Where in the bible is swearing prohibited?

So today I was over at a friend's house who happens to be christian and is from a christian family. We were playing a game of gears of war horde mode and I made a terrible mistake got us killed and blurted out, "O ****!"

At that instant his wife comes storming over and starts blasting me for swearing saying something about how god doesn't like that and how I need to be more respectful. I don't remember the exact wording as it took me by complete surprise. I didn't "take god's name in vain" or anything like that. My friend also said I should avoid that kind of talk while I'm over there.

Now I'm not a christian, so I don't know if there is anything speaking out against swearing, but I know there isn't any commandment against it.

Sermon on the Mount, I think is where.

I used to be a Christian and here's what came to mind

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Now, of course, "unwholesome" is an objective word but in our culture curse words are widely considered offensive. So while the Bible doesn't explicitly say not to swear, it still condemns it indirectly when certain verses are applied within the context of our culture.

Matthew 5:33-37 - "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."

Matthew 15:11 - "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."

James 1:26 - If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.

James 3:6-10 - And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

^ thats a different thing. Here, TC: Clossians 3:8. `But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.`

Ah ic ic, I was just curious as it seemed a strange thing to confront me about. Especially since we were playing GeoW2 a game full of swearing.

I don't see hwy swearing is so "cool". Especially when it takes a real man/ woman not to.

Funny how she's mad at that while her husband is playing something so violent.

@ KH: A LOT of people care about the Bible. Far more than you realize.

It doesn't specifically mention swearing as being wrong/sinful, but I think Paul said it's what comes out of a man's mouth that defiles him. It's ultimately a conscience issue; a christian has to ask himself/herself if swearing is a characteristic of a Christ-like life.

i think gears of war is more non christian than ****.......

We Christians are called to a holy life. I doubt a holy lifethat is supposed to bereflecting Christ to others involves swearing.

but maybe... it does.

Funny how she's mad at that while her husband is playing something so violent.

bruinfan617

[QUOTE="bruinfan617"]

Funny how she's mad at that while her husband is playing something so violent.

Meinhard1

im pretty sure gears of war has swearing in the game though......

Apparently it does.

i call shenanigans........

I don't see hwy swearing is so "cool". Especially when it takes a real man/ woman not to.

Calvin079

I don't particularly think its "cool" I just use it to express frustration or forgetfullness like "o crap!" Its kind of a subconcious thing too, I don't conciously think out... I'm going to swear at this moment, just kinda happens when particular situations arise.

You probb aly wouldn't have the chance to swear because you'd be screaming your head off. But thats beside the point. When a man believes in Christ, he is a new creation. He must throw off the old self and clothe himslef with the new self. The old self includes swearing.

It does somewhere. But its not like forced, more like just something that is frowned upon. Like not whipping your children with a rod

the way i see it, swear words are invented by humans. they are vibrations of the vocal chords. they only have the meaning WE as people assign to them. as long as you are not using them in a hateful or inflamatory way towards another person, it should be fine with whatever religion you belong to.

Theres absolutley nothing wrong with swearing.

I disagree with you Implied. Why shoulda religious [personwant to look like the trest of the world, when he ought to be trying to show that there is a bteer way that does not involve everyday world stuff?

I disagree with you Implied. Why shoulda religious [personwant to look like the trest of the world, when he ought to be trying to show that there is a bteer way that does not involve everyday world stuff?

Calvin079

could you rephrase that in a way that a slightly drunk person can understand?.... thanks.....

hmmm. Let me try. I am a Christian; so I'll be taking this argument in that direction. When a person believes in Christ, the person becomes new; though not on the outside. Christ radiates through him. His old self was shucked when the person believed; the old selff being a swearing, foul mouthed person. The new self is now no longer a swearing foul mouthed person. Because the old self is gone, why would a person want to swear when you are trying to set a Christ Like example?

i see, i dont agree, but i understand. i think let people do what they will. if you are religious like that, go ahead, i just like discussing alternatives.

Fun fact: When inventing the English language, swear words were deliberately made just so we couldn't say them.

"Ah there it is. English. Perfect."

"But there are no swear words, how do we know what to avoid saying like the bible tells us to?"

"You're right! How about ****?"

Seriously, if you're a Christian the Bible predates English curse words. If you say the word "defecate" it's the same as saying "****". The Bible doesn't express avoiding slang synonyms from other words, it means to avoid it in a slanderous sense. If someone says ass, that's way less foul than someone telling me in great detail how he beat someone to death.

This is one of those things completely blown out of proportion.

We Christians are called to a holy life. I doubt a holy lifethat is supposed to bereflecting Christ to others involves swearing.

Calvin079

What matters is not what you say, but the heart from which the words come from. Swear words are just words, devoid of meaning unless we give them meaning. There is a veritable semantic chasm between the sentences "**** you!" and "That's ****ing awesome!" The first implies anger and hatred, whereas the latter simply adds extra emphasis to one's enthusiasm or joy. The heart from which the first comes might be worlds apart from the second, despite the fact that they both use the same word.

We honor God with our hearts and our deeds, not our words. Talk is cheap.

[QUOTE="Calvin079"]

We Christians are called to a holy life. I doubt a holy lifethat is supposed to bereflecting Christ to others involves swearing.

GabuEx

What matters is not what you say, but the heart from which the words come from. Swear words are just words, devoid of meaning unless we give them meaning. There is a veritable semantic chasm between the sentences "**** you!" and "That's ****ing awesome!" The first implies anger and hatred, whereas the latter simply adds extra emphasis to one's enthusiasm or joy. The heart from which the first comes might be worlds apart from the second, despite the fact that they both use the same word.

