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Text: Ephesians 5:4 - "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks."

OFFENSIVE WORDS

Let us start by looking up some scripture to help us understand how serious offensive words are. Look up each of these and then tell in your own words what they mean:

1) Exodus 21:17 -

2) Deuteronomy 5:11 -

3) Psalm 111:9 -

4) Proverbs 16:27 -

5) Matthew 15:10-11 -

In today's society offensive language has become common place. Gone is the purity of language used by Godly people, in most cases. Profane and obscene words don't seem to shock as they did in days gone by. Remember
when men would not use profane words in the presence of women. Now even women spout out profanity without blinking an eye and the men don't even acknowledge a woman is in their midst anymore when talking vulgar and obscenely. We seem to have become so accustomed to hearing words that shame and disrespect people and worse yet, God, that it slips out of our mouths without a thought or we listen to it being done and say nothing. Christians should not be so willing to hear such things, little lone say them! Doing so puts God by the wayside instead of up front, close and personal in our lives! We must have a deep abiding respect for the name of God and for God Himself, being careful to not be irreverent and disrespectful of Him. The third of the Ten Commandments was given for a reason, to let us know that we cannot allow ourselves to show disrespect to God or His name in any way, shape or form.

6) Quote Exodus 20:7 and give its meaning in your own words.

SWEARING, CURSING and OATHS

7) Read Matthew 26:69-74. What would you call what Peter did, when confronted that He was one of the disciples of Jesus?

8) Now quote Matthew 26:74 -

Peter realized the offense he had committed and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75). Would we be able to say the same in the way that we talk when we are out in the world? Could we be immediately recognized as a follower of Jesus or would the world around us be shocked to hear that we are a Christian? It took only one look from the Lord to bring Peter back to his senses and cause him to weep bitterly. Read Luke 22:60-62 and see how quickly Peter let his tongue rule his senses and overpower his convictions.

Like Peter we can also bring ourselves down, unfortunately we do not put Christ where He belongs when we do so. Our tongue can ruin the whole meaning of our lives if we don't have it under control.

9) What did James say about not bridling the tongue? Give scripture reference for your answer.

10) James gives much more instruction on the tongue and compares it to what in James 3? Give the verses involved and explain the comparisons given.

If we believe that the Scripture is inspired and given for our teaching, correction and instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16) then we must see how important it is to bridle the tongue in every respect and how easily it is to fall into the snare of the devil where the tongue is concerned. Cursing (even bywords),swearing, and oaths, even when camouflaged, are deadly serious errors in our judgment.

PURITY vs. PROFANITY

11) Proverbs 15:26 - "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the _____ of the _____ are pleasant words."

12) Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are _____, whatsover things are _______, whatsoever things are _____, whatsoever things are ______, whatsoever things are _______, whatsoever things are of _____

______; if there be any virtue, and if their be any praise, think on these things."

13) I Timothy 4:12 - "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ________ ___ _____ __________, in _____, in ____________, in _______, in ______, in _______, in _______."

I4) I Peter 4:16 - " Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him _______ God on this behalf."

Have you ever heard someone in conversation say something they shouldn't, such as profanity or even bywords of profanity? Have you heard someone else correct them upon use of this kind of language and then heard the offender say, or maybe even thought to yourself, "But it's just a byword not the real thing!" So called innocent bywords that are used so often by people, even Christians, can be traced back to curse words. It seems they are accepted because they aren't the real thing or because they weren't meant as a curse word. Ignorance of meanings doesn't excuse us or make them any less profane. That would be like distinguishing between "a little white lie" and "a big black lie" either is a sin, there is no difference. In today's society we have somehow lost the ability to call an apple an apple and sin a sin! Let's now take a look at the use of profanity and delve into what is profane whether we are ignorant of it or not.

USE OF PROFANITY

I am always amazed at how many say they never heard that the things mentioned in the excerpt following are considered to be taking the Lord's name in vain. I remember a lesson taught by a minister from my hometown congregation, where I grew up, that has always stuck with me, has always been in my mind, and I have used this lesson several times since my teen years to teach other teens and even in my ladies Bible classes about the use of profanity and just what constitutes using the Lord's name in vain. I would like to share that lesson now.

It is only a section of lesson #2 titled: You're the Product of Your
Habits, from the book ,A Father Talks To Teenagers, by P.D. Wilmeth. The
section it is under is titled, Undesirable Habits, subtitled, Swearing. This
book is still in publication, however, I got permission to reproduce this to
use here in this instance. However, if you decide to use
this lesson word for word in a class then I was told you would need to buy
the book not reproduce and use as a copy to hand out. This book was
published originally in 1959 and is available through 21st Century Christian,
2809 Granny White Pike, Nashville, Tennessee, 37204. This book is still an
excellent study for all Christian and non-Christian teens. The truths of the
Bible never change, therefore, the basis of this book is still true and
factual.

