When I was in secondary school, the boys used to play a
little game called, ‘Who Can Make Susie Swear?’
They would try and persuade me to say certain things, until
they got bored. But at the end of the game there would be unmistakable admiration
in their eyes. Let me be clear, I’m not trying to boast about my steely resolve
against the ‘F-word’, nor am I saying that I think I’m going to go to hell if I
swear. I don’t think that. What I am saying is, swearing is such a common thing
in society, people notice if you don’t do it. And they also recognise it as a
positive thing.
Why don’t I swear?
- Because the Bible tells us it’s not a good thing: ‘Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ (Ephesians 4:29)
- Because I understand why God says this. Hearing people swear is never a positive thing, whether it’s a throwaway comment or more hate-filled. How do you feel when you hear/see a child swear? (Take the picture above for example.) Let’s call a spade a spade, everyone knows swearing is ‘bad’ language
- There are many ways a Christian should act differently – swearing is a very easy, basic one. If I cannot be faithful to God in the basic ways, how can I expect to be faithful in the bigger things? Every choice I make shapes me and takes me in a certain direction. I’ve always found whether a Christian swears or not to be a good indication of their spiritual maturity
- ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress’ (Hebrews 12:1). We often wonder how we can share our faith, how we can be shown to be different. Well, what a simple way to distinguish yourself as a Christian!
- I have made sure not to develop a habit of swearing, therefore it's just not part of my vocab now
I’m not saying I never slip up – when everyone is swearing around you it can feel like the norm. There’s no tally chart, no earning brownie points with God. I don’t not
swear because I want to be a ‘good girl’. Neither do I steer clear of swearing
at all costs – it’s not something that holds any power over me. It’s not a ‘rule’ I’m trying to keep and I don’t think God is going to punish me if I swear. It’s just a
stupid and unnecessary weight that slows me down on my Christian walk. Besides, swearing’s not the point.
Here’s the point. When you realise how much God loves you
and how everything he directs you to and from is for your benefit, you have no desire to swear. In fact, you probably have a general aversion to it. Just like you
have no desire to get wasted or sleep around. You see all those things for what
they are, and it’s not a pretty or appealing sight. And anything else you know to be unhelpful that maybe does appeal still, is something you want to exercise self-control over.
One way is to test your life choices against these three
points:
- Is it good for me? (Good for my physical/mental/spiritual wellbeing)
- Is it good for others? (Good for their physical/mental/spiritual wellbeing)
- Does it glorify God?
Can you answer ‘no’ to one of them? If so, you might want to
spend a bit of time thinking and praying about that one.
Then we'll be on our way to our real goal: To live a life of love.