We honor God with our hearts and our deeds, not our words. Talk is cheap.

that is exactly what i tried to say. bravo on articulating what i could not.

And also, some people just dont like it.

[QUOTE="Calvin079"]

We Christians are called to a holy life. I doubt a holy lifethat is supposed to bereflecting Christ to others involves swearing.

GabuEx

What matters is not what you say, but the heart from which the words come from. Swear words are just words, devoid of meaning unless we give them meaning. There is a veritable semantic chasm between the sentences "**** you!" and "That's ****ing awesome!" The first implies anger and hatred, whereas the latter simply adds extra emphasis to one's enthusiasm or joy. The heart from which the first comes might be worlds apart from the second, despite the fact that they both use the same word.

We honor God with our hearts and our deeds, not our words. Talk is cheap.

[QUOTE="Calvin079"]

We Christians are called to a holy life. I doubt a holy lifethat is supposed to bereflecting Christ to others involves swearing.

GabuEx

What matters is not what you say, but the heart from which the words come from. Swear words are just words, devoid of meaning unless we give them meaning. There is a veritable semantic chasm between the sentences "**** you!" and "That's ****ing awesome!" The first implies anger and hatred, whereas the latter simply adds extra emphasis to one's enthusiasm or joy. The heart from which the first comes might be worlds apart from the second, despite the fact that they both use the same word.

We honor God with our hearts and our deeds, not our words. Talk is cheap.

True. Talk is cheap. That is why its written 'Everyone ought to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry." But we also honour God by what we say. Swearing does not help our cause when our whole life; including what we say ought to be reflecting Christ. We will be judged for our words as well as our deeds.

Our generation has incorporated swearing into our everyday conversation. I know I do it all the time.

I love Christians or religious people in general for their ability to believe something but completely lack the basic knowledge of their own religion. Most of the time, me as an Atheist know more about their religion then them selves do. Other fun facts from the bible: A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin, if the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) And it is ok to have intercourse with our brothers ox, Jess never said anything against gays(think it was peter who is the ONLY person in the bible to say anything against it, God certainly didn't) And no there is nothing in it against swearing. trasherhead

The part about the Virgin; the reason why she was to be killed was because of her promiscuity while under her father's roof; thus bringing disgarce upon Israel. BTW sex with an animnal is forbidden. Homosexuality is also denounced by the Bible; the apostle Paul wrote, under God's guuidancethat "God gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not ot be done."

It doesn't. :|GHlegend77

[QUOTE="trasherhead"]I love Christians or religious people in general for their ability to believe something but completely lack the basic knowledge of their own religion. Most of the time, me as an Atheist know more about their religion then them selves do. Other fun facts from the bible: A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin, if the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) And it is ok to have intercourse with our brothers ox, Jess never said anything against gays(think it was peter who is the ONLY person in the bible to say anything against it, God certainly didn't) And no there is nothing in it against swearing. Calvin079

The part about the Virgin; the reason why she was to be killed was because of her promiscuity while under her father's roof; thus bringing disgarce upon Israel. BTW sex with an animnal is forbidden. Homosexuality is also denounced by the Bible; the apostle Paul wrote, under God's guuidancethat "God gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not ot be done."

Isn't there another Bible passage that say you should not yell at visits?

[QUOTE="Calvin079"]

[QUOTE="trasherhead"]I love Christians or religious people in general for their ability to believe something but completely lack the basic knowledge of their own religion. Most of the time, me as an Atheist know more about their religion then them selves do. Other fun facts from the bible: A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin, if the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) And it is ok to have intercourse with our brothers ox, Jess never said anything against gays(think it was peter who is the ONLY person in the bible to say anything against it, God certainly didn't) And no there is nothing in it against swearing. trasherhead

The part about the Virgin; the reason why she was to be killed was because of her promiscuity while under her father's roof; thus bringing disgarce upon Israel. BTW sex with an animnal is forbidden. Homosexuality is also denounced by the Bible; the apostle Paul wrote, under God's guuidancethat "God gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not ot be done."

BUT. You fauil to read into what God had in mind for marriage: One man and One Woamn. Not any other way. You had said "sex with your borthers ox." Sex with animals is wrong. Period "Cursed is any man who has sexual relations with an animal." Also, "Cursed is any woman who presents herslef to have sexual relations with an animal." It menas any kind of animal. As for me trying to hide behind other meanings, I'm not. That is what the Bible says whern the Law was given to Moses; that if proof of her viirginity cannot be provided; she was being promiscuious in her father's home." That is what it is written, word for word.

I love Christians or religious people in general for their ability to believe something but completely lack the basic knowledge of their own religion. Most of the time, me as an Atheist know more about their religion then them selves do. Other fun facts from the bible: A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin, if the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) And it is ok to have intercourse with our brothers ox, Jess never said anything against gays(think it was peter who is the ONLY person in the bible to say anything against it, God certainly didn't) And no there is nothing in it against swearing. trasherhead

a word of advice, don't be so arrogant.

you post here acting like you know everything as an atheist, yet you're clearly showing you know pretty much nothing about the religion.

beastiality is forbidden.

homosexuality is mentioned in the OT, thousands of years before paul, and yes by God.

And you need to read up a little. I only said ox, cause you don't eat it.trasherhead

wrong again, people ate ox, it's just a cow basically.

^ I told the guy that sand showed him where it was forbidden.

I used to be a Christian and here's what came to mind

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Now, of course, "unwholesome" is an objective word but in our culture curse words are widely considered offensive. So while the Bible doesn't explicitly say not to swear, it still condemns it indirectly when certain verses are applied within the context of our culture.

Meinhard1