Why Talk the Talk?

It’s hard living like a Christian, no doubt. There are so many things you have to put aside that so much of the world seems to find totally okay and normal. You probably alreadyknow that long list of things we as Christians have to stay away from: Greed, lust, immodesty, pride, acting out in anger…the list goes on and on. But one that really has been standing out to me lately is something that everyone – even Christians- seem just to shake off and find completely normal. That something has a few names to go with it; cussing, cursing, and swearing are just a few out of many. It’s so common, even people who call themselves Christians get pulled into it. I mean their just words right? It won’t harm anyone or anything and it’s used so much it honestly doesn’t even sound bad anymore.


James 3:10
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

I was thinking about this topic today and a thought suddenly occurred to me, why DO people cuss? If these words they were saying were not considered cuss words, would they still use them? Why is cussing such a big deal? I then realized that it is not what the words mean that make people say them so often, it is the want and need all of us as human beings want: acceptance. If majorities of the people around us cuss, it’s just by our sinful nature we want to as well. We have this desire to fit in and be noticed. If that is what it takes, many people don’t care if what they say is rude and vulgar. And after awhile of saying these things just to fit in, they become a habit.


Of course, you may be thinking, “Well nowhere in the Bible does it say not to cuss. It just says not to take the Lord’s name in vain.” While the Bible does not address the world’s standard of cussing directly, the Bible does have a number of verses addressing vulgar speech such as cussing.

Ephesians 4:29
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.

Proverbs 8:15
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

These verses prove that anything corrupt coming out of your mouth is a sin. Not just the few words the world calls cussing. Think about it- that means talking about someone badly behind there back is Biblical “cussing” as well as saying rude and hurtful things to family members, friends, or anyone else.


It’s hard for me to believe that I’m writing an essay about this. I used to have quite the mouth before I met my Savior only a few short months ago. I know from experience unfortunately that the only reason I started saying these words the world considers “in” is because of the reasons I listed above. I wanted to fit in and be accepted and eventually that need for acceptance became a habit. I know it may bring acceptance for awhile, but it ends up leaving you feeling broken and empty on the inside. Jesus is the reason I’m breathing, and I don’t want just to breathe. I want to live passionately and completely for my Lord and God. And if doing that means not being to fit in from time to time, well bring it on! I want people to not only see that I’m living for Christ, I want them to hear it.


One last short paragraph before I’m done. Why should I not cuss? What do I get from it? The answer is found clearly and simply in Psalms:

Psalms 24:3-5
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not lift up his soul to what is falseand does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Hmm…gifts of blessing and righteousness or bitter thoughts and anger? If you know the Lord and want to follow Him, you know which one you should choose. Don’t just walk the walk, make sure you talk the talk.

-Emily