Foul Mouthed Christianity - Is Cussing OK

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I have been dialoging with some interesting so called Christians who have a very twisted view of scripture and what it means to be a Christian. They write and say that they feel it is perfectly fine to use foul and degrading language. Most of these gentleman are part of the emergent church and claim to be living their lives like Christ commanded. But instead of their "cool" worldliness they are going directly against the Word of God. I would like to address the topic of our language and how we speak and what we speak represents to the world who Christ is in us. Is it ok for a Christian to walk around using 4 letter words, is that being a good ambassador of Christ?

I have read through the Bible several times and I have never found a scripture that promotes the use of vulgar language. On the contrary I find scripture after scripture that condemns this type of language. If I want to be an effective ambassador of Christ am I going to be separate from the world or am I going to embrace it and be part of it and do the things of the world? As Christians should we try and be above reproach so that no one has anything against us? Or do we follow after culture and "try" to be "cool" or "hip"?

I remember shortly after repenting and turning from my ways to Christ ways was to stop my bad habit of cursing. I was just like the world using it all the time but the Holy Spirit started to convict me of my language and I left cussing behind. What is interesting is that I hadn't even read the bible passages below that talk about being foul mouthed. It just happened and I knew it was not how God wanted me to be talking any longer.

Now before I go on any further I want to make sure that if you struggle with this problem you are not "condenmed" by it. I have friends who are Christians who slip but then apologize for their language. We all are sinners who need a Savior and this may be something that you are dealing with. However, there is a big difference about trying to work on a sin and having the attitude it is just the way I am so deal with it. If your heart is in this kind of condition then you might want to really examine what it means to be a follower of Christ. What does it mean to you when Christ says if you love Me you will obey my commandments? This applies to any sin that is in your life. Me included, trust me I have a million things to work on about my heart. But I know one thing. I desire not to sin. I desire to hide God's word in my heart so I might not sin against Him. Psalm 119:11.

Let us take a look at what God says about our language.

Basic instruction on what should come out of our mouths. (2 Timothy 2:16) But avoid worldly {and} empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,

(Colossians 3:8) But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, {and} abusive speech from your mouth.

(1 Corinthians 15:33) Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

(Ephesians 4:29) 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.

(Ephesians 5:4) and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Do we glorify God in using curse words or foul language?(Matthew 5:16) "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

How do we represent Christ setting ourselves apart from the worlds standard. (Titus 2:7-8) in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Here is the worst thing we can do is misrepresent Christ with offensive language. How can we be holy if we don't follow what Jesus commanded?(Colossians 4:6) Let your speech always be with grace, {as though} seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

(James 1:26) If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his {own} heart, this man's religion is worthless.

(Matthew 15:11) "{It is} not what enters into the mouth {that} defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

(1 Corinthians 10: 31) Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

How do unbelievers know us, by our fruits?(Matthew 7:16-18) "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn {bushes} nor figs from thistles, are they? "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

We are known by our fruits. As Christains we should not be known by fruits of foul speech.
All glory, all praise, all worship, all honor goes to the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Wes
Galatians 2:20

Emergent Church - Roger Oakland - Faith Undone

Roger Oakland gives an outstanding presentation on the emergent church. After watching this video my heart becomes burdensome for the lost who are buying into this false form of Christianity. I highly suggest watching through the whole thing because it will give you a much deeper understanding how the emergent church is attacking Christianity and making a mockery of God's Word.

Here is a statement from Roger on the emergent church.

In the not-too-distant future, most evangelical pastors will have to decide whether to support or reject the spirituality behind the emerging church. If this movement continues unfolding at the present pace, mainstream Christianity will be completely restructured, and the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ will be considered obsolete. If I believed for one minute that this movement was just another passing whim or the discontent rumblings that so often occur with young people as they search for answers to life, I would never have written this book.

But sad to say, the emerging church is far more than a fleeting fad and much more than the complaints of a group of young leaders. It is indeed a new way of being Christian and its objective is to usher in a new reformation throughout the world.

