Is It A sin To Swear or Cuss?
July 21, 2010
by Chrisblogger for Cospel.com The English language’s collection of four letter words are extraordinarily popular. They’re
peppered throughout our media and can be overheard just about anywhere you have someone upset or angry.
But is it alright for Christians to cuss or swear?
I’ve heard passionate appeals from Christians on either side of the issue (and heard from others who think we’re wasting our time making it an issue). What about you? Do you think that swearing is sinning?
Here’s a perspective on cussing/swearing from GotQuestions.org:
Question: “Is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse?”
It is definitely a sin to swear (curse, cuss, etc.). The Bible makes this abundantly clear. Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” First Peter 3:10 declares, “For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” James 3:9-12 summarizes the issue: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
James makes it clear that the lives of Christians—the “brothers”—should not be characterized by evil speech. By making the analogy of both salt water and fresh water coming from the same spring (which is uncharacteristic of springs), he makes the point that it is uncharacteristic for a believer to have both praise and cursing come from his/her mouth. Nor is it characteristic for us to praise God on one hand and curse our brothers on the other. This, too, is uncharacteristic of a true believer.
Jesus explained that what comes out of our mouths is that which fills our hearts. Sooner or later, the evil in the heart comes out through the mouth in curses and swearing. But when our hearts are filled with the goodness of God, praise for Him and love for others will pour forth. Our speech will always indicate what is in our hearts. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
Why is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse? Sin is a condition of the heart, the mind, and “the inner man” (Romans 7:22), which is manifested in our thoughts, actions and words. When we swear and curse, we are giving evidence of the polluting sin in our hearts that must be confessed and repented of. Thankfully, our great God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When this happens, we receive a new nature from God (2 Corinthians 5:17), our hearts are transformed, and our speech reflects the new nature God has created within us.
Originally published at Gospel.com. Reprinted with permission
Yes God Loves Me – BUT
July 19, 2010
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late Yes, I would trust Him for my salvation, but the storms of life
are raging all around me. I like Peter had reached out my hand to receive His gift of eternal life and was striving to follow Him. However, now the sea of life was raging with a tempest I had not known before.
I had been forced to close my business and with little other income been forced to go through bankruptcy. This was not what I had expected when I came back to my faith. I owned nothing, as it was all in the hands of the trustee.
My lovely wife Ruth was being drug along on this journey with me. It was highly probable that we would lose our home that she treasured so much. Where would we go? We had learned we could not rent an apartment until all this was over, some 18 months from now. She did not deserve this after 57 years together. I was embarrassed and humiliated. I was full of doubt, unbelief and stress.
Then I cried out, “Lord, if you are in this with us, save us.” I seemed to hear His words, “You of little faith, why have you doubted my words?” (Matt. 14: 22-32). As I reached out my hand, He took it and led me to the green pastures of His Word.
There I was reminded that I still had more than He ever had (Matt. 8:20); that what He had given me was of more value than any earthly possession (Matt. 6:19-21); that He would continue to supply my needs (Matt. 6: 25-34); and that I could take none of this stuff that now seemed so important with me upon leaving this world (I Tim. 6:7).
However, I must really believe Him rather than just read these words. Yes, He was willing to go with us through this storm if we invited Him to do so. He had promised “surely I am with you always” (Matt. 28: 20).
Finally, I called our mortgage company directly to discuss our dilemma. Now Jesus was in our boat and the storm was about to subside (Matt. 14:32). Although they would not send a statement or take the payment from our bank account, if we would mail the payments they would accept them and we could keep our house.
If you are in the middle of a storm in your life, I encourage you to take the hand of Jesus. Invite Him to go with you through your storm, climb into your boat, and calm the waves.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Pastor Warns of Socialism & Departure from God
July 8, 2010
By Lillian Kwon – Christian Post Reporter America currently stands in a very dangerous position, said renowned pastor
and author Dr. Charles Stanley. Today more than ever, the country is turning away from God and moving closer toward socialism, he warned.
And the consequences will be grave.”We know the truth, we know the principles of God. In spite of all that, we find ourselves as a nation violating the laws of God, heading in a direction that is going to be disastrous for us, for our children and the generations that are to come unless there is a change,” he said.
Speaking to thousands at First Baptist Church of Atlanta and to a live Web audience on Friday, Stanley delivered a sobering 4th of July message about a dangerous spiritual tide that is engulfing the country and the crucial need for prayer.
