Are cuss words sinful?

[Dave Slayer]

Are cuss words sinful? Many believe the f word and s word are cuss words. But what about words like jerk, stupid, or? Those words can be just as harmful as cuss words, but those are usually not frowned upon. Should not all unwholesome talk be considered sinful?

 

[GojuBrian]

I agree, all unwholesome words are sinful imo. They are tacky, hurtful, and disrespectful.

I often get on to kids around me who say 'friggin' or 'what the' or words of that nature.

There are right and wrong ways of communicating.

 

[Jon-Marc]

Personally, I consider all such "words" to be needed only by people with weak minds and limited vocabularies, which is why I gave it up when I was 16 and outgrew the need for it. Calling it an "adult language" is false. It's a very immature language used by people who lack the intelligence and vocabulary to get their point across without flouring it with offensive adjectives. I've known (and still do) people who would have very little to say if the profanity was removed from their vocabulary.

 

[Vic C.]

I agree with Jon and I'm often embarrassed when I'm in a conversation with a chronic cusser. Besides, I feel some of the words just posted are inappropriate.

 

[John]

If i am in the middle of the woods and i hit my leg with a chainsaw and say the F word i do not feel that i sinned as i have not aimed it at anyone, I think words become sinful when directed at another in a derogatory way. Now that does not mean one should go about in public and have every other word be F this or F that but to say it here and there amongst friends or in some cases alone i do not find it sinful.

 

[Vic C.]

Was the chainsaw running or not running?

 

[Guest]

What is a cuss word? What is unwholesome talk? These ideas will differ for each culture and each person within the culture. Thus, if one desires to determine if a given usage is sinful, the context would need to be defined.

 

[Aero_Hudson]

"Curse" words are subjective. What some find offensive others do not. Specific actions or behavior with intent can be sinful. "Curse" words in and of themselves are not. It is how they are used as some have already posted in this thread.

 

[Dave Slayer]

What is a cuss word? What is unwholesome talk? These ideas will differ for each culture and each person within the culture. Thus, if one desires to determine if a given usage is sinful, the context would need to be defined.

(edited) I chose to delete what I said because I may have said some words that were uncalled for. However, if anyone did see what I had originally posted, I was posting an example of a point I was trying to make. No harm was meant.

 

[Lewis]

Dave you said a word up there that is a no,no on this board, I will PM you.

 

[GojuBrian]

Please, people know what words are appropriate in any culture. Saying things like 'what is a cussword' is just trying to distort thr truth.

Cussing is cussing no matter who is around or if you are by yourself.

Matthew 15:11
What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

Matthew 15:18
18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'

I work with a guy that I can't stand to be around for that very thing. Every other word is 'F' 'GD' 'CS' etc...it is very excessive too. I asked him if he kisses his mother with that mouth, he just looked at me puzzled.

 

[Guest]

Please, people know what words are appropriate in any culture.

I will concede your point under one condition. You must explain what the symbol "ì½â€Ã«Â¼ë¦¬ ì‹ ë°œ" means to my friends. If you cannot do so, then you prove symbols can mean different things to different people. If you can do so, then you prove symbols mean the same thing to different people.

Good luck.

 

[JoJo]

What is the difference between a "cuss" and a "curse" word? Some say that all profanity is "cursing," but I say that a "curse" word is intentionally speaking negativity on someone or something, whereas a "cuss" word is like saying *expletive* when you stub your toe. Therefore, I have to believe that a "cuss" word is basically harmless if it isn't meant to be a curse on someone. Then again, no one would say *expletive* if they stubbed their toe at church. So there has to be something said for your culture's idea of profanity. (It has to be a cultural thing because, unless I'm mistaken, the S word is not used in the Bible)

 

[GojuBrian]

Please, people know what words are appropriate in any culture.

I will concede your point under one condition. You must explain what the symbol "ì½â€Ã«Â¼ë¦¬ ì‹ ë°œ" means to my friends. If you cannot do so, then you prove symbols can mean different things to different people. If you can do so, then you prove symbols mean the same thing to different people.

Good luck.

I meant people OF that culture,lol.

A foreigner might not understand what cuss words are other than is his own language.

 

[Guest]

I meant people OF that culture,lol.

Yes, I understood that. My challenge relates. It shows that "culture" is not so broadly defined. There can be a culture of millions and a culture of one. This realization shows symbol meaning is relative to the individual. Simply because people use "ì½â€Ã«Â¼ë¦¬ ì‹ ë°œ" (literally translated: elephant shoe) to mean a shoe elephants wear, does not mean that's the "only" or the "right" meaning of the symbol. In fact, amongst the culture of my friends and I, the symbol means, "I love you."

That said, a cussword is not always a cussword. What makes a cussword a cussword is contextually bound. This idea is not so radical. (Nor did it warrant an accusation of dishonest.) In fact, you have already given credence to the idea by admitting meaning is cultural bound in a broader sense. All I am doing is taking the idea to its logical conclusion.

 

[GojuBrian]

I guess you're right then.

...but I know a cuss word in my own language when I hear it!

 

[LostSoul]

I believe that scripture is pretty clear on this matter. Especially if we look into the book of James. It speaks of our tongues as a double edged sword. For from it comes praise to God, then yet....some of the most insulting words towards one another. So when the question is asked in terms of curse words, I would think that such a passage is not limited to them alone but rather just about any slanderous or illy intended remark.

James 3:5-12 (King James Version) 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

I apologize should any offense be taken. None was meant.

May God Bless You

Danielle

 

[Jon-Marc]

If I stub my toe, hit my knee, cut myself, or suddenly feel a sharp pain, cuss words or whatever one wants to call them do not come from my mouth. I don't mean to sound "holier than thou" since I'm not, but this May 18 will be 46 years that I have walked the narrow road with my Lord, and He has changed my way of thinking and of talking or responding to pain or moments that would make many people curse or use words that are offensive to at least some of us.

When God said that we would "speak with a new tongue", that meant that the words we speak would not be the same foul words that non-Christians speak. The unsaved should hear a difference in our words--as well as see a difference in what we do.

Before I retired, I carried a New Testament to work to read during my breaks. Being shy, I was never one to go around witnessing to people. However, one day I received a great compliment from a nurse (I worked at a VA Medical Center). She saw me reading my NT and said, "I thought there was something different about you."

Can people see a difference in us? Can they hear a difference in the way we talk, the words we use? Even if we don't go around witnessing to people, can the ones who know us and see us at work and other places tell that we are different? Or do our works and words look and sound the same as theirs? Do the unsaved see and hear something in us that would make them desire what we have, or do we look like them, sound like them, act like them, so that they think we ARE one of them? "We are in the world, but we are not of the world."

 

[Vic C.]

Please people when posting, be mindful of #3 in our TOS:

2 - No pornography links or photos. No vulgar sexual remarks. No foul language or symbols to suggest such remarks. This is a Christian site, plus, there may be young ones on the board.

It's not legalism, it's a simple request to keep the Forums clean from unnecessary 'clutter'. :yes

Thanks all.

 

[JoJo]

Thanks, Vic. I cleaned up my post a little.

Can people see a difference in us? Can they hear a difference in the way we talk, the words we use? Even if we don't go around witnessing to people, can the ones who know us and see us at work and other places tell that we are different? Or do our works and words look and sound the same as theirs? Do the unsaved see and hear something in us that would make them desire what we have, or do we look like them, sound like them, act like them, so that they think we ARE one of them? "We are in the world, but we are not of the world."

Jon-Marc, thank you for this awesome reminder, and also for your testimony. I think I'm going to print out your post and hang it on my refrigerator!