Common Swearing

Richard Hollerman

This may sound a bit strange to you. Let’s define a couple terms before we proceed further. First consider “common.” There are many different definitions of this word in the dictionary: “belonging equally to, or shared alike by, two or more or all in question.” Again, “Of frequent occurrence; usual; familiar.” ( Random House Webster’s College Dictionary).

I can recall that my father would often say something like, “We don’t ‘swear’ in this house.” Or something like, “We never swear.”  The same source as above, we also find that “swearing” has multiple meanings. It can mean, “To use profane oaths or language.” Dad meant the term to refer to “cursing” or the like. It was something that we—his children—would not want to do. I don’t think that I’ve “sworn” at all. Or “cursed” at all. So whether we use the term, “common,” or the other term, “swearing,” it was something that we and all sincere Christians would abstain from.

This is not to say that to “not” do something sinful or to do something good and right would give us entrance into God’s presence for all eternity. No, it was just something that we chose to do or not do because it was the right thing to do—or the wrong thing—depending on what the practice was.

“Common swearing,” therefore would be a manner of speech that was wrong but which was something that was “commonly” practiced in the world. Many of my friends or others of the same age would “swear” or use profanity. Whereas the world would use a certain kind of language that was wrong or evil or insensitive, we (as Christians) would want to always speak that which is true, and right, and good, and peerless. We would want to speak not only truth but also that which was kind, loving, and beneficial. Noting else would do—for God (especially) and for our parents also.

What about you? I have no idea what your background might be and what you were told to say or do as a Child. Maybe your own father and mother used bad language before you and others. This may be a form of speech that you picked up at age 2, 3, or 4. Or maybe age 8 or 10 or 12. If your parents may have used this questionable language, you may also have learned this. If this is something that your friends, your cousins, your extended family, or your neighbors did, you may have copied their bad language. If you went to a public school, you may have picked up a certain vocabulary from your friends or classmates.

God’s Word says that “every careless word that people speak, they shall  give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:26-37).

We read in Scripture that “no unwholesome word” is to “proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as it good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

We read further the attitude that we should have in our speaking: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Although spoken to fellow-believers, it is still good to keep in mind—and follow.

There are many other verses dealing with speech—particularly good speech or even negative speech. We refer to: Ephesians 4:15; 5:4;  Colossians 3:17; 4:6; James 1:26; Luke 6:45; and in the Old Testament: Proverbs 16:24; 17:27; 18:21; 31:26.

But we don’t all learn from what we should do or say. We may not learn that a certain behavior or speech is to be avoided. We have heard someone say, “I’ll wash out your mouth with soap.” But this threat (which is unbiblical) doesn’t solve the whole problem of a child’s speech. Especially, let’s remember that a 10, 12, 14, or 16 year old child may begin or continue using a common but wrong term in his or her day-to-day speech. Those who are older—perhaps in their 20s or 30s or 40s or older—may also use evil speech that must be renounced.

The question that we need to ask ourselves is whether something is good and right. Scripture says that we are not to use “abusive speech from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8b). Paul warns, “Let no unwholesome [literally, “rotten”] word proceed from your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29). Verse 31 of the same chapter gives a number of examples of the wrongful word that can fill our mouth.

We’ve heard of a person saying that he had a job somewhere and the laborers on the job had terrible speech. He or she said that such a fellow-worker always had filthy speech! This is how the person learned to speak with unwholesome words. We do learn from the way that others around us speak and what they do. Is this something that you keep in mind when you are around worldly people on the job or elsewhere?

Further, if you are a father or mother, do you use questionable speech before your children? Even if they learn certain “bad” words, maybe you reprimand them—but what about your own mouth? Whether they hear you or not, if something is evil, wrong, abusive, or untruthful, you and I must avoid this sort of speech. Only in this way will your children will learn what is good and right, pure and impure, kind of inconsiderate.

We urge you to renounce “common swearing” and every other foul word in your language. Keep your mouth pure, good and right. Keep from the “rottenness” that so often characterizes speech in the world.