Is profanity sinful/morally wrong?

[tik 🪀✨]

I don't put that much power in individual words.

This was always the correct stance to me. The intent and meaning behind the use of arbitrarily deemed "profane" words in its context is what I always regarded as potentially sinful. I've held this position steadfastly for a long time and convinced many devout believers (including my own family) that this was scripture's intention.

In the same breath, our culture has deemed these words offensive for whatever reason (or lack thereof, more often than that). With that in mind, it's probably best to abstain in order not to cause a fellow believer to stumble or confuse the mind of a non-believer into thinking you are being a hypocrite if they don't understand the nuances. See Romans 14, which, while not specifically addressing the use of culturally offensive words (such an idea did not exist when scripture was written), contains tenets that I think aptly apply.

What we arrive at is, not surprisingly, that their usage as sinfully or morally wrong (from a Christian perspective) is a grey area. In mixed company, however, it is better to abstain for their sake.

[tik 🪀✨]

In the same breath, our culture has deemed these words offensive for whatever reason (or lack thereof, more often than that). With that in mind, it's probably best to abstain in order not to cause a fellow believer to stumble or confuse the mind of a non-believer into thinking you are being a hypocrite if they don't understand the nuances. See Romans 14, which, while not specifically addressing the use of culturally offensive words (such an idea did not exist when scripture was written), contains tenets that I think aptly apply.

I agree Romans 14 commands us not to offend others over non-salvational issues.  The commands of Romans 14 are situational and apply only to situations where you are in the company of those who may take offense.

I... I think I need a glass of water.

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fine, but that doesn't mean profanity is acceptable when NOT in mixed company.  Example:  it wouldn't be morally acceptable for a group equally yoked believers to curse up a storm while golfing.

The following passage is NOT situational:

Eph 5:3-4 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.[/quote]

That's a fun one. The addition of "obscenity" is a curious translation that the NIV carries. Here are some alternative translations of that list in Ephesians 5:4..

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I think this passage has a larger meaning than to avoid certain words. These particular words have an extremely wide variety of uses in our language - sometimes they are used crudely and indecently while sometimes they are used simply to express surprise, amazement, or just to stress the intensity of something. They have legitimate uses. What I have always believed that this verse is getting at is to avoid larger sins of the tongue - gossip, especially. Communication is much broader than simple, individual words. What are you actually saying? What are you trying to actually express? What is the meaning of the statement? The words that compose the statement are powerless if you take away their status - but the statement itself can be devastating or uplifting, with whatever it is composed. That is the beauty of language. Now, then, "swear" words are never really necessary for communication. You don't have to use them. But by getting offended because of their presence alone, besides the intent and meaning behind a statement - that is missing the entire point. It is reinforcing a petty cultural rule.

And, I might add, when the Bible talks about "swearing" it is talking about taking oaths. When it talks about "cursing" it is referring to damning. Every time you misinterpret Scripture to reinforce your own selfish biases, baby Jesus cries.