Profanity—What is It?

The Bible says: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).

Swearing is a very prevalent, evil practice in society. It adversely affects our relationship with God and our fellow man. The use of profanity is associated with speech that is not sacred or holy, irreverent toward God and man, showing contempt for holy things, and blasphemy. In Exodus 20:7 we read, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Often there is ignorance involved in the use of profanity, especially in children. This habit that is formed in youth can last a lifetime and is very difficult to break. In James 3:6 we read: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

The meaning of some curse words is that God should curse instead of forgive, put in prison instead of set free, cast away instead of deliver. They also infer that God should use his power to punish instead of bless or have mercy. Should someone be deprived of all happiness of both body and soul in this world, and in eternity shut out of heaven and cast into hell? The horrible condemnation man can pronounce upon himself is indescribable when one is sold to and under the control of Satan. When God opens our eyes to what has overtaken us, it becomes abhorrent. Jesus said that “Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22).

The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:4 to the professing Christian: “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” The tongue, unless the heart of man is cleansed by the Holy Spirit, remains an unruly evil in one way or another. Even though man may possibly cease and refrain from sins such as profanity and kindred evils, the mouth speaks what is in the heart. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

Complete text of: Profanity—What is It?

“The Lord… is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). We are still in the day of grace when we can prepare to meet our God. He will deliver us from every sin, if we will let Him. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Jesus spoke of his own ministry when He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).

Today there is still pardon for our sins if we come to the Lord Jesus who made an atonement for us through his shed blood. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers” (Ephesians. 4:29).

YOU TELL ON YOURSELF

You tell on yourself
By the words you speak, by the friends you seek,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of your dollar and dime.
You tell what you are by the things you wear,
By the spirit you, your burdens bear,
By the kind of things at which you laugh,
By the songs you sing, just a paragraph.
You tell what you are by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you bear defeat,
By so simple a thing as the way you eat,
By the books you choose from the well filled shelf,
In these things and more, you tell on yourself.

“Let not sin, [unrighteous thoughts, words or deeds] therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Romans 6:12). “Let your speech be alway with grace seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

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What about Drugs, Alcohol, and Immorality?

Alcohol, Drugs, Lust, Crime, Prison, Despair, Death

For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

Let us face the facts. The awful monsters—drugs, alcohol, and immorality—are threatening and destroying that which God created noble and good. Like the tentacles of a mighty octopus, they grasp and draw both young and old into their embrace.

An epidemic of huge proportions is among today’s society. The curse of drugs, alcohol, and immorality has left many people adrift without an anchor, headed for eternal destruction. People are readily influenced by their peers as well as by the media, magazines, newspapers, and television advertisements regarding these vices. The mind is assailed to the point where it is in a whirlpool of confusion and frustration, resulting in spiritual and physical deterioration.

Who should bear the blame for such disgraceful moral behavior? The younger generation? Not necessarily. By their own ungodly living, many parents have sanctioned the sins in which the younger generation indulges. Fathers and mothers are unaware that they are introducing their children to a drunkard’s and drug addict’s doom by failing to check their corrupt impulses. God’s moral principles have been carelessly disregarded. A mighty cry should ascend to Heaven. How can we save ourselves and our children?

Our society cannot produce the quality of citizens that are needed when drinking and drug use are tolerated and encouraged through the laxity of parents, teachers, and professors. The use of alcohol is a great corrupter of public morals—destroying judgment, character, and life. It contributes to the wrecking and dividing of the home, one of God’s holy institutions for the blessing of mankind.

Added to the menace of alcohol is the increasing use of illicit drugs. The bad effects of these drugs far outweigh any so-called benefits. The use of drugs can cause poor judgment and mental derangement. Drug users admit it is a death trap—mentally, physically and spiritually. Irreparable brain damage, murder, and suicide are often the tragic consequences of these indulgences.

Complete text of: What about Drugs, Alcohol, and Immorality?

People, because of their inherent sin, readily follow the tendencies and passions that Satan has designed. In this state, the flesh seeks unrestricted fulfillment. Sexual immorality does not quench the fire of lust—it fuels it. Illicit sexual activity is no more a cure for lust than whiskey is a treatment for alcoholism. The truth is that we need to deal with our lust. The soul—that part that lives on in eternity—when reaching out for God’s salvation, seeks to respect his laws.

Fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and sexual contact with animals are forbidden by the Word of God (Leviticus 18:23; Galatians 5:19-21). Immorality brings pain, heartbreak, wretchedness, guilt, and sexually transmitted diseases. Purity brings a sense of self-worth and dignity. It is a gross distortion to envision the highly principled individual as living in misery while the person of low morals has a life of bliss and fulfillment.

Amid this morass of immorality and spiritual blindness, of sin and shameless ungodliness, the Holy Bible sets the standard for moral behavior. It is the unquestionable and eternal authority on the matter of right and wrong.

God created man with the sex urge for the propagation of the human race and the enhancement of the marriage bond between husband and wife. He sanctions fulfillment of this desire only within rightful marriage. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul writes of God’s judgment on homosexuality. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:26-28). This was the abominable sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, and it brought God’s judgment upon them (Genesis 19). According to the Scriptures, it is impossible to retain the Holy Spirit in our hearts and live a Christian life if we live and practice these sins.

If you want to be really happy in life and be at peace with yourself and God, you must come into fellowship with Him. Recognize and confess that you are a sinner and believe that Jesus died on the cross bearing your guilt. Victory is awaiting you!

As you open your heart to God and confess your sins, He will forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Willingly commit your whole life to Jesus, your Savior, and follow in true obedience to his Word and Holy Spirit. The blessings of the changed life are pure thoughts, which bring about a wonderful change in our actions and activities. Christ will give you courage to face the problems of life and strength to overcome the temptations that may assail you. Come to Jesus now while He is calling. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).

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Alcohol-Have You Counted the Cost?

“Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder” (Proverbs 23:29-32).

The Bible portrays a very true picture of the results of using alcohol. Woe, sorrow, babbling, and wounds are part of that picture. Much more could be added to the list of woes of those who tarry at the wine.

Many respectable people have become degraded through the use of alcohol. It has brought about the abusing of their families, stealing, murdering, and unfaithfulness to marriage vows.

Many young husbands and wives look forward to a life of companionship and trust, only to have alcohol shatter the possibilities of a happy life.

Complete text of: Alcohol-Have You Counted the Cost?

Alas, that first drink was carelessly and casually taken. Too little thought was given to the future. As time went on, more and more alcohol was needed to alleviate the unending stresses and pressures of life. Misunderstandings, arguments, and feelings of not being appreciated became more frequent until hope for anything better disappeared. Alcohol became a crutch to get through these problems. Money that the family needed in the home was spent for drink and was gone. To find time together as a family appeared impossible. Finally, it seemed alcohol became the only answer to the many problems. It temporarily blurred or blocked out the worries and frustrations of life. But with the return of sobriety, the problems just multiplied along with the desire for another drink. The user of alcohol has been captured by it and become its servant, wounding himself and others. He seems to be on an endless treadmill—without any hope. But wait! There is hope and an answer for that terrible thirst.

Jesus Is the Answer

Jesus offers water that satisfies the thirst of man. In Jesus’ day He met a woman who had come to a well for water. He told her He could give her water that would satisfy her, and she would never thirst again. Every soul of man thirsts for this satisfying water, for it heals the soul. (John 4:5-26)

God has a beautiful way. He says: “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6). Jesus is that living fountain. Come to Him just as you are. Tell Him that you are unable to help yourself. Tell Him that you now realize that it will take Him to deliver you from the devastating grip of alcohol. You know from past experience that willpower alone is not enough to overcome this intense temptation.

Come to God as a sinner and repent of your selfish and sinful life. Believe that God will have a way for you. You will find the grace to totally surrender to Him. The blood of Jesus Christ will wash away your sins and you can receive the promise found in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” When God forgives, He does not leave us empty but fills our hearts with love and grace.

When the love of God has filled your heart, a deep satisfaction and contentment will come over you. You will be his child. Your spirit will be free and open, and you will have an assurance of salvation. You will know one to whom you can go in confidence when tests and difficulties come. As your spiritual thirst is satisfied, there will be strength to deal with the desire and craving for alcohol. The wounds can be healed, and the scars that remain will serve to remind you of God’s marvelous grace. Won’t you come and drink of that living water? “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Support and Fellowship of God’s People

It is very important to continue to seek God’s will in other areas of your life. God’s church is a haven where you can find fellowship and support in the trying times that will surely come. God would like to replace the unwholesome comradeship of the past life with a new companionship. The fellowship of God’s people will help you to find direction for the future and support when temptations assail you.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1-6).

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