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<\/source><\/picture>Most Christians take for granted that profanity is sinful, but does the Bible actually address it? Back in 2013, I noted<\/a> with concern that \u201cit is increasingly common to hear about worship leaders getting drunk after church services and dropping f-bombs while they boast about their \u2018liberty\u2019 in the Lord.\u201d Now, my good friend John Cooper, the frontman for the Christian rock band Skillet, has confronted<\/a> the use of profanity in \u201cChristian\u201d music.<\/p>\n Cooper\u2019s podcast<\/a> was titled, \u201cThe Rot in Christian Music,\u201d which, for him, was reflective of a larger spirit of compromise in the Church that starts with leaders and works its way down through the Body. And he referenced a recent article<\/a> by Kevin McNeese titled, \u201cWhat the Bleep Is Happening in Christian Music,\u201d where McNeese \u201crevisits the continuing trend of Christian artists including adult language and themes in their music.\u201d<\/p>\n But are we all overreacting? Perhaps this is simply a matter of us trying to impose our spiritual preferences on others? Worse still, perhaps we are acting as legalistic judges?<\/p>\n Many believers would immediately point to Ephesians 4:29: \u201cDo not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.\u201d<\/p>\n Surely, we would reason, profanity is unwholesome. Case closed. Or is it?<\/p>\n According to one Christian podcaster<\/a> (and former pastor), this is a misinterpretation of the word \u201cunwholesome,\u201d which, he claims simply referred to things like gossip, which would grieve the Spirit. As for profanity, while this leader was convicted by the Lord to stop using it publicly, since it offends many of his Christian followers (and thereby violates the second half of Ephesians 4:29), he felt no conviction from the Lord to stop using \u201cstrong language\u201d privately if he felt strongly about something.<\/p>\n Plus, he argued, the very words we refer to today as \u201cprofanity\u201d didn\u2019t exist in Paul\u2019s day.<\/p>\n Was he right?<\/p>\n As to his second point, it is patently absurd.<\/p>\n The English language didn\u2019t exist in Paul\u2019s day, so of course, Paul was not referring to words that are considered profane in English. That is beyond obvious. That would be like saying, \u201cPaul was not against internet porn, since the internet didn\u2019t even exist yet.\u201d Seriously!<\/p>\n As with all scripture, Paul was laying out a principle, which is then worked out and interpreted in every age and cultural context.<\/p>\n In our day and in every culture, everyone knows what profanity is.<\/p>\n Here in America, certain words cannot be used on regular TV networks or in G-rated movies. Those same words will be \u201cbleeped\u201d out by censors.<\/p>\n This is not in dispute. The question is whether Ephesians 4:29 explicitly addresses the issue.<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201cunwholesome\u201d in the NIV is sarpos<\/em>, which is normally used in the New Testament in the sense of \u201cpertaining to being of poor or bad quality and hence of little or no value (particularly in reference to plants, either in the sense of seriously diseased or of seedling stock, that is, not budded or grafted) …\u201d (Louw-Nida Lexicon).<\/p>\n In Ephesians 4:29, where it is speaking of words rather than of the fruit of a tree, the Louw-Nida Lexicon explains that this pertains \u201cto that which is harmful in view of its being unwholesome and corrupting … In Eph 4:29 sarpos<\/em> is in contrast with that which is agathos<\/em> \u2018good\u2019 for building up what is necessary. In such a context agathos<\/em> may be interpreted as that which is helpful, and by contrast sarpos<\/em> may be understood to mean \u2018harmful.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n But what, exactly, does this mean?<\/p>\n New Testament scholar Andrew T. Lincoln, author of one of the leading commentaries on Ephesians, noted that the word \u201cis employed elsewhere in the NT in its literal sense of \u2018rotten\u2019 or \u2018decaying\u2019\u2014 of a tree and in contrast to agathos<\/em> [good] in Matt 7:17, 18.\u201d<\/p>\n As for here in Ephesians, \u201cWhat is prohibited under the category of evil talk (cf. Col 3:8; Eph 5:4) includes obscenity<\/em>, abusive language, and spreading malicious gossip. The focus is on the destructive power of words and the harm they can produce in communal life\u201d (my emphasis).<\/p>\n Ironically, the Christian podcaster I just mentioned rebuked those who sent him Ephesians 4:29 regarding his use of profanity, urging them to do their studies properly before sending him a verse. It was actually he who failed to exegete the verse properly and understand the semantic domain of sarpos<\/em>.<\/p>\n So, in the opinion of Prof. Lincoln, a top New Testament scholar, \u201cunwholesome\u201d words would<\/em> include \u201cobscenity\u201d (such as using the f- word, for example). He also referenced Colossians 3:8, which reads, \u201cBut now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language<\/em> from your lips\u201d (my emphasis).<\/p>\n Would anyone argue that profanity is not included under the category of \u201cfilthy language\u201d? Greek scholar Robert Mounce defines the word aischrologia<\/em>, which is translated as \u201cfilthy,\u201d to mean \u201cvile or obscene language, foul talk.\u201d Without a doubt, aischrologia<\/em> includes profanity.<\/p>\n Not only so, but just a few verses after Ephesians 4:29, Paul wrote this (also cited by Lincoln): \u201cNor should there be [among you] obscenity<\/em>, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving\u201d (Ephesians 5:4, my emphasis).<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201cobscenity\u201d is aischrote\u0304s<\/em>, defined by the authoritative BDAG New Testament Greek Dictionary as \u201cbehavior that flouts social and moral standards, shamefulness, obscenity<\/em>\u201d (their emphasis).<\/p>\n Just think of a politician dropping an f-bomb, getting a raucous response from the crowd, precisely because<\/em> it flouts social and moral standards. That is the very thing Paul is forbidding. This should not be found among you as followers of Jesus!<\/p>\n So, in just three verses, Paul urges believers to get rid of any speech that is unwholesome, that is filthy, or that is obscene. Case closed indeed! He also writes, \u201cLet your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone\u201d (Colossians 4:6). This cannot possibly apply to profane speech.<\/p>\n Whether a Christian feels \u201cconvicted\u201d about this or not is immaterial. (A cheating husband might say, \u201cI don\u2019t feel convicted by the Spirit about my affair,\u201d but that would be meaningless.)<\/p>\n The Word of God, reflecting the heart and mind of God, clearly prohibits profanity. Let us, then, be raised up to His pure standards, starting with the purification of our hearts and minds, rather than trying to bring Him down to ours.<\/p>\n There are far worse sins than the use of profanity, and a Christian who slips up should not feel condemned. But under no circumstances should we try to justify our fleshly behavior by twisting the Word of God.<\/p>\n Dr. Michael Brown(www.askdrbrown.org<\/a>) is the host of the nationally syndicated\u00a0Line of Fire<\/a>\u00a0radio program. His latest book isWhy So Many Christians Have Left the Faith<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0Connect with him on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, or\u00a0YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST<\/strong> newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nFree<\/span> Religious Freedom Updates<\/h2>\n