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What’s the Deal with Christians and Cussing?

by | Sep 29, 2020 | Life Advice, Sisterhood | 16 comments

No, seriously. Is there a deal? Is it a sin to say cuss words? They’re just words, so what’s the big deal? What if you’re just joking around? And if cussing IS wrong, why do so many Christians cuss casually without conviction?

I got these questions from some high school kids in my husband’s and my small group recently, and to be honest I didn’t know how to answer them.

My whole life I’ve been told not to cuss (we also couldn’t say “hate”, “sucks”, or “nasty”.. and fun fact: my mom still refers to “fart” as the “F word” ?). While I felt in my heart cussing was wrong, I never stopped to ask my four year old’s favorite question ?? “Why?”

This is why I love high schoolers who are new in their faith (and toddlers!), they teach me so much more than I could teach myself:

 That it’s important to understand the reasons for the standards we set in our lives.

•• They remind me that when we are bold & humble enough to ask the simple questions, our faith can be radically deepened.

SO, I’m asking the question.

I’m asking for me.

I’m asking for you.

I’m asking for our children.

I’m asking for all of us.

Is it sinful to say cuss words? And why?

The short answer is YES. But stick with me, because the long answer is one I think we really need.

1. There isn’t a “list” of forbidden cuss words; It’s more dangerous than that.

Paul warns us in Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome (filthy) talk come from your mouth, but only what is good for building someone up in need.”

Then he says in Ephesians 5:4 “Nor should there be any obscenity, foolish talk or crude joking, which are out of place.”

?? Paul knew that to honor God with our tongues, we needed more than just a list of bad words to avoid, because what classifies as inappropriate language changes over time and across cultures. For example: The cuss words said today aren’t even in the Bible.

This is why instead of a list, the Bible gives us these verses in Ephesians as a standard to discern what is “out of place”, unfitting & dishonorable to God (aka sinful), that we shouldn’t use. Regardless of the 8 words in our English language deemed cuss words, if a word or phrase is unwholesome, vulgar, foolish, filthy, crude, or obscene, it is sinful to say. 

2. God isn’t laughing.

I get it. The joke is funnier and your friends laugh harder when you say the cuss word. But please hear me on this – God isn’t laughing.

And if God doesn’t find our sin funny, why should we?

I think back to when I was in school, and wanted so badly to be popular like the cool girls. I remember lying on my mom’s closet floor in tears, and hearing her say to me, “Who decides what’s popular? Being popular is simply being known for something. What do you want to be known for?”

Those words gave me such confidence to stop looking to the world to define what’s “cool”, and start looking at what does God say is cool.

I asked my high school girls (and myself), “Do you think God would say cussing is cool?”

Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

We are called to go out and make disciples. But we cannot win people to Christ by looking like the world.

3. Our words bring life or death. 

I once heard a nutritionist say that everything we put in our mouths is either making us healthier or making us sicker; and thinking about this will help us make wiser food choices. 

But What if we used the same thought about what comes out of our mouths? 

Proverbs 18:21 says “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Think about that for a minute. Every single word you speak either brings someone closer to Jesus (life) or pushes them farther away (death).

Woah. We have a serious responsibility as Christians, to stop and choose the words we speak wisely so that we may produce fruit that makes everyone around us healthier.

I love this verse in Luke 14:23 “And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” 

Are we COMPELLING people to come to Jesus with the words we speak?

4. Who makes your rules?

Who decided cussing is cool? Ya’ll, it’s the same guy who decided getting drunk is cool, and that gossiping is cool, and that watching pornography is cool.

It’s the same guy who convinced Eve that eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden was cool.

His name is Satan – the Prince of Lies, and wow, is he sneaky? The devil has taken over our televisions, our music and even our coffee shops, with so much filthy language in attempt to slowly desensitize us to the sound of sin.

And it’s working.

I asked my high school girls, “What percentage of people your age do you think cuss?” They said: 100%. What’s even more shocking to me, is that their answer didn’t change when I asked specifically about their Christian friends.

Satan convinces us that God isn’t concerned with something so small as our tongue. Lies!

In James 3, God urges us that although the tongue is a small part of the body, it controls the whole course of our life. 

“No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” 

Friends, God takes our words seriously, and so should we. “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” James 1:26 

5. It’s hard to break bad habits.

How can we tame our tongues when Scripture says it’s impossible?

Matthew 19:26 says, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We tame our tongues by relying not on ourselves and our own will power, but by partnering with the Holy Spirit and using the supernatural strength of the Lord inside of us.

Jesus warns us to not conform to the patterns of this world, but then gives us this hope: that amidst our most sinful addictions and bad habits, with Jesus we can be transformed through the renewal of our mind. (Romans 12:2)

Jesus thinks too highly of us to merely give us a rule book to follow. Christianity is not moralism. He wants our hearts, filled with the genuine desire to submit to His standards and bring honor to His name, so that we may make Him known to others. 

