People who don’t believe in God have certain opinions about cuss words that some Christians may not find inappropriate. But what does the Bible really say about cussing?
As a believer, you must be careful about the things you say to yourselves and to others because words are powerful. If you claim to be a Christian, your speech and conduct must be in line with Biblical teachings and principles. Using curse words or harsh words when communicating with others is not an attribute of a child of God.
Nowadays, many believers use profane language just to conform with worldly trends. They want to be funny and likable, despite not knowing the meaning of the offensive words they say. In some cases, a Christian may use obscene language out of frustration, anger, or pain.
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Regardless, such things have serious repercussions in the sight of God. Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 12:36 that everyone will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they speak. Therefore, we must always think thoroughly before saying whatever comes to mind.
Several Bible verses provide clear instructions about the things we should say and those to avoid. Now, let’s discuss what God’s word says about cussing and its implications in the lives of Christians.
What Does the Bible Say About Cussing?
1. Cussing Reflects An Unclean Heart
Luke 6:45 makes us understand that people who consistently say bad words to others without feeling guilty or remorseful have an impure heart. This verse of the scripture says, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
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In the book of Matthew 15:11, Jesus says that what goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them. Rather, it is what comes out of their mouth that defiles them. He further says that the things that come out of a person’s heart come from the heart, and these defile them (Matthew 15:18).
If you want to know the thought process of a person, simply pay attention to the things they say. Followers of Christ who have the Holy Spirit in their hearts believe that the use of foul language is a sin.
On the contrary, the people of the world don’t see anything wrong with the use of profanity. Unfortunately, some Christians belong in the category of those who engage in foolish talk and discussions.
During your interactions with people every day, it’s easy to pick up a slang or vulgar language and start saying them jokingly. Therefore, you must follow the divine instructions in the book of Proverbs 4:23, which says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issue of life.”
This suggests that you must be careful about the things you see and hear daily because the eyes and ears are the gateway to the heart.
2. Cussing Undermines One’s Christian Belief
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Christians who use cuss words have not submit to God completely. It’s either they don’t know what it means to be a true believer or they’re not ready to be fully committed to God. As a believer, people will judge you based on the things you say and the things you do. In the book of Acts 11:26, we learnt that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch because they were behaving like Christ.
Apostle Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:4 that, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
In the body of Christ, to whom much is given, much is expected. Calling the name of the Lord, going to church on Sunday mornings, and reading the Bible every day is not enough. Our words must truly show those who relate with us on a regular basis that we’re children of God and not pretenders.
If your neighbors or co-workers always complain about your use of offensive language when speaking to them, be careful. Ask God to help you bridle your tongue and make a conscious effort to become better.
Read and meditate on the word of God in James 1:26, which says, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”
Further, determine to obey God’s command in Ephesians 4:29, which says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Believe it or not, the use of crude language or corrupt words can result in the death of those who speak them. Proverbs 18:21 makes us understand that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
In the modern world today, many people brag that they have freedom of speech and can freely say anything they want to anyone. But as followers of Christ, the word of God tells us that things we say can bring life, peace, progress, and all the good things we can imagine to us. On the other hand, some words can also bring all manners of evil things into a person’s life.
In the book of 2 Kings 2:23-24, the Bible tells us that as Elisha was walking along the road, some young boys were making fun of him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”. Then he turned around and cursed them in the name of the Lord and two bears came out of the woods and mauled fourty two of them to death.
There’s a possibility that the group of boys has cussed several people in the past and didn’t suffer the consequences of their actions. Moreover, if they had known that Elisha was a powerful man of God, they wouldn’t have said hurtful words to him. Hence, it’s better to keep quiet than to say things that will bring problems into our lives.
4. Cussing Dishonors God
If a person prays and sings praises to God in the morning and they go about their day cursing others, they don’t honor God. We know this from the book of James 3:8-10, which emphasizes the need to tame the tongue as believers.
These verses of the scripture say, “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
Avoiding the use of bad language and other unwholesome talk is proof that we’re truly committed to pleasing God. Praying to God and cursing others is a sign of lukewarmness and hypocrisy, which shows that an individual doesn’t know what it means to be a true Christian.
Some believers find it difficult to control the things they say whenever they’re angry. But James 1:19 makes us understand that “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
As Christians, we must live a life that honors God in our speech and conduct so that we can be true ambassadors of Christ in this sinful world.
5. Cuss Words Lead to More Sins
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2 Timothy 2:16 says, “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.” This implies that the more a person engages in unholy discussions, the more they will be tempted to commit more sin.
Usually, people adopt the habit of using cuss words subconsciously by mingling with those who say them regularly. And if they continue to indulge in this unhealthy habit, they’ll adopt more sinful ones that will draw them away from God.
Someone who feels nothing is wrong with cursing others will not see anything wrong with gossiping, backbiting, and telling lies once in a while. They may even progress to bearing false witness against others and fighting just to prove a point.
As Christians, God doesn’t want us to engage in shameful behaviors that can tarnish our image. Keep the words of Colossians 3:8 in mind at all times to prevent falling into the temptation of the enemy and sinning against God. It says, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
6. God will Judge Those Who Cuss
The word of God tells us that, on the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak (Matthew 12:36). Similarly, Matthew 5:22 says, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
In the book of Genesis 1, we learned that the heaven and earth were created by the word of the Lord. This suggests that God takes words seriously, and He will reward everyone according to their utterances, here on earth and in heaven.
Miriam and Aaron thought they could speak against Moses and go scot-free because he’s their brother. But they didn’t understand that Moses was a friend of God, and anyone who condemns him will be condemned. It was at the moment when God afflicted Miriam that they knew the implication of their unholy conversation (Numbers 12:1-16).
In the book of 2 Kings 7, the Bible tells that Elisha gave a declaration from the Lord that a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria. Because of his unbelief, the officer whom the king leaned on responded that, “Even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” And Elisha cursed him that he will see it with his eyes and won’t eat of it. Sadly, the word of Elisha came to pass in the life of the officer.
As we go through our Christian journey, let’s be mindful about our choice of words to ourselves and to others.
How To Stop the Habit of Cussing
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Anyone can fall into the temptation of using cuss words, including ministers of God. But the most important thing is to determine to stop this unpleasant habit before it causes irreversible problems.
If you’re struggling to quit the use of profanity, here are some of the ways to overcome it:
Surrender your life to God, and invite the Holy Spirit into your heart
Read and meditate on the word of God and pray every day
Disassociate from the people who cuss or use offensive language
Learn to exercise self-control in your dealings with people
Avoid those things that trigger you to use cuss words
Get rid of unholy images, music or video content, as they can quickly make their way into your heart
Replace crude languages with positive words or bible verses
Join a Bible-believing church and be fully committed to their programs
Talk to a Christian counselor or mentor to help you overcome the habit of cussing
Final Thoughts
Now that we know what the Bible really says about cussing, let’s make a conscious effort to avoid it. As Christians, our lives must reflect the presence of God through our daily interactions with people. Moreover, there should be a big difference between us and the people of the world in our speech and actions.
Take the time to go through the scripture references in this guide and read them as many times as possible. Whenever you feel tempted to speak words that don’t edify, remain silent or begin to sing praises to God in your heart. Within a short time, you’d realise that your light will begin to shine and people will see the glory of God radiating in your life.
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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