I started recognizing swear words when I was in middle school, and definitely by the time I reached high school. I’m sure I heard the words before then, but I didn’t realize what they were. I heard them nearly every day and from all sorts of people. You know. The “d” word, the “h” word, the “s” word, and the “a” word. And there is the oddly popular “f” word or calling someone the “b” word.
Perhaps I was and am childish and naïve, referring to these beginning letters and not even spelling out the full word. Well, I take being childlike to be a compliment as Jesus says regarding children, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
The Swear Words
In high school, I would occasionally swear. Yes, I pulled out the shocking “s” word when driving, and when doubting myself, referred to myself with the “b” word. Overall, I would swear during a moment of fear, agitation, or frustration. As God is not a god of fear, agitation, or frustration, it seemed and seems to my childlike self that swearing is a sin.
And then, there were the swear words that were curse words; words that condemned others to hell or wished someone ill. That “cursing,” is a synonym of “swearing.” I have heard plenty of curse words as well, or swear words that are used to curse someone. Maybe most people do not mean what they say when they curse, or they are just adding emphasis to their speech when they swear or playfully when goofing around with friends. Still, it pricked at my conscience. Something did not feel right about it.
There was yet another type of swearing that I heard all around me. It did not have to be a PG-13 movie to hear it. It was blatantly against the Second Commandment, which is to not use the Name of the Lord in vain. I found that whether people believed in God or not, they still took God’s Name and misused it.
For a time, I became so alert and aware of swearing, cursing, and taking God’s Name in vain, that I would leave in the middle of a movie if there was a swear word (which was a lot of movies…). And then, in real life, I could not control what people said. Perhaps my face showed disapproval or I simply would look uncomfortable when others swore. I did once ask some people to change the music we were listening to because it was full of “f” bombs.
I could and can be a hypocrite, though. I may disapprove of swearing, but I still slip. Why do I call it a “slip”? Why is swearing and taking God’s Name in vain so wrong?
Why I Try (Not) to Swear
My negative opinion of swearing slowly developed in prayer and the example of others around me. Even to this day, I continue to realize why I should not swear. What I found was not a binding restriction of “thou shalt nots” from the Bible, but a beautiful gift. My mouth.
If God Himself created our mouths, our lips, our tongues, our vocal cords—all of which were made “good” in His eyes, then our mouths should be blessing, praising, and exclaiming God’s goodness.
Our mouths were not designed to swear and take God’s Name in vain. With our mouths, we sing. We compliment. We smile. We pray aloud with others or individually. Look at what Scripture has to say about the use of our tongue.
Ephesians 4:29-32 tells us:
No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving, one another as God as forgiven you in Christ.
Psalms 141:3 reads, “Set a guard, LORD, before my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalms 51:17 reads, “Lord, you will open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise.”
What I see in these words from Scripture is that our voices were made to do good and praise God. Not slander and let dirty things come from it.
Another Use for the Tongue
Then, there is the greatest thing we can do with our mouths. Eat! I love to eat. But I am not talking about earthly food. I am talking about receiving the Eucharist. Even more than food, receiving the Eucharist is like a grand, tender kiss from Jesus. The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. At Holy Mass, we do not just look at Jesus or smile at Him. We do not just shake His hand or give Him a hug. No. Our very mouths consume Him, which is the sweet gift to have Him enter us through our mouths and permeate our entire being with His love. If Jesus comes into our mouths, our mouths, in turn, should be used to praise God and build up the kingdom of heaven. And this ties back to cursing and swearing. That is why I came to the conclusion that I do not want to speak dirty words and then consume the all-good and pure God. I did not want to misuse God’s precious Name and then go to Holy Communion.
Swearing and the Holy Name
As I mentioned, one of the Ten Commandments (the second), is to not take the Name of the Lord in vain. Taking God’s Name in vain is the worst type of cursing. If I were to use Jesus or whatever Name for God, out of offense and disregard, then it offends the all-holy Name of Jesus.
