The term expletive is commonly used to refer to any "bad language" or “profanity” that has been censored by the author or by a subsequent censor. The word became popular in American culture during the 1970’s, when transcripts of the late President Richard Nixon’s (now declassified) internal tapes were made public. The phrase "expletive deleted" was put into the court record whenever the notoriously profanity-laced discussions with H. R. “Bob” Haldeman and other Watergate insiders went beyond the bounds of common decency.
Profanity is defined as “the quality or state of being profane”. The term relates especially to the use of profane language, or any desecration or disrespect toward an object of religious veneration. It can be a word, expression, gesture, or other social behavior which is generally interpreted as insulting, rude or vulgar. Other words, besides “expletive,” commonly used to describe profane language or its use include: cussing, cursing, swearing, obscenity and blasphemy.
Anyone who confesses to be a believer in Jesus and claims to advance His Name and reputation in this world, needs to understand that profanity does not belong in any Christ-follower’s vocabulary, and thus should never flow from his lips or from his pen. Those who speak it or write it betray by their spoken words and written weblogs that they really don’t know Jesus. He was never insulting, rude or vulgar. In fact, that was the very testimony of those who were graced with the privilege of seeing and hearing Him in person: “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22).
But, of course, the Bible says that He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:18). No wonder that what overflowed from His heart and then fell from His lips were words of grace and truth! Indeed, Jesus Himself explained, “. . . For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34-35). It’s been said – and I would agree – that people who have to resort to profanity when writing or obscenity when speaking have very small minds. Jesus would add that they have very corrupt hearts. One of the wisest men who ever lived said about every man, “For as he thinks in his heart, so IS he” (Proverbs 23:7). Jesus would add, “As a man thinks in his heart, so SAYS he!” The heart of the matter is that a man’s speech is really a matter of his heart. Whatever is “in” a man’s heart is eventually what comes “out” of his mouth (or pen).
Furthermore, a cussing man who claims to be a Christian needs to know that a cussing Christian is an oxymoron. James, the half-brother of our Lord, wrote in that central passage on the “tongue,” “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 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” (James 3:5-10).
The Apostle Paul alludes to that same incongruity when he writes to the Colossian Christians, “And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk” (Colossians 3:5-8) The Message.
Similarly, he admonished the believers in
Frankly, I am deeply saddened by some young people today who have so much potential to make a difference for Christ in this world, but who are trying to change the world apart from their obedience to His Word (especially when it comes to issues like this one), and apart from their dependence on His Spirit. They are just deluding themselves if they think that by becoming obscene and profane in their speech they will produce anything of eternal value in anyone else’s life, not to mention the fact that they will also have to give account for themselves at the judgment seat of Christ. What a colossal waste. The devil really has them duped . . .
How I wish they would have the wisdom to heed the admonition of the Apostle Paul to his young protégé, Timothy, when he wrote, “But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:16-21).
It’s not unusual at any time (in many cultures) for the younger “Christian” generation to pick the “speck” out of the older generation’s “eye,” and to label them as hypocritical old fools, accusing them of not being able to “walk the talk.” At the same time they either fail to see or refuse to admit that there is a “log” coming out of their own eye. Not only do they sometimes fail to “walk the talk”, but resorting to the most obscene and profane language – insulting, rude and vulgar speech – they can’t even “talk” it! To me, that is the epitome of hypocrisy for one who claims to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.
There is absolutely no way anyone – young or old – can justify profanity in light of the admonition to “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
No, the way to reach and change this obscene, profane world is NOT to become like them in our walk and talk. Rather, in the words of the Apostle Paul, we are to “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, (not “peppered” with profanity) that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Ephesians 4:5-6).
The bottom line? All expletives need to be deleted . . . from the mind as well as the mouth.
Finally, once again, from the pen of one of the wisest men whoever lived,
“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.” (Ecclesiastes 10:12)
Let's wise up!