“There is a tide that has touched the shores of our land and reached the heart of our nation,” he said against the backdrop of the U.S. flag. “It is a tide that is bringing with it ideas and philosophies, actions and attitudes that will ultimately destroy the way of life that you and I have.”
The influential pastor and founder of In Touch Ministries listed 12 things involved in the tide. Among them are the financial crisis and the move toward socialism.
With the national debt rising by the billions every day and increasing taxation, future generations will likely be left with a debt so heavy that they’ll never be able to spend most of what they make, he said.
Addressing the idea of spreading the wealth, Stanley emphasized, “It is not the government’s responsibility to take care of us. It is to protect us.
“We’re responsible for taking care of ourselves.”
Socialism, he pointed out, is opposed primarily to Christianity and Judaism.
“In Christianity, we’re taught to do our best because we’ve been gifted by God. So there’s motivation, willingness and we cooperate,” he explained. “We use our spiritual gifts for the good of everyone.”
But under a socialist society, in which the government controls all means of production and distribution, there is no motivation for diligence and creativity is stifled, he said.
When there is less reward, there is less to give. And as evidenced in the recent downturn, what suffers first is supporting missionary work.
“You see, it affects every single aspect of society,” Stanley warned.
He added, “Naturally, when the government takes control, do you think that freedom of speech is always going to be there?”
“The tide is bringing in a control that will indeed attempt to silence the truth and will attempt to squash the religious devotion and worship of the people of God.”
That tide began creeping in many years ago, he noted, when the government and the courts began banning prayer at schools and removing references to Jesus, God and the Ten Commandments from the public square, Stanley noted.
“It is an attempt to destroy the Christian spirit in America,” he said.
“There is a war going on against Jesus,” he declared. “It’s part of the strategy. The primary reason for this war against Him is He is interfering with the plan to make this a socialist nation. Mark it down. It is the truth.”
Among the other elements of the dangerous tide are: terrorism, turning our backs on Israel, the announcement that the United States is not a Christian nation, increasing national disasters, a departure from the biblical view of marriage, and support for killing the unborn, Stanley listed.
“Mark this down for socialism because these three groups of people who do not contribute to the state … are of no value: unborn babies, the elderly and those who are disabled,” said the Atlanta pastor.
With the tide moving fast, Stanley issued a charge to Christians to turn it around.
He called believers to join him in 140 days of humbling themselves, repenting of sins and praying to God.
“The Bible says judgment begins at the house of God. We’re not expecting lost people to do all this because this is the work of the people of God; it is our responsibility,” he stressed. “A lot of where we are is because of our apathy. We haven’t prayed for these men who are making decisions.”
“Do you want this nation to keep going where it’s going or do you want us to get back on track?” he posed.
Prayer, he said, is the one thing he knows that works.
“Do you believe God answers prayer?” he asked. “Pray for God to change the direction of this tide.”
He added that those prayers have to be backed up with righteousness and a godly life if they are to be effective and nation-altering.
“There has never been a nation like these United States. We do not want it to fail or to fall.”
To join Stanley in 140 days of prayer, visit: http://intouch.org/
Warnings Worth Noting
July 3, 2010
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late As we travel in our automobiles we observe warning signs caution along the way.
We learn from the driver’s manuals that they are posted to warn us of unsafe curves, speed limits, and other dangers. If we pay attention to them, we are likely to arrive safely at our destination.
So too has God placed warning signs in our lives to help us arrive at our spiritual destination safely. However, if we do not consult the Bible, the manual He has provided, far worse tragedy may overtake us. That is why it is so important that we not just read the Bible but that we also hide it in our hearts (Psalms 119:11) so that we may recall the meaning of those warning signs.
My own experience in straying away from God (www.faithrescued.com) was the result of my not having His warning signs deeply rooted in my heart and mind in order to recognize those first temptations to partake of a forbidden fruit.
In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned that Satan does not give up but that he “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Paul admonishes us: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall” (I Cor. 10:12). History records many who started the race but failed to finish it.
That is why even Paul declared a consuming desire to “finish the race” and said “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor. 9:27).
Paul warns us that in the last days “men will gather around them a great number of teachers” who will cause them “to turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Tim.4:2-5).
God has placed warning signs so that we may avoid a spiritual wreck along our lifelong journey. The examples of others have been given “as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor. 10:6) and “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11).
May each of us hide His word in our hearts and minds that we may recognize the schemes of Satan.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
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