BRIEF THOUGHTS ON OBSCENITY
I had a co-worker ask me yesterday why I don’t use cuss words. He said to me, “I noticed that you don’t use any language that the other workers use. You don’t say any obscene words nor do you talk about anything obscene.” This opened the door for me to talk about Christ and how He transformed me when I was 17 years old. I am no where near perfect (just ask my sweet wife) but I do love Jesus and I do long for the Spirit of God to transform me from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). I praise God that He has changed me by His grace (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Why don’t I use obscene language? I have many reasons but I will give briefly just a few reasons why I don’t.
1. The Old Man Is Gone
I did use to cuss. I cussed like a sailor. I would use the Lord’s name in swear words and would blaspheme Him. I got so use to cussing that I would often slip up at home in front of my parents and cuss when I was mad or made a mistake. Cussing was a part of who I was. But then Jesus saved and life was not the same. He washed away my sins by His blood (Matthew 26:28) and He baptized me into His kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:13). I became His disciple (Matthew 28:19-20) and my heart was to follow Him wherever He went and do all that He did (Luke 14:25-35). He completely transformed me (2 Corinthians 5:17). My mind was different (Romans 12:1-2; cf. Psalm 1:1-3). My heart was different (Ezekiel 36:25-27). My desires were different (Matthew 6:33). My passion was for the Lord Jesus and for His glory (Philippians 1:20-21). I immediately stopped cussing. To me, cussing was what the old man did. He was now dead. I was now in Christ Jesus and was born again in Him (John 3:3-7). The old man was gone (Ephesians 4:17-24).
2. Let No Corrupt Word Proceed Out of Your Mouths
Ephesians 4:29. That was what sealed the deal for me and cussing or any filthy language. What is viewed as obscene words changes from culture to culture and from generation to generation. It is not uncommon for people to say “hate” about all kinds of things or “stupid” to other people. In our home, those words are almost not allowed unless used properly. We don’t watch television in our home so my boys know nothing of filthy talking. I rejoice in that. I want my boys to follow my example and see that I don’t use the talk of the world. My citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). I am an alien and stranger to this land (1 Peter 2:11-12). I don’t want the things this world wants nor do I want to talk like this world talks (1 John 2:15-17).
3. Let The Words of My Mouth Exalt You
Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” I want my words to glorify Christ. I am not perfect and I know that I say things that are not always pleasing to the Lord but my goal is perfection. I want to exalt Jesus Christ in all that I say and do. I want Him to be what the One that others see and hear when they see me (1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2).
I know these were brief thoughts but I pray that if you use obscene language, run to the Lord and ask Him to give you a new tongue that exalts Him. Acts 2:4 says that on the day of Pentecost the disciples spoke in other tongues. I am not getting into the Pentecostal debate here but there is something to be said about the fact that after the Spirit came the disciples spoke with other tongues. I pray that all of us speak in a new tongue when we get saved. I pray that the filthy talk that once was part of our lives is completely gone as the Spirit of Christ comes to abide in us. I pray that our language is God-centered and exalts Jesus to others. We are not reformed people but we are regenerated people by the Spirit of God (Titus 3:5-7). Let us praise God in all that we say or do.
This post is written by my friend The Seeking Disciple. You can find the original post with comments, here: http://arminiantoday.com/2012/07/10/brief-thoughts-on-obsenity/
BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.
I had a co-worker ask me yesterday why I don’t use cuss words. He said to me, “I noticed that you don’t use any language that the other workers use. You don’t say any obscene words nor do you talk about anything obscene.” This opened the door for me to talk about Christ and how He transformed me when I was 17 years old. I am no where near perfect (just ask my sweet wife) but I do love Jesus and I do long for the Spirit of God to transform me from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). I praise God that He has changed me by His grace (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Why don’t I use obscene language? I have many reasons but I will give briefly just a few reasons why I don’t.
1. The Old Man Is Gone
I did use to cuss. I cussed like a sailor. I would use the Lord’s name in swear words and would blaspheme Him. I got so use to cussing that I would often slip up at home in front of my parents and cuss when I was mad or made a mistake. Cussing was a part of who I was. But then Jesus saved and life was not the same. He washed away my sins by His blood (Matthew 26:28) and He baptized me into His kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:13). I became His disciple (Matthew 28:19-20) and my heart was to follow Him wherever He went and do all that He did (Luke 14:25-35). He completely transformed me (2 Corinthians 5:17). My mind was different (Romans 12:1-2; cf. Psalm 1:1-3). My heart was different (Ezekiel 36:25-27). My desires were different (Matthew 6:33). My passion was for the Lord Jesus and for His glory (Philippians 1:20-21). I immediately stopped cussing. To me, cussing was what the old man did. He was now dead. I was now in Christ Jesus and was born again in Him (John 3:3-7). The old man was gone (Ephesians 4:17-24).
2. Let No Corrupt Word Proceed Out of Your Mouths
Ephesians 4:29. That was what sealed the deal for me and cussing or any filthy language. What is viewed as obscene words changes from culture to culture and from generation to generation. It is not uncommon for people to say “hate” about all kinds of things or “stupid” to other people. In our home, those words are almost not allowed unless used properly. We don’t watch television in our home so my boys know nothing of filthy talking. I rejoice in that. I want my boys to follow my example and see that I don’t use the talk of the world. My citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). I am an alien and stranger to this land (1 Peter 2:11-12). I don’t want the things this world wants nor do I want to talk like this world talks (1 John 2:15-17).
3. Let The Words of My Mouth Exalt You
Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” I want my words to glorify Christ. I am not perfect and I know that I say things that are not always pleasing to the Lord but my goal is perfection. I want to exalt Jesus Christ in all that I say and do. I want Him to be what the One that others see and hear when they see me (1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2).
I know these were brief thoughts but I pray that if you use obscene language, run to the Lord and ask Him to give you a new tongue that exalts Him. Acts 2:4 says that on the day of Pentecost the disciples spoke in other tongues. I am not getting into the Pentecostal debate here but there is something to be said about the fact that after the Spirit came the disciples spoke with other tongues. I pray that all of us speak in a new tongue when we get saved. I pray that the filthy talk that once was part of our lives is completely gone as the Spirit of Christ comes to abide in us. I pray that our language is God-centered and exalts Jesus to others. We are not reformed people but we are regenerated people by the Spirit of God (Titus 3:5-7). Let us praise God in all that we say or do.
This post is written by my friend The Seeking Disciple. You can find the original post with comments, here: http://arminiantoday.com/2012/07/10/brief-thoughts-on-obsenity/
BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.
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