The tongue and the heart

I recently took part in a discussion as to whether or not cursing is a sin. When I think of curse words and the use of profanity, I immediately want to know the context in which they are spoken. For example, if I exclaim in anger, “Oh, S**t!” then I would say that is wrong. Not because of the actual word, but because of the context: I am saying something in anger. It becomes not a matter of the tongue but of the heart. However, if I say, “Wow, that is a large pile of horse S***t,” I don’t necessarily see that as wrong since I am not using the word as a euphemism for something else. Is it wrong to call a female dog a bitch? The term “bitch” literally means a female dog. There are some “curse” words, such as the infamous “F” word, that are clearly crude. In my experience, that word is always used negatively or crudely. The Bible says that no unwholesome talk should come from our mouths and that we are to avoid crude and profane talk. I don’t use the “F” word for the above noted reasons. I don’t often use the “S” word because frankly, I have no use for it and would rather use a different word. Not because I think it’s a sin to say it, especially if I am using it in it’s proper context, but because other people can be offended by it. In my conversation, I was told that we should be more concerned with offending God than we are other people and that’s the reason why we shouldn’t curse. I completely agree. But I think as Christians we need to be careful what we label as “sin.” We can easily say that sex is wrong but in it’s proper context, marriage, sex is a gift from God. Sex in and of itself isn’t wrong, it’s when we take it out of it’s proper context. So my belief about cursing is that yes, some words are just plain crude and should be avoided. However, why should a word like “shit”, when used in it’s proper context, be considered “crude” or “profane” and therefore a sin?

relentless love

I'm re-reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis for the upteenth time...and for the upteenth time, I'm completely awestruck and humbled at his Biblical teaching. There are very few parts of the book I question, namely his stance on communion, but on the whole, I always find it an invigorating and convicting read. The chapters on forgiveness, marriage, and pride are some of the most convicting and gut-wrenching. I wonder, if he were alive today, what he would say about this generation? About the downward spiral of morals and sound Biblical teaching? I think of Joel Osteen, Dr. Phil, even Joyce Meyer, and their endless pursuit of "happiness" and "positive feelings" and not taking responsibility for one's own sins, for refusing to even call sin what it is...sin! What would Lewis' response be? I don't know...but I would read it. Download it. Highlight and treasure it. What I appreciate and admire about Lewis is that he never sugar-coated anything. He gave it to the reader bloody and raw. He spoke unfiltered, uncompromising truth. Enough about Lewis, though. I have a lot on my mind lately, a lot of unrest, uncertainty. But it is not with myself that I harbor these feelings, but with a friend. I dreamed last night his plans backfired and that he was forced to resume the path previously chosen. I woke up feeling relieved...until I realized it was a dream...and then the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach returned and cast a cloud on my morning. I see situations similar to his every...single...day. I'm scared for him...because these things never work out well or as planned. The realist in me is screaming, "she'll do it again!" "Don't trust her!" But I know that if I am to love the two, even from a distance, I need to hope for them, hope that her faith is genuine, hope that their marriage grows more beautiful by the day. It's a struggle I daily surrender to the Lord. He knows best. And He sovereignly chose this trial for them...for a higher purpose than what my human eyes can comprehend. And so that leads me to my next question: do I trust Him? Am I taking Him at His word? "Love covers over a multitude of sins." "Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."