Have you noticed the dramatic acceleration of unwholesome speech in our culture?

It was not too terribly long ago that:

• Saying Hell, and Damn, were offensive. (Now these words are defined as “small” swear words.)
• The FCC limited those “small” swear words to four per hour on broadcast TV. (The FCC now determines what is obscene by how many complaints they receive. If people don’t complain, it’s deemed acceptable.)
• People expected men to clean up their language when women and children were present. (These days women and kids go toe-to-toe with the “best” of them.)
• People had a bit of a conscience about their profanity: “Excuse my French,” they’d say.

It’s astounding how far we’ve come in such a short time. Today people very routinely utter what used to be grossly obscene and highly offensive. But have you noticed? Hardly anyone even flinches. We have become so desensitized to it.

Yet perhaps the most sobering and frightening aspect of our speech these days is how people attach the Lord’s name to their swearing. As if it were not enough to swear or to take the Lord’s name in vain, they combine the two. They punctuate their grossly obscene and vulgar speech with the name of our God or Savior.

However, the biblical exhortations and prohibitions are still in effect. So let’s remind ourselves of some of these and how the Lord calls us to glorify Him with our speech.

• …the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Ex 20:7)
• … on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak… by your words you will be condemned. (Mt 12:36-37)
• …what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. (Mt 15:18)
• Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Eph 4:29)
• Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Eph 5:4)
• Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Col 4:6)

Holy Spirit of God, we ask You to lead and guide and control our speech. For we want to honor and please You, and speak fittingly considering our worthy Savior.