Those who refuse to embrace this direction will be considered spiritual oddballs that are hindering a unified one-world spirituality that is promoted as the answer for peace and that is prophesied about in the Bible. I know these sound like preposterous concerns. How could a movement that seems so unorganized and mismanaged do so much damage? The answer to that is the reason I wrote this book. For behind this new kind of worship, this new kind of church is a strategic apostasy and maneuver by the prince of this world, the enemy of our souls, to literally take apart the faith of millions—it will be nothing less than faith undone.

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Let me know if you think the Emergent Church is as dangerous as described?

All honor, all glory, all praise, all worship goes to the King of kings and Lord of lords Jesus Christ.

Wes
Galatians 2:20

My Utmost for His Highest - Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 is a verse I have committed to memory. My desire is to be done with the "I" but how hard is it to live it 24x7 365 days a year being completely dead to myself and alive in Christ. How many times does the "I" try to rear its ugly head and steal my joy in Christ. So why do we even bother to die to ourselves? Why try to be a godly man or women? Why try to do what is right? Because He loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.

He gave Himself for me, a sinner, who hated Him and rebelled against Him. I owe Him everything because He laid down His life so I could live. I can't even comprehend it at times. It is just too much for me to understand His love, mercy and grace but I am so thankful for what He has done.

Below is one of the devotions from Oswald Chambers in his book "My Utmost for His Highest". I have found it a blessing today and wanted to share it. He convicts me of my attitude and my lack of utter gratefulness to my Lord and Savior at times. To many times the "I" comes out with what Wes wants.

Galatians 2:20 - For I have been crucified by Christ, yet I live, no longer I but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith towards the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.

"The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

We have to battle through our moods into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus, to get out of the hole-and-corner business of our experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think Who the New Testament says that Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meanness of the miserable faith we have - I haven’t had this and that experience! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims - that He can present us faultless before the throne of God, unutterably pure, absolutely rectified and profoundly justified. Stand in implicit adoring faith in Him, He is made unto us "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." How can we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! Our salvation is from hell and perdition, and then we talk about making sacrifices!

We have to get out into faith in Jesus Christ continually; not a prayer meeting Jesus Christ, nor a book Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, Who is God Incarnate, and Who ought to strike us to His feet as dead. Our faith must be in the One from Whom our experience springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute abandon of devotion to Himself. We never can experience Jesus Christ, nor ever hold Him within the compass of our own hearts, but our faith must be built in strong emphatic confidence in Him.

It is along this line that we see the rugged impatience of the Holy Ghost against unbelief. All our fears are wicked, and we fear because we will not nourish ourselves in our faith. How can any one who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! It ought to be an absolute pæan of perfectly irrepressible, triumphant belief.

(Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, 235, 236)

Wes Porter
Galatians 2:20

John Piper - Future of Justification

John Piper has just released his new book on justification. I have read the first 24 pages of his book and as usual Piper is right on the money with his exegesis of scripture. Piper is addressing specifically the latest books of N. T. Wright and the "new" views on Paul's writings. I don't have a full grasp of Wrights ideas but here are a list of 8 issues that Piper addresses in the introduction.
I hope to have this finished soon so I can give a decent review of what Piper has to say. Here is a quote from the beginning of the book about why Piper wrote it and his mindset.

The Final Judgment feels too close for me to care much about
scoring points in debate. Into my seventh decade, the clouds of time
are clearing, and the prospect of wasting my remaining life on games-
manship or one-upmanship is increasingly unthinkable. The ego-need
to be right has lost its dominion, and the quiet desire to be a faithful
steward of the grace of truth increases. N. T. Wright is about three
years younger than I am, and I assume he feels the same.

The risen Lord Jesus sees through all our clever turns of phrase—I
am preaching to myself. He knows perfectly when we have chosen
words to win, but not to clarify. He has planted a banner on the pulpit
of every preacher and on the desk of every scholar: “No man can give
the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to
save.”1 We will give an account to the all-knowing, all-ruling Lord of
the universe in a very few years—or days. And when we do, what will
matter is that we have not peddled God’s word but “as men of sincer-
ity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ”
(2 Cor. 2:17).

And here is the sweet bonus you can download the book for free right HERE!

Wes Porter
Galatians 2:20