The book of James contains only five chapters, but it is filled with instructions for the Christian. This book has been called “The Christian Book of Proverbs” because there are many moral principles taught in its short context.
James speaks about wrong attitudes, wisdom, prayer, controlled passions, and converting sinners. Some of the verses are simple statements, stand-alone verses with powerful messages.
James is probably best known for his instructions relating to the tongue. One can’t listen to television or even hear a conversation today without hearing things that James would consider sinful. From the familiar OMG to cursing God and man, we hear it all.
At one time it was illegal in our city to use profanity in front of a minor. It is hard to believe that law ever existed given the conversations I hear in restaurants, grocery stores, schools, and even church buildings today, from adults and children.
Since the Bible does not give us specific words that we cannot say, just what does it say about profanity, and what is our attitude about hearing it and using it? Matthew 12:36-37 says, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (KJV).
One of the definitions of the word idle is, “Lacking foundation in fact; useless and worthless” (The American Heritage Dictionary of The English Language).
Sadly, when people use profanity and euphemistic phrases, they are using words that are useless and worthless. They have no value in the context in which they are used. They hold no value except to show that the person using profanity is a profane person.
Let’s define two other terms from the same dictionary and then look at some word definitions that may surprise you. First, profane means, “Showing contempt or irreverence toward God or sacred things.” Euphemism is, “The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.”
I am always uncomfortable when I hear cursing or profanity. I am afraid some people have become so use to hearing it that they don’t pay much attention to such language. But just as I am uncomfortable with profanity, I am also uncomfortable by euphemisms. These words are so common that most people don’t realize they are just as sinful as profane words or curse words.
I hear even little children say “OMG” or the actual words, “Oh my God.” You may use that phrase yourself, but what are you really saying? What about “gosh”, “golly”, “gee”, “my goodness”, “darn”, “doggone”, or “heck.” Do you ever use those words? What are you really saying when you use those words? Let’s check our dictionary and see what they mean.
- Gosh—“Used to express mild surprise or delight (Euphemistic variant of God).
- Golly—“Used to express mild surprise or wonder (Euphemism for God).”
- Gee—“Used as a mild expletive or exclamation of surprise. (Euphemistic shortening of Jesus).”
- Goodness—“A euphemism for God in such phrases as Thank goodness!.”
- Darn—“Euphasism for damn.”
- Doggone—“Euphemism for damn.”
- Heck—“Euphemism for hell.”
- OMG—Oh My God—This is simply taking God’s name in vain.
You may say, “I don’t mean that when I say those words. They are just expression.” I understand that you may feel that way, but let’s look at the scriptures. Look at the 35th verse of Matthew 12. “A good man out of the treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Our words come first from our hearts and then proceed out of our mouth. Can you honestly say these words are good words?
James says, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:10). Verse 13 says, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” I can’t imagine that anyone would think any of those words we defined above could be considered anything but profane, useless words.
God wrote in the Ten Commandments that we are not to take His name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Even though we do not live under the Ten Commandments any longer (Rom. 10:4), through Jesus’ own words and the words of the writer, James, we have a similar command.
Now that you know the meaning of those words, and you know that those euphemisms are the same as profane words, won’t you consider changing the language you use? Let there be only blessings and not cursing that comes from your heart to your lips.
Sandra Oliver