My language is one of the clearest barometers of the condition of my faith. When I’m on the right track, steady with my devotional time, attending church regularly, making prayer a priority, it doesn’t even occur to me to swear. When I’m drifting, it occurs to me but I control the urge. When I’m completely off the rails, I occasionally let it fly. So is harsh language and profanity ever acceptable for believers? After all, doesn’t Paul say in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that all things are lawful for me?
Mark Driscoll, who has been criticized for harsh language, has this to say in preparation for the upcoming conference:
Interestingly, John Piper has been called out on and apologized for the use of harsh language in similar circumstances, saying that God “kicks our ass.” As Driscoll and Piper point out, the bible does in fact use harsh language at times. So if and when we use it, how can we judge its correctness? As in a lot of other things, motive makes the difference:
I regret saying it. I am sitting here trying to figure out why I say things like that every now and then. I think it is a mixture of (sinful) audience titillation and (holy) scorn against my own flesh and against the devil, along with the desire to make the battle with Satan and my flesh feel gutsy and real and not middle-class pious. …
I think if I had it to do over, I would not say it. On the one hand, I don’t like fanning the flames of those who think it is hip and cool to swear for Jesus. That, it seems to me, is immature. On the other hand, I want those hip people to listen to all I say and write, and I hope that the Lord may get a hold of them and draw them out of immaturity and into the fullness of holiness. But it backfires if one becomes unholy to make people holy. I suspect there was too much of the unholy in my heart at that moment.
But here’s a moment when Piper’s harsh words were completely appropriate, and he probably could have gone further:
So there’s an occasional and rare use for harsh language. But that doesn’t include the profanity I use on occasion when I’m angry, stressed, or tired. Here’s what the bible says about that:
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
(Matthew 12:36)
Matthew Henry says: “Men’s language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication.”
Ephesians 4:29 and Colossians 3:8 reaffirm it – for believers, profanity really is out of bounds in common conversation. It’s not just a matter of Christians being squeamish about certain aspects of the world we live in; it’s a biblical mandate. When I use profanity it’s sin; further, it’s a symptom of a deeper problem. So how do I get the salt to cast in the spring? Immerse myself and meditate on the Word.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Philippians 4:8)
