"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." - Philippians 4:8
I am certain that you have been involved in discussions or at least listened to sermons that had to do with what is appropriate for Christians to do or say. The Bible is clear on many things - but speaks indirectly to others. In those cases we must apply principles to our living. Paul told the church at Philippi that they should focus on and do that which glorifies God and reflects a holy God. Setting ourselves apart from the world and its ways.
If someone was to say - it is Ok for Christians to use profanity in their speech - what would you say in the context of Ephesians 4?
"Let no corrupt [unwholesome] word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." - Ephesians 4:29-31
Along those lines - have you set boundaries for what profanity you are willing to listen to? We are bombarded with profanity through movies, television, and printed media. The culture has gone so far to only write the first and last letters of the word with (*) asterisks in between to let you fill in the blanks - and your mind will fill in the blanks - or asterisks as it were.
"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." - Proverbs 23:7
But Paul goes beyond the explicit and the implicit by saying that even if the Bible does not speak against something, if that thing causes a weaker Christian to stumble then we should refrain from it.
"All to the Glory of God All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify." - 1 Corinthians 10:23
"I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. .... Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak." - Romans 14:14-17,20-21
That admonition is consistent with the second greatest commandment - to love others. Also the idea that if you want to be great in God's kingdom then you must be a servant.
"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:26-28
Jesus also said that there is not greater love than laying your own life and your desires down and yielding to the welfare and benefit of others.
"My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." - John 15:13
My point to all of that is to say this. Resist the attitude that if it is not wrong then there is nothing wrong with you doing it - even if it causes less mature Christians to struggle. That would be sin on your part.
"to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." - James 4:17
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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