Should Christians use cuss words?

[NathanH83]

Have you seen this YouTube video? This video is made by someone who claims to be a Christian, and she’s trying to use the Bible to justify the use of profanity.

For example, when she says that when Saul called David a “son of a rebellious and perverse woman”, she says that ought to be translated as “son of a b****”.

But that doesn’t make sense to me. Firstly, the Hebrew isn’t actually saying “son of a female dog,” and secondly, even if it did, that word isn’t even a cuss word in places like England. If it’s not a cuss word in England today, what makes us think it was a cuss word in ancient Israel?

Did you know, in England, people will just casually call their dog a “b****” just as if they might call a horse a mare (female horse) or as you might call a chicken a hen (female chicken).

That word is a cuss word in America, but not England. Instead, England considers “bloody” to be a cuss word. They have cuss words we don’t have, and we have cuss words they don’t have. Obviously cuss words are dependent upon a person’s culture and time period. We have cuss words today that were just regular, non-offensive words a mere 200 years ago in America (like the King James version saying they “rode on an ass” instead of “rode on a donkey”)

“And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.”
-Matthew 21:6-7

Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 21:6-7 - King James Version

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

www.biblegateway.com

Obviously that word wasn’t a cuss word in 1611 like it is in America today, which is why modern versions prefer “donkey” instead.

So obviously, you have to be considerate to the culture in that place, and at that time. Ephesians and Proverbs say not to utter perverse words, or use unwholesome talk.

“Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.”
-Proverbs 4:24

Bible Gateway passage: Proverbs 4:24 - New King James Version

Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.

www.biblegateway.com

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
-Ephesians 4:29

Bible Gateway passage: Ephesians 4:29 - New King James Version

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

www.biblegateway.com

Christians are NOT encouraged to cuss. But that means not using the cuss words which your culture deems inappropriate in your region, in your time, and in your language.

In another region, time period, or language, they’ll have completely different cuss words. I think I remember someone from Germany saying that in Germany it’s highly offensive to call someone a “bad shepherd’s pie.” Different cultures have different cuss words. If I was living in Germany, I would refrain from calling someone a bad shepherd’s pie, because that culture deems it inappropriate. And if I went to England, I would refrain from using the word bloody as a cuss word. Although I have no problem saying either of those things here in America, because it’s not cussing here.

Whether or not any of these biblical people used cuss words or not, that’s dependent on their culture, their region, and their time period. And even if they did cuss, like when Peter called down curses upon himself when the servant girl was questioning him….ok, maybe Peter was cussing at that point. But that’s indicating his sin and weakness at that time when he fell away. It’s not indicating that we should all follow that example.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Asuk]

Perhaps you should define what cuss means. What is the definition and it’s origins?

 

[NathanH83]

Perhaps you should define what cuss means. What is the definition and it’s origins?

As I said already, a cuss word depends on time, region, language, and culture.

 

[tango]

In another region, time period, or language, they’ll have completely different cuss words. I think I remember someone from Germany saying that in Germany it’s highly offensive to call someone a “bad shepherd’s pie.” Different cultures have different cuss words. If I was living in Germany, I would refrain from calling someone a bad shepherd’s pie, because that culture deems it inappropriate. And if I went to England, I would refrain from using the word bloody as a cuss word. Although I have no problem saying either of those things here in America, because it’s not cussing here.

It's not even as simple as that. It's perfectly acceptable, for example, to order a steak "pink but not bloody" in a restaurant. The word isn't even considered particularly offensive by most English people I know, although it's perhaps worth avoiding its usage in more conservative settings.

It seems to me that this is one of many areas where it's more about grace than legalism. It's easy to point at expletive-laden tirades and equally easy to make a case that a Christian shouldn't be talking like that. At the same time I'm sure I'm not the only one who has occasionally used words I might not normally use when under stress or otherwise agitated. The language I use when giving a prepared sermon is much more calculated and selected than, say, the language I use when I find the corner of my bed in the dark with my little toe when heading to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

In the written word there's really no need for obscenity. In the spoken word it's best to avoid it, even if only to set ourselves apart from "the world" but it's not helpful to judge people if they do slip once in a while. And there's usually room for grace for people who are in the process of changing - if someone once used language that would make a drunken sailor blush it's not helpful to assume they'll turn on a dime and stop overnight.

 

[Asuk]

As I said already, a cuss word depends on time, region, language, and culture.

That is understood but you haven’t actually defined what a cuss is. You have only given examples of some words that are or were considered cuss words.

 

[NathanH83]

That is understood but you haven’t actually defined what a cuss is. You have only given examples of some words that are or were considered cuss words.

How old are you? I’m surprised you haven’t learned what cuss words are. Are you still in grade school? Or did you grow up Amish? You seriously have never learned what cuss words are?

 

[tango]

How old are you? I’m surprised you haven’t learned what cuss words are. Are you still in grade school? Or did you grow up Amish? You seriously have never learned what cuss words are?

The trouble with your entire premise is that it makes an immediate appeal to a sense of law rather than grace. Without listing a range of words that may or may not get automatically censored to make the point, you've got a whole range of words that may or may not be considered offensive depending on culture, context, and even which people you're talking to.

In some circles terms that might be considered a mild curse elsewhere are considered offensive. In other circles the f-word is thrown around like it means nothing. I don't think it's even meaningful to try and come up with a single objective definition of what is and what is not offensive.

 

[Asuk]

How old are you? I’m surprised you haven’t learned what cuss words are. Are you still in grade school? Or did you grow up Amish? You seriously have never learned what cuss words are?

I’m 51 and you can kiss my donkey.

 

[Lamb]

Thread is closed now.

 

[Lamb]

I'm going to go ahead and open this thread back up.

Let's remember to not address each other personally with insults or condescending remarks. Stick to the topic.