Wednesday, June 15, 2011

10 Reasons Why I Swear

10 Reasons Why I Swear
#1 It pleases mother so much
#2 It's a fine mark of manliness.
#3 It proves I have self-control
#4 It shows how clearly my mind operates.
#5 It makes my conversation so pleasing to everybody
#6 It is an unmistakable sign of culture and refinement.
#7 It impresses people with the fact that I have more than ordinary education and vocabulary.
#8 It makes me a very desirable personality among women and children and in respectable society.
#9 It is such a useful accomplishment. of all the sins that I could commit, it brings me the largest financial and material returns.
#10 It is my way of honoring God, who said, "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." -- Quoted

Sometimes I just love sarcasm. This is from a 1956 issue of "The Herald."

You know profanity is one of those things which has a place but is often misplaced and misused. If I drop a heavy object on my foot or accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer then perhaps a well placed profanity is appropriate. The trouble is I all too often catch myself swearing when nothing bad has occurred. I do not swear all the time, and when I do more often than not I stick to what the world might call the minor swear words, and abstain from the all too frequently used F-bomb, and the even worse GD. However, I sincerely believe God calls us all - not just wanna be preachers - to live a more joyful life. Check out this word from James 3:1-6 NIV

 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
While profanity may be culturally appropriate its frequent or flagrant use damages our credibility. I want to be understood as a credible witness of the gospel while still being genuine. I do not want to just put on an act, and that is why I try not to swear. I'm not trying to be better than anyone else, or holier than thou. I just want to be me - a person who genuinely loves God and wants to share that love with others.