That is in part, why I now try to have a devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. His Name is precious, and thus, we must say His Name with love. That is why I and many others try to bow our heads when we hear the Name of Jesus. Because
at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).
Look at what this means! Jesus’ Name is so powerful that even those “under the earth” confess that Jesus is Lord. That is why we are told to say the Name of Jesus when afflicted by an evil spirit who is tempting, scaring, or hurting us. His Name is so powerful, that the demons run away.
Jesus’ Name is meant for healing and strength. Not for careless curses.
So, Is Swearing a Sin?
I am no theologian, so I encourage you to look at the article, “Am I Really Not Allowed to Cuss or Swear” by Shaun McAfee. Also take a look at the Catechism, Part III, Article 2, 2142—2167, “The Second Commandment.”
I have told you the reasons why I try (not) to swear. Maybe now is a good time for you also to reflect and see if you swear, why you swear, and when you swear. Perhaps you can reserve words that lift others up and praise God.
Sing purely! Live the Scriptures that plainly explain for us, the purpose of our mouths. Use your tongue for loving others and loving God. May our mouths be clean so that we can receive the Eucharist in purity. Bring back reverence and praise for the Holy Name. Speak generous words. And may your mouth do so with the curve of a smile.
7 thoughts on “Why I Try (Not) to Swear”
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Hello, Guy! Thank you for your comment. I did not hear any sisters swear when I was in the convent. I did, however, learn a whole new vocabulary of different blessings and phrases. For example, “May God reward you,” and “I humbly beg your forgiveness,” or “Mea culpa.”
JSC-This is poignant and pertinent. The verbal garbage everywhere is no accident. The devils like us to demean and curse God’s creation and the highest of His creations, human beings. They know “Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua,” heaven and earth are full of Thy glory, and that glory, which includes you and me and all of us, indicts them for their rejection of HIm every time they encounter a flower, or a rainbow, or a gnat, a baby or anyone made in His image and likeness. If they can get us to curse HIS light, they hope they can get us to go to hell with them.
I served in the US Army from some years-that is all the disclosure you need re: my past sins against the 2nd commandment. But then I realized when I received Jesus, body, blood, soul and divinity in Holy Communion, my mouth becomes His tent, His tabernacle-and I had been pumping verbal sewage through His place of honor. I try not to do this anymore.
JSC-thank you for all you do and all you write. Alas and alack, I am curious: was ever a swear word heard in the convent? If so, which one? Guy, Texas
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“Fill your mind with faith, hope and love and there will be no room for evil.” I learned years ago that I could easily fall into the habits of others. I’ve been a chaplain in a jail, for law enforcement and firefighters. I’ve been around a lot of military. So, instead of just trying not to swear I made up my own replacements.
My favorite is “Schnitzel!” I also use “Reckafrex”. It makes me laugh when people look at me funny when I use these words. And sometimes joy is the best medicine for a lack of faith, hope and love.
Historically, swear words have changed over time. To continue using the letters, the “d” word only became negative after President Nixon. And this is why you only see elderly men called Dick – they went by Dick before the name took on different meanings. If Reckafrex became a swear word socially, would it still be ok?
Basically, as long as the word/exclamation doesn’t curse someone or use God’s name, is it really that different form a moral perspective if you use the f word or the s word or Schnitzel or Reckafrex? Whichever word you choose, you get the same psychological effect (relief) that makes swearing attractive. I can’t come up with a legitimate difference, but socially, I still use the clean words around my kids because I don’t want my children running around sounding like sailors. To me, it seems like the word you use just depends on the social setting and it’s purely a societal norm (as long as you aren’t bringing God into it). I completely respect different opinions on swearing, because my language definitely changes based on setting! The things I say when I’m alone and whack my thumb with a hammer….
A woman after my own heart! I feel the same and when we watch a movie, at the first swear word I’m out of there The Eglish language is so rich – surely other words can be found?
And I slip up myself. Usually under moments of stress. I do try, I still slip. Obviously, I have to try even harder.
Thank you for a wonderful article.