•• So, girlfriends, are we bringing Him glory with the words we speak or are we tarnishing our testimony for Christ?

My prayer for all of us is that whatever standard we set for our lives and our families, we know the biblical reason behind it. I pray God renews our mind and transforms the language we use.  I pray that we are so filled with gratitude and the Holy Spirit, that there is no room for unwholesome words to pour out of our hearts. I pray we stop looking to our peers and pop culture to tell us what’s cool and acceptable — and that we become known for bringing Life to people around us through our words.

Madison is a 6’ 2” mama of three littles (4, 2 & newborn!), living in Bloomington, IN with her college sweetheart hubby, Griffen. When she is not working full-time for a leading tech company – she is baking her signature chocolate chip cookies and getting real with teenagers in her living room. Madison is a tall girl with a tall dream to make a difference for the Kingdom through the lives of young women.

Madison is also an ambassador on the LO sister app! Want more encouragement from Madison? Join today at losister.com!

And follow Madison on Insta @themidwestskinny

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16 Comments

  1. Scott Turner

    Mama girl (Madison) speaks the truth! Such a great read and I hope your words touches ALL of us, not only the Christians, but everyone!! God is smiling down on your great work and words!
    #alllivesmatter

    • Madison

      HA! Love you dad. Thank you for being such a pure example of how to use our words to bring life to others. I’ve never heard you say a single cuss word and wow what a testament to the self control and gentle man you are. Love you!

    • Krista Myers

      This was such a refreshing reminder! I am a teacher and I like to remind the students of the verse in Psalms that says “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable unto to you O Lord my strength and my redeemer.” What we think on, we will speak of, and what we speak of, we will pursue. I will share this with them! Thank you!

  2. Natalie

    Wow! I’m 16 years old and a bunch of my friends cuss. And every time I’d try to bring up the topic on how it was a bad thing, they’d ask me to explain why it was and I didn’t know how to respond. This has really helped me a lot. Thank you.

    • Madison

      Awe I am so glad, girl! I’m 29 and just now am figuring the answer out ?.

  3. Alexis E.

    This post is so full of wisdom that applies to everyone! It is so thoughtfully structured and full of great points. This line really hit the nail on the head: “The devil has taken over our televisions, our music and even our coffee shops, with so much filthy language in attempt to slowly desensitize us to the sound of sin.” Satan is so smart and knows that sometimes the most affective attack is a slow, steady one… we continuously hear swear words from friends, musicians we like, politicians or business people we admire… and we stop noticing the sharp edges on those words!
    Thank you so much for tackling such an uncomfortable, unpopular subject and for calling us higher Madison!!

    • Madison

      Thank YOU for your kind words. I couldn’t agree more. It’s hard stuff when filthy talk is everywhere. God calls us to not be of this world, and it’s a daily conscious decision we have to make- to live for Jesus.
      Xoxxxoxoxo

  4. Glenda Mayernick

    Thanks, Sadie, for your stand! ????

    • Madison Dahlstrom

      Thank you for reading! It means the world. God bless.

  5. Kellie

    “Are we COMPELLING people to come to Jesus with the words we speak?” Wow- this was humbling! I need to filter what comes out of my mouth and realize that God gave me a voice and it’s purpose is to bring Him glory and shine His light. Cursing might not be the worst thing, but it’s certainly not encouraging others and not bearing His image. Love this- thanks Madison!

    • Madison Dahlstrom

      Thank you so much for reading, Kellie! I’m so glad the holt spirit connected with you through this. You’re so right. It’s not easy and we’re not perfect. When we slip, gods grace covers it. But praying people awaken to this sin that’s becoming so normalized. Xoxo

  6. Aly

    Loved this! Today people are surrounded by so many people who talk with cuss words – including themselves. This was such a great reminder to refresh the fact that if God wouldn’t like it, then it’s not just a word – it’s not good or pure. Thank you!

    • Madison Dahlstrom

      Thank you for your words!! And for reading. Couldn’t agree more girl. Xo

  7. Tipanga Badenhorst

    This post speaks so much truth and wisdom !
    Loved this post! – more people need to read these words

  8. Natalee Simone

    This really blessed me. Thank you, Madison. I’m 18, and there are words that I let slip. I started getting comfortable with it again. But, this post was right on time because you helped me realized I should be uncomfortable when anything that doesn’t pronounce life into myself or others. It doesn’t benefit me (or others). So, I am challenging myself to think more about what I want to put in the atmosphere. ??

  9. Ella

    Amen! I’m so glad I read this today! This is so good!!!

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