I
was taught growing up that we shouldn’t use bad language. That meant we should
avoid using a short list of four-letter “curse” words. Indeed, one of the
surest marks that one was a serious Christian was the refraining from using
such words. And for some, one measure of the goodness of a movie is whether it
has “language” in it. But there is almost nothing in the Bible that suggests
that such language, even the “F word” is all that bad. There is only one place
in the entire Bible that suggests what we usually call dirty words might be problematic:
“Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting;
but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:4). Interestingly, those Christians
who make much about “filthiness” do not make so much about “silly talk” or “levity”.
I wonder if one of Satan's most profound tricks has been to make Christians so
disproportionately squeamish about so-called swearing.
I
am not suggesting that we should start casually using the words generally
considered vulgar. I am more and more convinced that a fundamental aspect of
the deeper holiness to which we are called has to do with the words we use.
Wordcare has to do with all our use of language. Among other things, it has to
do with the language we use about God. The warning against taking the Lord's
name in vain is, after all, one of the Ten Commandments. And it has to do with
the truthfulness and integrity of our language generally. Those might be topics
for another time. What I’d like to look at now is the significance of how
we use words to and about others. The Bible and the Christian tradition have
much more to say about that than the seven words you can't say on television.
I suggest we give up
murder, cannibalism, and blasphemous cursing for Lent
The
language of sarcasm is my mother tongue. I know I need to check it. I am also
increasingly aware of how language that dismisses or disparages the other or
refers to the other with disdain has become our common tongue. It is common in
entertainment and other media. It is frequently present at work and in
families. It is endemic in our polarized political discourse. And it is all too
familiar in church debates. But, for Christians, it ought not to be so. We are
instructed otherwise in scripture, particularly in the New Testament. From the
Desert Fathers and Mothers to the Rule of St. Benedict and beyond, the importance
of disciplining our speech is a common theme among the saints.
Murder
Our
Lord famously warns, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient
times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to
judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you
will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be
liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the
hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22). When we speak to or about others with words of
disdain, words that dismiss, words that disparage the other, we are committing
a species of spiritual violence that is of the same genus as murder. And it is
subject to frightful judgment. Add to that Jesus’ command to love enemies and
refrain from judging and one begins to measure words more carefully.
Cannibalism
The
Apostle Paul also had much to say about our words as well as our behavior
toward one another. In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul resorts to the
striking imagery of cannibalism, “For the whole law is summed up in a single
commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite
and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another”
(Galatians 5:14-15). St. John Chrysostom picks up on this in a sermon on
Fasting:
Let the mouth fast from disgraceful and abusive
words, because, what gain is there when, on the one hand we avoid eating
chicken and fish and, on the other, we chew-up and consume our brothers? He who
condemns and blasphemes is as if he has eaten brotherly meat, as if he has
bitten into the flesh of his fellow man. It is because of this that Paul
frightened us, saying: "If you chew up and consume one another be careful
that you do not annihilate yourselves."
You did not thrust your teeth into the flesh (of
your neighbor) but you thrusted bad talk in his soul; you wounded it by
spreading defame, causing inestimable damage both to yourself, to him, and to
many others.
I
wonder particularly if we would not do well to be less eager to chew on the
latest revelation of some outrageous act or word from those with whom we
disagree. We could also get over the taste for the put down, for patronizing,
and for manipulation. It seems to me that we are often intent on accusing
others of biting us even as we are picking the bits of others out from between
our own teeth.
Blasphemous Cursing
In
his letter, St. James warns about the tongue, “If any think they are religious,
and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is
worthless” (James 1:26). He goes even further, “For every kind of beast and
bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by
humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of
deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men,
who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and
cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so” (James 3:7-10). James is onto
something deeper than just worrying about four-letter words. And it’s not even
simply a matter of not saying, “Go to hell" or “Damn you” though either
would be blasphemous presumption. All words that destroy, tear down, or dismiss
are a form of cursing. And because they disrespect those who are created in the
likeness of God, they are a form of blasphemy.
Toward
the end of his letter, James summarizes this concern with, “Be patient,
therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the
precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early
and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the
coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so
that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!” (James
5:7-9)
Indeed,
as James wrote, it ought not to be so. And yet our public and private discourse
seems full of verbal murder, cannibalism, and blasphemous cursing. The internet
is especially rife with such things across the theo-political and theological
spectrum.
Wordcare
Our
wordcare both demonstrates whether or not our hearts and minds are oriented
toward God and shapes that
orientation. If we fear God, if we love the Lord, if we hope for any fellowship
with the Holy Spirit; we would do well to take care with our words. And if we
believe in the day of scrutiny (Wisdom 3:19), we should forswear murder,
cannibalism, and cursing. The Judge is standing at the door and "you
will have to give an account for every careless word you utter" (Matthew 12:36). Therefore, “Let no
evil talk come out of your mouths” (Ephesians 4:29a), “But, get rid of all such
things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth”
(Colossians 3:8). Such language is infinitely more problematic than the usual
list of dirty words.
Only What is Useful for Building
Up
Finally,
it is not enough not to murder, cannibalize or curse others with our words. It
would be good for us to commit to speaking in ways that lead to life and peace and
encouragement – “only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that
your words may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29b). And we might
take this to heart, “But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be
ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the
hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your
conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your
good conduct in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:15-16). And this, “love
one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans
12:10).
The
purity of our lips is about much more than a list of dirty words. The basic
question is not which actual words one uses, but whether our words tear down or
build up. What is impure is any rhetoric that is disdainful or demeaning of another person –
rhetorical murder, cannibalism, and cursing. And that should offend our
sensibilities regardless of the actual words used.
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