Why do you swear and curse if you are a Christian?

Question

Jesus taught in the Bible that when a man curses or uses profanity it is a sign of evil that was in that man's heart. It is popular today for both men and women to curse. They never think of it as an evil condition in their heart, but rather a small thing that everyone does. These small words of cursing the Bible says, will defile the whole man if they are not repented of and stopped. Cussing and using the name of the Lord in vain causes one to become defiled.

So why do you swear ?

God Bless You

Matthew 15:11: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."

Matthew 15:17-20: "Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

Matthew 5:33 “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ 5:34 but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God
5:35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 5:36 Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. 5:37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

Sorry Father K I was told by a local Minister, not Catholic at a funeral that blasphemy meant swearing and for over 20 years I thought that is what it meant I will have to take back a lot of things I said in my question concerning what Jesus said I know now what I said was wrong please forgive me.

Answer 1

Good point.

We have grown away from Godliness as a whole. We take on from those around us. and as you say people never think of these words as a big thing.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get to a stage in life were we live purely.

Answer 2

Whoever said only Christians swear? I think the whole world is at fault here. Also every couple years I hear new swear words that were not swear words twenty years ago, like calling someone a "hoe." How do we know that the swear words of today were even words back then when the scripture was written. There is also a thing in court where they ask you if you SWEAR to tell the truth, well, you know the rest. Anyway, here is a script that says you are not to even use the word "swear" Not even for that reason.
Matthew 5:34-37

Answer 3

Jesus taught? Perhaps I'm missing something but I'm not aware of any place within the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, or John where profanity is directly addressed and I don't know that you're necessarily interpreting this scripture properly.

Of course one could argue that Paul addressed this in one of his letters, however these were letters to specific churches from Paul based upon his own interpretations and insights.

On the other hand, I do recall a very specific rebuke to those who were about to stone Mary of Magdalene. "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone."

I also seem to remember something about looking for a splinter in the eye of a neighbor while neglecting the log in ones own.

Something to think about.

Answer 4

Because sadly enough, Christians are people too. Instead of keeping the spirit of the rebirth that should come with being a Christian, we tend to become caught up in worldy things again.
In fact, people are so inherently base that God had to send his only begotten Son to be a sacrifice to atone for our sins and fulfill the law that we were too worthless to ever achieve.

Answer 5

I am a Christian and for most of my life, which is not very long, I have not sworn, but i suddenly found myself doing it (when i am angry). I have tried to stop or replace it with other words.

By the way, i think some people forget that Christians are human too. They try to follow God's teachings but because they are human like everyone else, they are not free from sin.

Answer 6

I never say Jesus' name as a swear word. I think that is wrong. I do sometimes use a mild swear word as a sort of emphasis to draw someone's attention. And sometimes to show that I am human and down to earth and not a total Saint.

Answer 7

I still don't see what these verses have to do with using a word or phrase that is deemed "profane" by some particular society at any particular time. You don't understand the fluid nature of these things, today's "curse-word" is tommorrow's catch-phrase.

Answer 8

From a person's tongue comes life and death, positive and negative. Speak life, speak positively. Cursing and swearing is negativity, so do your best to restrain yourself....
although if you do lapse in a moment of weakness...
(like when you shut the car door....on your ear...don't ask)
Ask God for forgiveness....and go put some ice on your ear...

Answer 9

Yes, well i can think of some christians who never swear , are positive, always saying the "right thing" and all, and yet they're just plain nasty people. Although I'm sure they think they're great and upright and all. swearing can help release tension , that's why.

Answer 10

I am not religious but I find that many Christians do curse and have often wondered the same thing. Many professing Christians seem to ignore their own teaching outside the confines of the church.