The New Testament is clear that Christians are to keep their speech pure (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; James 3:9-12; et al.). During the trial of Jesus, when Peter was desperate to convince others that he was not one of His disciples, he “began to curse and swear” (Matthew 26:74). Clearly, this type of language is not compatible with the life of a disciple.
However, a recent article from Time discussed the surprising health benefits of swearing. The article listed the following “benefits”:
- It can help you tolerate pain.
- You’ll work out harder.
- It can help you regulate emotions.
- It can make people feel closer.
Now, before we notice each of those points, we need to remember that this is a tactic Satan uses. He tempts us to sin by extolling the benefits (or perceived benefits) of sin. This is what he did when he tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden:
“The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:4-5).
For more on this, see the article, The “Benefits” of Sin.
We need to remember that just because there is a perceived benefit to something does not mean it is good and right. And further, the “benefit” is inferior to the blessings that come from God when we follow His will.
So what about the so-called “benefits” of swearing? Let’s consider the claims made in the article in light of the Scriptures:
- “It can help you tolerate pain.” Swearing may be a natural response if we are suffering, but it is not the best response. James said, “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:13-14). Rather than using bad language, we need to pray to God and call upon others who can help us.
- “You’ll work out harder.” Even if this were true, does that matter? How “hard” do we really need to work out? Paul reminded Timothy, “For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Yes, exercise and working out are good, but whatever extra benefit we get from swearing during our workout is not worth compromising a life of godliness.
- “It can help you regulate emotions.” Jesus said, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart” (Luke 6:45). We cannot hope for our heart (emotions, thoughts, motivations, etc.) to be right by using foul language. James wrote, “From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:10). If our heart is spiritually and emotionally healthy, it will not produce corrupt speech.
- “It can make people feel closer.” If it does, it makes us feel closer to people whose hearts produce this type of corrupt speech. Paul wrote, “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 4:29). If we want to build others up and develop closer relationships with them, we need to speak wholesome, edifying words.
While the world wants to view swearing as normal, acceptable, and even beneficial, Christians need to be different. As Paul wrote, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6).
———
This article first appeared on Plain Bible Teaching for Today on Substack.
