and irreverant language. Many people have articulately described accounts in their personal lives where the expression of "taboo words" actually opened a door for less-tiptoeing and more intimacy.

I lead music at my church and one sunday after I had screamed my lungs out to God, a dear, dear friend told me this: "I'm not a good singer and usually I'm afraid to sing *at all* in the services, happy to quietly reflect on God. This morning, because your voice went out and went flat SEVERAL times, I realized that it wasn't THE QUALITY of my voice that GOD was looking for in worship, but MY HEART and PASSIONATE desire to connect with him. I completely sang loud for the first time."

That sort of thing makes me want to:

a) take singing lessons
b) give my friend singing lessons
c) stop singing when my voice goes out
d) go to the library and read up on HOW I CAN MESS MY VOICE UP MORE!

The answer for me, is D. I will try ANYTHING if it means that someone will feel free to connect with God. My personal belief is that when God looks at me at judgement day (see the sheep and the goats story), he's not going to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, you resisted using the "F" word for the better part of your life." He most likely will say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, you did everything in your power to connect with Me and help others connect with Me, including some undignified, dirty things (not unlike my friend David)."

That's the heart of the matter for me. Hope that made sense.

Edited by author 03-20-2006 09:46 AM
Many years ago, when a musician named Steve Camp was still rather famous, I saw him perform at Wheaton College. Half way through the show, he made the statement that "millions of people are going to Hell and most Christians don't give a damn!" I was shocked and outraged. His next statement shocked me even more. "That really sad part is that more of you are upset that I said 'damn' than the fact that millions of people are going to Hell." I am now convicted of that very thought every time I hear someone say, "I don't give a damn."

Yes, we want the world to know that there is something different about us. But the gospel is, at best, diminished if those around us only see us as people who have their own sanitized language, special weekly events, and particular political agendas. The reason this discussion is about cussing is important is that in many cases these are the only qualities Christians are reflecting to our culture. THIS IS NOT THE GOSPEL!!!!!
Again, cussing is a sin like any other type of language, when it is used to degrade or harm someone else. Calling people names probably warrents a legitimate conviction from the Holy Spirit so it does not surprise me that you felt bad in for doing it. But lets be clear on why you felt bad. It was not because you said bitch. It is because Christ waas teaching you to be kind and forgiving, to love your enemies. The message that comes from situations like the one you described Erin, it that God wants to clean our hearts.

Let me tell you another story of cussing. One day I came upon a friend of mine who is homeless. He is half blind and a quite slow of wit. His income is from panhandling, so as you can imagine, he doesnt have much money. None the less, he is always happy and friendly. But on this day, he was crying walking down the street with dried blood all over his shirt, a big black eye, and a busted up lip. I ran to him to ask what had happened and what what was wrong. Well... some son of a b*tches had rolled him in the night and beat him up for fun. They took his only $10 and kicked his dog really hard. Now that is fu*cked up!!!! I dont know why the h*ll they did that to him! But I knew that God put me there to love him, let him know how sorry I was that that happened to him and to assure him (in the strongest language he understood) that God was very sorry that happened to him. So I said, "Gee, that's darn sad, I know God is upset with those buggers."

No for real, I used some colorful language. But all the while my prayer was that all the words of my mouth would convey God's love for this man. The desire of my heart and the intention of my speaking was to lead this man away from self-condemnation and hatred toward God and the world.

I know I could have ministered effectively to this man without using profanity. But I also know I ministered just as effectively with it. We are not judged for our words by God or by the world. Our words convey what is in our hearts and for that we are judged. If our hearts are cold and empty the world will see that clearly whether we cuss or not. And if our hearts are full and overflowing will we need to stop cussing to prove it? H*ll NO!!!!

I'm new here and this is my first visit to the page. The topic of the article that sparked this discussion has become of interest to me since I entered college.

I have been a Christian since childhood and when I came to college I recieved my first taste of independence. I also had my first encounters with people who were certifiable b*****s to me. I began to use the term in my everyday language. I soon found my walk with God diminishing.

I failed to realize that my roommate (and probably others) who was also a Christian was offended by my language, though she did not let it get in the way of our relationship. When it dawned on me that I was being offensive and was becoming someone who was not true to who I am I stopped using cusswords in my language.

My relationship with God was immediately improved as was my relationships with others. I have to agree with Anna that our lives should be reflections of who we would be if we were standing before the throne of God. I for one don't want to have poop on my shoes when I finally find myself in God's presence.

I don't think that cussing is wrong, I have good friends that cuss and sometimes I use cuss words to express emotions. I feel that as Christians though we should be different from "normal" society. That DOES NOT mean that we need to cut ourselves off from non-Christians; instead it means that we should interact with non-Christians and let them see that there is something different in us. Something that is making us have a relationship with them and acting in love towards them.