By Your Words . . .

September 19, 2004

Introduction

 

Jesus said, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Mat 12:37 NKJV).  That’s a pretty sobering thought.  In our recent questionnaire, there were at least two requests for a sermon that addressed the topic of foul language.

 

How do you define foul language?  How does the Bible define foul language?  The New King James uses the word foul three times, but never in connection with speech.  I’ll give you my interpretation of foul language, and then we will look at what the Bible has to say on the subject.

 

As we all know, there are words that have to do with private body parts, body functions or activities of a sexual nature.   People describe these parts and activities with what we call foul language, or curse words.  The words themselves are sometimes used simply as what we call profanity.

 

Body

 

I.        What does the Bible say about profanity?

 

1. The word “profanity” does not occur in the NKJV, KJV, NASV, or NIV.

2. The word profane does occur.

 

(Heb 12:16 NKJV)  lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

 

1.      Esau was profane, not because of foul language, but because he made light of what was sacred.

2.      Profanity cheapens, or makes “dirty,” things that should not be handled with such language.

3.      The expression “four letter words” has come into use because much of the language of profanity, or foul language consist of four letter words as well as other curse words which don’t have a “dirty” association.

 

II.     What is the association of foul language?

 

1. Paul associates foul language with impure activities.

 

(Eph 5:3-4 NKJV)  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; {4} neither filthiness [shamefulness, i.e. obscenity:--filthiness], nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

 

1.      Just as Paul associates the actual act of fornication with the filthy talk, there is that association in our minds with people who talk that way.

2.      Paul gives the alternative:  “but rather giving of thanks.”

3.      Remember the statement with which we began our discussion.

 

2. Foul language does not honor God.

 

1.      Foul language should never be a part of the Christians vocabulary.

2.      A Christian’s speech should be with grace, seasoned with salt.

 

(Col 4:5-6 NKJV)  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. {6} Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

 

3.      In a similar verse, Paul tells us to walk circumspectly.

 

(Eph 5:15-17 NKJV)  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, {16} redeeming the time, because the days are evil. {17} Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 

a.       We are to be different – “not as fools, but as wise.”

b.      “but understand what the will of the Lord is”

c.       We are to shine as lights in the world.

 

(Phil 2:14-16 NKJV)  Do all things without complaining and disputing, {15} that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, {16} holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

 

III.   What is the problem with foul language today?

 

I asked one of the ones who suggested this topic, the reason he wanted it discussed.  His answer was the young people, because they use it so freely.  Then I had a flash back to my school teaching days, and I really had forgotten how bad it can be.

 

A.     As a teacher, I sometimes objected to what students were saying and have them ask me, “What’s wrong with that?”

 

B.     What is their foul language talking about?

 

1.      They describe rape.

2.      They may use words basically describing oral sex.

3.      They use other derogatory words that describe private body parts, and to all of this, their answer is, What’s wrong with it?

 

a.       It is offensive!

b.      It tends to lighten the seriousness of  immoral acts or activities.

c.       It promotes acceptance of things that are wrong.

d.      It puts God’s design for our bodies and our relationships in the wrong perspective.

e.       It is degrading to man, detracting from our being made in the image of God.

 

C.  Paul told Timothy how to behave as a young person.

 

(1 Tim 4:12 NKJV)  Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

IV.  What did Jesus say?

 

(Mat 12:35-37 NKJV)  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. {36} "But I say to you that for every idle¹ word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. {37} "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

 

¹argos, ar-gos'; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and G2041; inactive, i.e. unemployed; (by impl.) lazy, useless:--barren, idle, slow.   Thayer: 1) free from labour, at leisure

2) lazy, shunning the labour which one ought to perform

 

A.     If there is good in our heart, then it will produce good words.

B.     If there is evil in our hearts, then it will produce evil things, including foul language as well as other evil things.

C.     What are “idle words”? 

 

1.      The NIV and NASB translate the word “Careless.”

2.      One explanation is that some would say of their words, “I was just kidding,” “I didn’t mean anything by that.”  These are attempts to make our words “idle,” but Jesus says, “It won’t work! You will give account of every word, whether you call them idle or not.”

 

Conclusion

 

What of you speech?  Is it the kind of speech that uplifts, or that pulls down?

 

What of your life?  Is it being lived for Christ, or for yourself?

 

Are you right with God?