Is Bad Language Really Bad?

Although not unique to geek entertainment, many books, video games and movies incorporate rough language and four-letter words. Although most Christians seem to have developed a list of words that are "bad", the Bible never gives us a list of words we should avoid using. But it does have a lot to say about our speech. Just a few examples include:

Proverbs 4:24 “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.” (The Hebrew words for "crooked" and "devious" here mean "deceitful" and "willfully determined to do what is unexpected or undesired")

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Ephesians 5:4 “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.“

The Greek for "filthiness" here means "that which brings shame" or "intending to stimulate sexual appetite or lust". The Greek for "foolish talk" here means "speech that demonstrates the lack of character in a person". The Greek for "crude joking" here refers to joking that intends to stimulate sexual appetite or lust.

In these verses we see that our speech shouldn't be manipulative or deceitful. We shouldn't say anything that validates a lustful mentality. We should try to avoiding offending the sensitivities of those we're talking to. Beyond that, we have a lot of freedom!

Notice that these verses are about what we, personally, should or shouldn't do when speaking. They are not immediately related to fictional entertainment we might create or enjoy. So what should guide us in those situations?

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.”

In Greek, the phrase "give no offense" as used here can mean either "do not offend" or "do not cause to stumble". So as we create content, (or run role-playing games), we should aim to avoid offending those our fiction is intended for. We should also avoid creating anything that would validate sinful thoughts or behavior in consumers. However, within these guidelines, there is still a wide variety of non-family friendly language we can and, for the sake of good fiction, maybe even SHOULD include.

In a room containing only people who won't be led into sin by rough language, there’s no sin in using it. I can't find any scripture that argues otherwise.

That said, we want to avoid offending others. So if enjoying or creating entertainment with rough language causes us to carelessly use similar words around people who would be offended, we should take a break from that entertainment until we gain better control over our speech.

In my own life, I avoid most words that the average Christian would consider offensive… when I’m around the average Christian. But alone with my wife or a friend I know won't be the least offended, I’ll use the occasional “rough word”, for effect or emphasis.

Even the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul, being inspired by God to do so, used some pretty rough language as they represented God to others.

For example, in Philippians chapter 3, as Paul compares his "praiseworthy" background with what he has gained through Christ, he says he thinks of it all as "rubbish". The Greek word here for "rubbish" means “refuse, such as the excrement of animals”. So Paul was saying the equivalent of the word “crap” and very possibly the equivalent of a word that rhymes with “sit”.

In Isaiah 64:6, the prophet says that our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment, or filthy rags. The Hebrew here refers to menstrual cloths. Yes, those kind. We're talking about the equivalent of a used tampon or maxi-pad. A pretty vile image.

Not all language is appropriate at all times around all people. But clearly, we can’t assume that there is a list of “bad words” God unquestionably wants us to avoid at all times. Nor should we expect that “good Christians” will have that kind of view about language and four letter words. And when it comes to enjoying or creating fictional entertainment with some rough language in it, even less immediate judgment should be made.

It may be a valid strategy to ban “4-letter words” from our homes until our children are old enough to understand when these words should and shouldn’t be used. But to teach our children or other Christians that these words are all “bad” by nature is to teach something unsupported by the Bible.

DOESN'T THE BIBLE SAY NOT TO “CURSE”?

Here are two examples of how the Bible commonly uses the word "curse":

Ecclesiastes 10:20- Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.

"Curse"= (Hebrew) qalal- (in negative relational contexts) to make despicable, to curse, to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour

Romans 12:14- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

"Curse"= (Greek) kataraomai- to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon

The Biblical usage of "cursing" has to do with wishing evil on someone or bringing contempt on someone. The word "damn" can be used in this way, which IS sin. And when used with the intention of actually wishing someone to be eternally "damned", it's also presumptuous and judgmental, since a person's final judgment is not our call, but God's alone. (For example, saying and genuinely meaning "Damn you".)

But most times "damn" is not used this way today, and is instead a thoughtless exclamation. Much like hitting my hand with a hammer and saying "crap!" is not a command for myself or someone else to actually poop. (Or a shocked observation that I have just seen poop.) In this way, "damn" is often a figure of speech that is not an expression of someone's desire to (as the Bible defines cursing) have evil or contempt come on someone else. So I have to conclude that, provided it doesn't result in offending anyone who hears it, the use of the word "damn" or even the exclamation "damn it" is often times not sinful.

It should also be mentioned that the same level of "cursing" can be committed (and most often is) without using a word like damn. Any verbal expression of contempt for someone WITHOUT the use of four-letter words, is just as much a "curse" as an expression of contempt that DOES use a four letter word.

"TAKING THE LORD'S NAME IN VAIN"

Exodus 20:7- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

First, it's worth noting that the Hebrew word here for "take" does not mean "say", despite the fact that we tend to automatically interpret it that way. The Hebrew word for "take" here means "to lift, bear up or carry".

This command goes far deeper than simply verbalizing a reference to God. God commanded his people not to "carry" his name with them if they weren't being genuine about it. This command is a warning against religious hypocrisy. In part, God was saying "Don't identify yourself with me unless you really mean it."

Also, the Hebrew word for "name" here refers not just to God's proper name, Yahweh (which is the original Hebrew name that English Bibles replace with an all caps “LORD”). It refers to his entire reputation. The Israelites were being commanded not to speak of, mention or represent God in a thoughtless or disrespectful way.

And although we are not bound by Old Testament law, a similar idea is expressed in Mathew 5:33-35 and is naturally included in the greatest commandment, to love God with every fiber of our being. (Mark 12:28-30)

To use references to God(God, Christ, Jesus, Yahweh) as slang or thoughtless exclamations could be argued to be carelessly disrespectful of Yahweh. We want to be always thoughtful and respectful when we make any kind of verbal references to God. However there ARE times when people can use these references to God as exclamations in which they are genuinely thinking of and directing their thoughts toward God. So we shouldn't be too quick to judge the words of others in this regard.

Some may also argue that words like "gosh" and "jeez" are disrespectful as well, since they were created as substitutes for words referring to God. But I don't see a good argument here, unless we can prove that when someone says "gosh" or "jeez" they are really disregarding or making light of a name that refers to God. "Gosh" and "jeez" are nonsense words. Even their origins (which have no relevance I can see to their actual use) are an effort to avoid offending God, rather than making light of him. So if anything, the natural intent in using "gosh" and jeez" seems to lean toward respecting God, rather than secretly disrespecting him.

There is plenty of reason for caution when making any verbal reference to God. But I'm also inclined to think we need to give people the benefit of the doubt on this one. Mind-reading is not a spiritual gift. So if we confront each other on this, we ought to do it with lots of undeserved favor(grace).