Is it a sin to cuss, curse or swear? What does the Bible say about cussing, cursing or swearing? Keep reading to to learn the answers to these questions. In this article, we are going to prove that cussing is a sin according to the Bible.
Cussing refers to the use of curse words, bad language or profane words at someone. Cuss words are also called swear or curse words.
It is obvious most times we say hurtful words especially when angry. We are told from the Scriptures that our spoken words are powerful. The Lord Jesus whatever comes out of a person's mouth is a reflection of what is in his heart.
"Make a tree a tree good and its fruits will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruits will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruits. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" [Mathew 12:34 NIV]
Is Cussing a Sin?
The quick answer is Yes. Cussing is a sin. It is the violation against the Lord's commands against impure, profane, unholy and impure speech. Most cuss words we use are sinful almost all the time even though some scholars argue that some cuss words are not sinful depending on the context in which they are used.
The Bible encourages believers in Christ to desist from obscene talk. Obscene talks are words or speeches that are offensive and dishonors the Lord's creation. The Lord clearly said that everyone will be judged for every useless word he has ever spoken.
"You can be sure that on Judgement Day everyone will have to give account of every useless word he has ever spoken. Your words will be used to judge you - to declare you either guilty or innocent" [Mathew 12: 36-37].
Jesus reiterated this in Luke; "A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart; a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" [Luke 6:45 GNB].
Evil in one's heart will eventually be expressed in curses or swearing. Cussing is something the Lord takes seriously from the time of Noah to Jesus'. As a believer in Christ, cussing ruins your witness of our Lord Jesus Christ. It also dishonors our God.
The Bible clearly teaches that having the same mouth to bless and cuss is dishonorable to the Lord.
"But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen " [James 3: 8-10 GNB]
You can't be praising God one moment, and in the next moment you are cussing. James makes it clear that born again Christians should not be characterized by evil speech. According to James, it is not appropriate for a believer to have both praise and curse coming out of his mouth. A Christian cannot praise Yahweh and at the same time cussing his neighbors or brothers.
The Lord wants everything that comes out of our mouths to be pure. I know we are humans and therefore fallible, but once you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, it should change how we view ourselves and those around us.
When we use cussing words, it shows the Lord and the society that we are not truly transformed inside and outside; thus, our witness of how Jesus has changed us might not be accurate and we might still probably be more of the world than we realize.
Some Bible Verses About Cussing
Romans 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect"
Mathew 15:11
"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person"
James 5:12
"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Proverbs 18:21
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits"
2 Timothy 2:16
"But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness "
Ephesians 4:29
"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provides what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you "
Conclusion
We have proven from the Scriptures that cussing is a sin and therefore should be avoided by any born again Christian. Whenever we use cuss words, we are sinning against ourselves, which we need to confess and ask Yahweh, our God for forgiveness. Our God is merciful and just, and is ready to forgive us whenever we fall.
Other related topics