16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” Matthew 15:16-20 NIV
On Friday, I met with the family of boys who ride my bus. When I walked in the door the mom made the 9 year old boy apologize for telling me F-you on the bus while shooting birds at me. I told him I forgive him.
The next night I am standing at a UA football game on field level in front of the student section. The game was intense to the very last play. At one point the students are frustrated with a referee call. In unison, the whole section begins chanting F-you. I feel hopeless as I am trying to get one boy to stop cursing while a whole section of a stadium chants the curse.
What is so wrong with using curse words when most are just repeating it?
Jesus says the words out of our mouth defile us – make us unclean – spoil our lives and where we live. Why? It indicates the uncleanness which already exists within our heart.
Listen to Isaiah as he stood before the holiness of God. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5. God responded by touching and cleansing his lips…the words coming from his mouth would be different.
Let’s unpack some of the dynamics of the violation of curse words
- The words reveal the uncleanness of the heart. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Curse words have been bouncing around in your heart and they come out. Like cursing the driver in front of you, thoughts of your importance as better than them have already been established.
- Judgment is pronounced. When you pronounce a curse word, you are positioning yourself as a judge in the situation. You are establishing a relationship in which you pronounce a sentence upon another person. The curse word damns them, It establishes a verdict in which the person is declared worthy of the judgment…whether true or false the sentence has been issued.
- Judgment invites judgment. Jesus said, judge not lest you be judged with the same judgement you give others. In other words, the curse has a boomerang effect in which you, yourself, are damning your own life with words you are throwing out at others.
- God is not mocked, what a man sows, he reaps. Sow cursing, reap cursing
- Judgment invites judgment. Jesus said, judge not lest you be judged with the same judgement you give others. In other words, the curse has a boomerang effect in which you, yourself, are damning your own life with words you are throwing out at others.
- Curse words establish a relationship of death. Cursing establishes unhealthy connections. Words have power of death and life Proverbs 18:21
- F-you is a derogatory term for the intimacy of intercourse. The idea is that the person who is “F-ed” will be corrupted, vile, unclean and unwanted. These are all the types of feelings of a person who has been sexually raped. It is one of the most baseless actions for violating a person.
- Here is the deal. Saying the expression puts you, the one speaking, in the imagery of the one doing the rape. You become the person violating the other as you pronounce the sentencing. That’s gross and NO ONE thinks about this aspect when they are saying the words, None the less the expression makes both you and the one you curse, unclean.
- This same principle applies to other curse words. Saying “G-d” to someone puts you in a boat for God to bring condemnation to both of you.
- Curse words provide governmental authority for demonic activity of harassment.
- Using curse words gives the devil and his demons the right, the authority to carry out the sentencing you have just pronounced.
- These demons remain and thrive in the middle of cursing by bringing more strife, hatred and division.
- Have you ever noticed how things will come down, if you can just stop people from yelling out cursing at one another. The demons thrive on curses and judgments.
- When there is drunkenness by alcohol, also called spirits, cursing is present. It is one of the indications of the presence of demonic activity.
- Using curse words gives the devil and his demons the right, the authority to carry out the sentencing you have just pronounced.
- Words pollute even if you “don’t mean them” You don’t have to be intentionally meaning for the worst of the other person for the violation to begin to take effect.
- Let’s Go Brandon sounds funny and helps people blow steam….but the same principle of cursing and judging authority begins to be enacted. We judge authority as worthless and that judgment begins to boomerang back into our lives. We are called to bless those in authority over us not curse them. This is true even when we disagree or believe their policies are bad. Blessing does not mean condoning or agreeing with them.
- Taking the Lord’s name in vain positions our lives to remain under a curse
- G-damn is a terrible place to find oneself. Most say they don’t mean it. At the same time they seem to be incapable of changing the words. Why curse Jesus and no other religious figure? It reveals the relationship between God and all mankind. We will have to give an account for all of our words to God.
What can be done to cleanse the land of our pronounced curses?
- Only Jesus can cleanse the heart which is the first step to cleansing the land from the judgments we are living under by the curses pronounced over our lives.
- We should pray for more people to have their hearts cleansed and become followers of Jesus.
- Ask God to forgive us for the curses we have spoken. Isaiah gave us the template.
- He self identified with the sins of the nation…people of unclean lips
- He owned up to his own sinfulness of polluting the land to unholiness…I am a man of uncleand lips
- He allowed God to touch and cleans his lips
- He began speaking the words of God over his nation.
- Speak Blessing instead of cursing.
- Make the choice to turn your words into a blessing especially when you disagree or have been hurt by someone.
- The driver who cuts you off in traffic – “Lord please protect them and keep them safe. May they experience God’s unmerited favor as I have.”
- Change some cursing of the Lord’s name in vain into truth
- For the derogatory expression of a person saying “Jesus Christ”, I finish the sentence by saying “IS LORD”.
- For the derogatory expression “Oh My God!”, I add to it, “Mine too.”
- Make the choice to turn your words into a blessing especially when you disagree or have been hurt by someone.
We were created to speak and create life with our words. We are made in God’s image, all of us. We do not curse others who are made in the “imago dei”.
I understand if you were raised in a home or social environment in which curse words were spoken as part of the common dialect, it may be hard for you to begin to change your words of choice. But it can happen. Ask the Lord to help you speak life. Over time, it will change.
When you do “slip” and say something wrong, you have the authority to change it through forgiveness. Say a prayer like this. “Father, forgive me for the words I have spoken. I ask that you cut off every plan of the enemy to use my words to bring harm to another person. I speak blessing and life over them. Forgive me and heal my heart that so easily judges someone else. Thank you for forgiving me. In Jesus name, Amen”.
Words can pollute a nation. Our nation is hurting by the curses we speak over one another. Jesus became the curse and a curse so we may walk in life and freedom. Let’s ask God to heal our nation through the pollution of our curse words.
May your tongue be cleansed and full of life.
Blessings Love y’all
Amen Pastor Greg! This was very helpful! Bless you!