If you didn’t grow up in the country, using an “out-house” or a port-a-potty in the park might be an unsightly & unpleasant experience. Nothing is more repulsive than a foul, nasty, germ-infested public toilet! Not intending to be graphic and offensive, but the analogy serves the point.
The Apostle Paul was helping the believers at Ephesus to understand the practical ways to put on the new self (4:24) in their day-to-day lives. Among his directives is a command about our language – Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth (4:29). The Greek word Paul used that is translated unwholesome, means rotten & putrid – the components of a potty mouth. Many Christians pride themselves with how morally they live, how honest they are, how much they attend church and how good they are to their family, but it is their mouth that undermines their personal integrity & spiritual witness.
I am often amazed at the number of Christian people who post Scripture passages and inspirational messages on social media like Facebook one moment, only to turn around the next and post something with offensive profanity, or make a personal comment in another friend’s post which includes profanity. It is like there is a disconnect between what is godly and what is acceptable behavior & language in these person’s expressions.
The language of the American culture is saturated with profanities. Hollywood learned years ago that a movie will have little chance for any kind of profit at the box office unless there is enough profanity in the script to earn it at least a PG-13 rating; or, an R rating is even better. What a sad commentary for our state of mind! Unfortunately, many Christians see nothing wrong with the use of profanity in giving emphasis to the expression of their thoughts & opinions. Like it or not, it is hard to justify the dualistic nature of a man who is seen to utter words of praise & worship on Sunday, only to lose his temper over issues in the workplace on Monday and let sling from his mouth a string of profanities that would cause even the proverbial sailor to blush! Whatever such a Christian gained on Sunday, he just flushed down the sewer on Monday; and, it is the Monday language that defines his character, not the Sunday.
I will be branded as arrogant & judgmental, but there is absolutely no value in the use of such language as the “D-word,” the “S-word,” or the “F-word.” They serve no purpose whatsoever. Many great movies have been ruined because of their inclusion. To use them is a manifestation of immaturity, insecurity, and ignorance. If you think that is judgmental, listen to what Jesus said – the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matthew 12:34). If your mouth speaks rotten & putrid words, it is giving expression to the rotten & putrid contents of your heart. Perverted words are the language of fools (Proverbs 19:1). Your comfort in using them manifests your comfort with the evil & wicked nature of your old self (Ephesians 4:22). You are revealing more about your true character than you realize!
Much too prevalent in our culture is the “GD-word,” taking God’s name in vain. It is a direct Biblical violation of the Ten Commandments – You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Persons who use this blasphemous expression never insert Buddha’s name, or Mohammad’s name or Allah’s name; it is always God’s name. If they are insistent on using this expression as one of their favorite expletives, then perhaps it would be best to follow one of the God speaks billboard signs: “If you must curse, use your own name!”
Let’s not isolate just the “cussers,” Paul prohibited other verbal expressions – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander but put away from you, along with all malice (4:31). This verse refers to negative-talking people; people who are critical, judgmental, gossipers, slanderers, always seeing the worst and rarely acknowledging the best; people who gloom & doom their way through life and whose constant expression is that of bitterness, anger, resentment and despair. They have few intimate relationships because their mouth alienates them from family & friends – no one wants to be around a negative, critical, pessimistic person. This too, is the manifestation of an evil heart – He who has a crooked mind finds no good, and he who is perverted in his language falls into evil (Proverbs 17:20). Paul said, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth (Colossians 3:8). Some Christians would never be heard to utter a word of profanity, but their constant criticism and negative talk destroys their godly character just as quickly.
If your personal reputation and spiritual witness mean little to you as they relate to your day-to-day language, then consider this consequence – every careless (useless) word that men shall speak, they shall render account for in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37). Paul declares that the best language from our lips is a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear (4:29). Paul is urging Christians to convert their potty mouth to a grace mouth.
James addresses this dichotomy of the tongue – with (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men who have made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way (James 3:9-10). Indeed, it ought not to be this way! No ungodly language should ever come forth from a true believer’s mouth. If this is a problem for any believer, the prayer of his or her heart should be – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer!” (Psalm 19:14). Does the potty need a cleaning up?
Pastor Rick Smith
(Revised & Reposted from October, 2010)