MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BNC) — Elder Paul Goddard gave a devotional thought about what is profane and vulgar at the Park Avenue congregation Wednesday night, Oct. 26. He had many requests for his notes. He shared those notes today and graciously permitted BNC to reproduce them, below.
***
Everyone has slips of the tongue. Even Christians sometimes say things that they later regret. The Bible is full of stories about people saying things that they regretted later.
A moment of anger gets the best of all of us. Unfortunately, it only takes one moment of anger to wipe out years of being a good example.
In this election year, some have used profane and vulgar language to make their point.
It surprises me that even Christians are reasoning that it is the culture that dictates what is good and bad language. It is only a bad word because our culture says it is. If the culture says it is okay to use profane or vulgar language to make a point, it is not wrong.
Church, our American culture’s moral compass is broken!
1. Is it wrong to use profane language?
Only God can damn a person to hell. If we use this type of language we profane God.
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” James 1:26.
2. Is it wrong to use vulgar words that refer to the body?
God created life, and when we use vulgar words to refer to reproduction or defecation, it reveals that we do not respect God’s gift to mankind.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 “that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.”
3. Is it wrong to call people names?
Offensive name-calling will not bring a person in contact with Jesus.
Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, “Do 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.”
We claim to be people of the book, but our actions show that we are not reading the book that we claim.
Our moral compass is Jesus. What did he say?
Matthew 12:34, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
Matthew 15:1,17,18, “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
2016-10-28 at 1:08 pm
This is one of the most important posts I’ve read online, and it’s just we take heed to these words, as the lost look at us through a microscope. The prodigals, even though they might not realize, look at our Christian walk, for encouragement, but ultimately, God is listening to every word the Church says!
Talk about Spot On…