Should Christians avoid using profanity?

One of the amazing, universal things about people is our ability to communicate with one another through words.  However, the choice of words that people use tends to identify who they are as a group or pigeonhole them into a certain category.  Just look around and you will find various examples.  Where do terms like “straight-laced as an attorney” or “swear like a construction worker” originate?  Are Christians expected to follow white-collar worker standards of professionalism, even if they are blue-collar construction workers…or vice versa?  Or does the Bible have a higher standard?

     

For example, as a general statement, contrast the extremes between the white-collar and blue-collar world.  In the upper echelons of the white-collar business world, most companies often have policies implementing higher standards of professional conduct for their employees, usually centering on the use of proper English and avoiding profanity in the workplace.  On the other extreme, in the blue-collar world you often have construction companies who hire people for projects on their ability to perform hard manual labor outdoors in all sorts of extreme conditions, not on their proficiency in using proper English or avoiding profanity since they often do not interact much with the end-customer.  Yet you still have many exceptions to these generalized statements, such as a large corporation having leaders that condone swearing in the workplace or a mining company that will fire employees for not complying with a “no swearing policy” due to possible safety issues.

What about pastors who cuss from the pulpit in their churches?  Traditionally, most people would have never even considered swearing in church a possible issue, let alone pastors publicly swearing, since it was generally understood that this type of behavior was not accepted in churches.  However, over the past few years, there have been a few pastors and church leaders who have actually started condoning the use of public profanity, even swearing from the pulpit.  As the repercussions of this practice trickles down, you are finding many believers who actually see nothing wrong with using profanity in the presence of others.  Does this mean that the Biblical teaching against the use of profanity was actually only one of the many man-made rules that are finally falling to the wayside, as many churches try to purge legalism from their teachings?

As followers of Jesus Christ, are Christians held to a higher standard when it comes to the words they use for communicating with others?  The Bible does teach freewill, so does this mean believers have the liberty to use profanity?  Or does the possibility exist that the Word of God may not even teach against the use of profanity, since it may only be a legalistic rule added as a part of church tradition?  Or should believers use caution with their choice of words, to include things such as avoiding the use of profanity, as part of their personal testimony to others?

In Apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians, he instructed the people to avoid using vile language from their past lives and set their minds on holiness.  The Apostle Paul later instructed the Colossians to choose their words wisely, especially in the presence of outsiders, in that their personal testimonies may have a positive impact on others.

“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things…Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:  sexual immorality, impurity, lust evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways, in the live you once lived.  But now you must rid yourselves of such things as these:  anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:2, 5-8 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:5-6 NIV)

The Apostle Paul also gave instructions to Titus about encouraging the young men to be self-controlled and set an example by doing what is good, to include having sound speech so that those who oppose their work may be shamed by having nothing bad to say about their personal testimonies.

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because that have nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

Overall, Scriptures teaches believers to use speech that is becoming of righteousness and to refrain from using obscene speech, or speech that is unbecoming to the acceptable standards of decency.  Obviously, believers have the personal freedom to do many things, but that freedom comes with a big responsibility too…by glorifying God in everything. (I Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-32)  In other words, believers do not need to conform to the world by using profanity and devaluing their personal testimonies of faith…just because their friends, families, employers and churches may condone such practices.  Rather, believers should choose their words wisely, regardless of the situation, in ensuring that their personal testimonies of faith do not cause others to stumble or become alienated away from the church and/or God.