Excerpt from: A FATHER TALKS TO TEENAGERS by P.D. Wilmeth
(pg. 26-27 - UNDESIRABLE HABITS - Swearing)

"Are there habits of oldsters or teenagers that you dislike? I know
some that really irk me. I perhaps have plenty myself that do the same to
others. Someone has said: "Habits are either bobs or sinkers, cork or lead.
They hold up or they hold you down."

Swearing
The Bible says: "Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord they God
in vain" (Exodus 20:7). This habit also violates the teachings of Christ.
It is also a symptom of character flaws. Let us face up to it. Swearing, or
foul suggestive language, usually begins as an imitation of some adult. But
it soon becomes a habit through sheer laziness. Did you ever hear the line:
"He not what to say and so he swore?" Both teenagers and older people use
some expressions which indicate the borderline of swearing. You've heard a
lot of them and perhaps have formed the habit of using such as:
"Gosh" (softened form of "God"), used as a mild oath. "Darn" means "Damn,"
"Golly" -- a substitute for God. "What the deuce." This really means "What
the devil."

We could go on, but this suggests what we are driving at. There
are but about three reasons why young people swear. It may be because they
think it is "smart," or a cover up because of ignorance (he just doesn't know
what to say), or it is pretty sheer laziness (he knows but he won't take the
trouble to say it.)."
----------------------end of excerpt-------------------------

It always amazes me the things we as Christians say and think nothing
of it but would not take the name of the Lord in vain in what we term,
"actuality." Why, because we have not been taught the real meaning of the
words we use or we choose not to believe they mean that. Brothers and
sisters how can we not believe what they mean when even in Webster's
Dictionary they say they are mild forms of an oath. I will include these
definitions here from Webster's Dictionary as a means of verifying that even
to the world they mean this, so why not to us as Christians.

1. "Gosh" -- [euphemism for God] -- used as a mild oath

2. "Darn" -- vb [euphemism]: Damn
"Darned" -- adj. or adv.: Damned
"Darn" -- n.: damn

3. "Deuce" - Devil, Dickens -- used chiefly as a mild oath
"Deuced" - adj.: Damned, confounded

4. "Jeez" - interjection; euphemism for Jesus;
- used as a mild oath or introductory expletive (as to express surprise)

5. "geez" - variant of jeez

We are told in the Word of God in Matthew 5:34 - "But I say unto you,
Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne." Also in James
5:12 - "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven,
neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and
your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." If we believe the words of
God then why would we as His children use an oath even in its mild form to
express ourselves? Let us all pray that we learn what the things we say
mean, and be careful not to use things that our God would not be pleased with.
I have been called a fanatic for my views on this subject but I have
come to the conclusion that I would rather be a fanatic for God than lukewarm
for the world!

There are many other words and phrases that we should be careful of and some may seem extreme but when we stop and consider that we are suppose to be "a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (I Peter 2:9), then isn't it only right that we should stand out as examples and not fall in with society's ideas.

More words and phrases to consider that I found in my study are:

Heck - meaning Hell

Lord, lordy mercy, lausy mercy, - meaning Lord, have mercy

Great Jehosophat - meaning Jehovah

Judas Priest, Criminy Christmas, Jeeez - meaning Jesus Christ

Here are words that have been derived for swearing:

I swany - meaning I swear

my heavens, heavens above, heavenly days, heaven help us, heaven forbid

meaning by heaven

great day, great day in the morning - meaning by the judgment

my lands, land of Goshen, my landy mercy, lands'sake, what in the world - meaning by earth

gee, gee-whiz, geerusalem - meaning by Jerusalem

Matthew 5:34-37 tells us plainly not to swear at , not by heaven, for it is God's throne; not by earth because it is God's footstool; by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King; not by your head, but to let our 'yes be yes' and are 'no be no'. Why? Because anything beyond is from the evil one.

QUESTIONS
1) Read Leviticus 24:10-23. What punishment was required of the son who blasphemed God's name?

2) What did Jesus tells us to do to people who curse us? (Luke 6:28)

3) Read James 5:12. What positive advice does James give to prevent us from swearing?

This marks the end of this course. Eight weeks of reading and studying about the tongue and what is required of us as Christians in controlling the tongue and using it for good and not letting it rule us by bad usage. As we come to a close take this time to meditate on what you have learned and to pray about it and apply what the Bible tells us into your life.

15. Compose a 50 word composition telling us what you have learned from this course and why agree with what you have learned or disagree with what you have learned. Remember to use scripture to prove your points.

Beverly Rainwater

RainwaterB3@aol.com

Isaiah 40:31 - “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; and they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

May God lift you up and teach you to fly on wings as eagles!