“Cussing in Front of the Preacher”
On more than one occasion, I have heard someone say, “Don’t cuss in front of the preacher,” or similar. Let me go on record as saying that I don’t like to hear anyone cussing, but I hear plenty anyway. I hear it in media, shopping, at restaurants, at football games, and just about every other place not associated with the church. However, I want to emphasize, that it does not matter what I think on this topic or whether someone personally offends me or not. It is not the preacher that a person needs to worry about cussing in front of—it’s God Almighty! And He hears it all!
Maybe someone might be thinking that God doesn’t mind listening to my cussing. Well, just listen to the word of God on this topic. In the book of James (3:8-10) we read: “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.” The truth is that “cussing” is just “cursing,” and the Holy Spirit says, “these things ought not to be so.” God doesn’t want you to be cussing whether it is in front of the preacher or anyone else!
The words of the Christian are supposed to be graceful. Listen to Ephesians 4:19: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Does cussing edify? Is cussing gracious? We all know it isn’t. Just stop doing it (period).