In an argument with some of my friends one day, after a game of cards, I was left feeling down because I didn’t win the argument. We were talking about if cussing was a sin, as there is no clear indication in the bible, that accepts or prohibits it. I was of the opinion that it was wrong. Growing up, there were certain words you couldn’t use around the house, an F-bomb, was a definite no-no. Profanity wasn’t something our parents threw around the house. Now I see some parents cuss in front of their kids, and I cringe because the child will begin using such words in no time.
Image courtesy of Pexels
In the Bible, it says, “can a water spring bring forth salt water and regular water? No way. Yet the same mouth you use to glorify God, you use it to curse others.” I narrated to my friends. But no! They insisted. The passage here isn’t referring to F-bombs, but placing curses on people, or calling them fools and so on. I was waiting for God to back me up at the moment; God, I said to Him, I know this isn’t right, but how can I prove to them, that it isn’t? They know it is not a good word, but then again, they don’t believe it is a sin.
But God kept quiet. After they left my apartment, God said to me—it is not pleasing to Me. That is what you should have said. Really God? After they leave, you reveal this to me? Then I sent out a message to my friends saying, this is the reason why we shouldn’t use profanity (haha).
These days, Christians don’t want to be accountable for their actions. We now live in times when my truth, is now gaining notoriety than the truth. People now want to live for themselves and no longer God. They run to social media to rant, before they run to the presence of the father, to pour out their hearts.
They want to dabble in sin, and also want God to be a part of it. They want some of God, but not all of Him. They want the creation, but without the creator. 2 Timothy3:5 puts it this way: “having a form of godliness, but denying its power.”
Out of The Abundance of The Heart, The Mouth Speaks
I believe what we see these days, with those who claim to be Christians, and their lives don’t mirror it, is a breakdown in connection with the Christians and Christ. To be a Christian is to be Christ-like. Believers were first called Christians in Antioch because they looked like Christ. They talked like him, prayed like him, did miracles like him, and people knew that they had to be followers of Christ.
I heard someone say one day when they were asked this question: what thing do people not really know about you, or what will surprise people if they found out a certain thing about you? And their response was—my relationship with God, me and God, are like two peas in a pod. I was in awe because Christianity isn’t something that you hide. Christianity is light, no matter how you try to contain light, it will still shine, except you turn it off completely.
So if I cannot tell by interacting with you all the time, that you are a Christian, (As a fellow believer or even someone who doesn’t believe), then there is a problem. Or people who say—God knows my heart. Yes he does, that is why he said it is desperately wicked. By their fruits, we shall know them. It is not hard to decipher what well a person has been drinking from; it will show in their fruits (actions) in no time. You can’t hide that kind of stuff.
Is it okay for another believer, to call out another believer?
Yes, it is, as long as it is done in love. Paul did that to Peter in the Bible, Jesus also did that to Peter as well. Peter said one thing and was practicing something different. Paul called him out, and he repented. In these times we are living in, if you see believer going down the wrong path, and you call them out, you will be termed a judge.
People are so quick to pull the judgment card because they don’t want to turn away from their sin. They don’t want to listen to instruction, and they think their own way is the right way. Be careful not to go on your Christian journey by yourself; that is why God put us in communities, for accountability. We all struggle with sin; no one is perfect. But don’t use this as an excuse to remain the way you are.
If you are in constant communication with Christ each day, if you spend time with God, God will convict you of certain things. He isn’t going to put his stamp of approval on your curse words, or rant on social media, that is why He said, seek me first. No matter how difficult your situation is, there is already a solution. If we are not continuously connected to our source (God), we begin to fly off the deep end. You cannot do Christianity without God at the center, that is religion.
We need to get back to our roots, and reverence and fear God again. We need to ask ourselves in every situation—how will Jesus react or WWJD (what will Jesus do)? We need to run to Him, before running to social media. We need to tackle things spiritually because the Bible says our fight is not a flesh and blood fight. We need to stand out from the crowd, not because of our immaturity, but because of who we represent.
And let me just tell you (as we like to say in Nigeria)—if you are a Christian, especially with a big platform, there is a target on your back. How you handle or respond to that target, will determine how far along you will go on this journey. Let us say no to modern day Christianity, let us say no to watered-down Christianity and let us rise (because the world is waiting) as the sons and daughters of God and do the right thing. Always remember to keep Christ at the center.
What do you think? Leave your thoughts below. Also remember to like, share and subscribe, never to miss an update. Don’t just stop here; click this link to see all that our inspirational segment has to offer.
About The Author: Evi Idoghor is a Christian, writer and content creator on Letstalknationblog.com. She is a chemical engineering graduate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Consumed by her love for writing and desire to effect change, she launched her online platform––Let’s Talk Nation––to tap into her creativity and start meaningful conversations that would make a difference around the world.
Most of her writing has been influenced by her time spent in America, where she lived for about 11 years. Also, she lived in Nigeria and South Korea and currently loves traveling the world while learning about other fascinating cultures. You can find her on all social media platforms with @eviidoghor.