by Steve Hale
"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" ( Colossians 4:6, NKJV).
What about profane speech or swearing or cursing (or, as we said out in the country, 'cussin')? What about those famous four-
lettered words? What about crude language that sometimes gets quite, how shall we say, "anatomical?' Webster defines profane as: '1. not concerned with religion or religious matters; secular; as profane art; profane history, that is, history other than biblical' (p. 1436).
This use of profane doesn't sound so bad ... it just means dealing with things not of a religious nature. And certainly, there are times we must do that.
But, his next definition really hits home: '2. irreverent toward God or holy things; speaking, spoken, or acting, or done in contempt of sacred things; blasphemous; as profane words or language' (p. 1436).
We are positively bombarded with profanity. It blasts through our radios, C.D. players, and cassette decks as music lyrics become more and more profane. Silly disc jockeys seem to be contesting one another for who can be the most outrageous, and among some, the most profane.
Our sitcoms climax with a flurry of profanities for the sake of a cheap laugh. Comedians have gotten more and more irreverent. We are becoming a profane and pagan society.
Jesus said: 'A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned' ( Matthew 12:35-37, NKJV).
Solomon said: 'A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver' ( Proverbs 25:11, NKJV). Paul told Timothy: 'O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge -- by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen' ( I Timothy 6:20, 21).
In his farewell epistle, Paul warned Timothy: 'But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness' ( II Timothy 2:16). Yes, for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he ( Proverbs 23:7). He who dwells on the profane will become profane.
Where does your heart dwell? Where do the hearts of your children dwell? Are they holy or profane?