By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD

(unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version)

GREETING

Psalm 134:1-2.

1 Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.

2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Life Center Black History Celebration. Every Tuesday night in February. Black History Program is Sunday, February 24, 2019.

2. St Louis Clergy Coalition Meeting. Candidates forum will be Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Mt Zion Baptist Church. Breakfast will be served.

3. Department of Evangelism presidents. Go to the IDOE Facebook page and register right away for an important conference call.

4. Lecture at Eden Theological Seminary. Tuesday, February 19, 2019 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM

5. Teaching at Pentecostal Temple in Memphis. Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Memphis.

LESSON NOTES

I. LET’S START OFF WITH SOME DEFINITIONS. All of the following terms are related.

A. Cuss.[1] Another term for curse.

B. Curse.[2] This word has two different meanings. Apparently our focus (in this lesson) will be more on number two:

1. An utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone.

2. An offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance.

C. Oath.[3] a profane or offensive expression used to express anger or other strong emotions.

D. Swear.[4] use offensive language, especially as an expression of anger.

E. Expletive.[5] an oath or swear word.

F. Vulgar.[6] Lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined. Or making explicit and offensive reference to sex or bodily functions; coarse and rude.

G. Profanity.[7] blasphemous or obscene language.

H. Obscenity.[8] an extremely offensive word or expression.

II. WHAT MAKES A CUSS WORD A CUSS WORD. A society pretty much comes to terms with and decides what is considered a cuss word and what is not. What is considered a cuss word in one society; may be a meaningless word in another. Of course this would lead a person to feel that it makes no difference (therefore) regarding the words they say. However, the Bible admonishes us to walk in love and not do anything that would cause another person to stumble.

Romans 14:20-21 ²⁰Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. ²¹It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

1 Corinthians 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Ephesians 5:2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

A. TODAY’S SPECIFIC CUSS WORDS ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE. No they are not. However, the Bible give us the following admonition:

1 Corinthians 10:23 ²³"I have the right to do anything," you say-but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"-but not everything is constructive.

III. WHY DO PEOPLE CUSS?

A. To relieve stress or feel better

B. To get their point across

C. To express anger or frustration

D. To be obscene

E. To communicate

F. To get things off their chest

What are some other reasons that you can think of?

IV. IS THE BIBLE FULL OF CUSS WORDS. The Bible was not written in English. It was written in Hebrew, Greek and some instances of Aramaic. The King James Bible (produced in the 1600’s) has been well beloved. However, the usage of many of the words of this translation have changed over time. Some of the words can be considered vulgar or cussing; if not used in the context of what the Kings James Version is referring to. Here are some examples:

A. Ass. In the King James version, this is referring to a donkey. If it is used in that instance it is okay. However, if the word is used to refer to a person’s body part; then it becomes a cuss word.

John 12:14-15 ¹⁴And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, ¹⁵Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

B. Bastard. The King James uses this to refer to a child born out of wedlock. At one time such a child would be considered, "illegitimate." While such a term may not be considered a cuss word; it is considered vulgar.

Hebrews 12:8 ⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

C. Damn. In the King James this means to "condemn." Being used in that sense it is okay. However, to use it as an expletive – it then becomes a cuss word.

Mark 16:16 ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

D. Hell. This is considered to be the place of the eternally condemned. When you use it in that sense it is okay. To use it as an expletive – it then becomes a cuss word.

Isaiah 5:14 ¹⁴Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

E. Piss. In the King James this means to urinate. While the term is not considered a cuss word, it is considered vulgar.

1 Kings 21:21 ²¹Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

F. Booty.[9] In the King James this simply means the spoils of war. But, used another way it is a vulgar term.

Numbers 31:32 ³²And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,

V. WORDS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFFENSIVELY IN BIBLE TIMES.

A. PAUL USES A TERM THAT BASICALLY MEANS RUBBISH OR GARBAGE. But, it really is referring to fecal matter.

Philippians 3:8. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my LORD, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

B. JESUS MENTIONS TWO WORDS THAT WERE CONSIDERED ‘CUSS WORDS’ IN HIS DAY. ‘Raca’ was one such word, that basically meant worthless and also ‘fool’ which was basically an empty headed person.

Matthew 5:22. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

VI. MEN OF GOD THAT HAD SOME MOUTH PROBLEMS.

A. ISAIAH (EVEN AFTER BEING IN MINISTRY AWHILE) APPARENTLY HAD SOME ISSUES WITH HIS MOUTH.

Isaiah 6:5 „Woe to me!“ I cried. „I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.“

Isaiah 6:7 With it he touched my mouth and said, „See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.“

B. DID PETER CUSS? Peter was actually calling curses down and swearing by oaths that he did not know Jesus.

Matthew 26:74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, „I don‘t know the man!“ Immediately a rooster crowed.

C. YEARS AGO, MANY HOLINESS PREACHERS WOULD SAY THINGS ACROSS THE PULPIT THAT WOULD NOW BE CONSIDERED QUITE VULGAR.

1. YES JOHN CALLED THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS SNAKES (Luke 3:7). But, he also did not win many of them over either. The Bible does not just show you what to do. It shows you also what not to do. John was not perfect. Yes, he was the forerunner (John 1:23). He was a great man (Matthew 11:11). But, John also later had doubts about Jesus (Matthew 11:3). So he was not perfect. You really cannot win someone over by insulting them. Even God has a more palatable approach to reaching people that have gone astray.

Isaiah 1:18 ¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Jeremiah 31:3 ³The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

1 Timothy 4:16 ¹⁶Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 ¹Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

VII. WE MUST CONSTANTLY PRAY FOR GOD TO KEEP US. I have witnessed a few situations where saints (reputed for being godly) began to cuss like crazy, under the following circumstances:

A. A loved one being mistreated and abused

B. A person suffering from dementia

C. A person suffering from a terminal illness and being physically abused.

Can you think of other types of cases?

VIII. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT PROVOKE PEOPLE TO CUSS.

A. Times of stress are coming in the last days. Do not allow it to cause you to lose your witness.

2 Timothy 3:1 Amplified Bible (AMP).[10]

But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].

B. Judgment for causing one of God’s people to stumble. A lot of the stressful times of the last days will be cause by people in power. Because of greed, many people will struggle just to take care of their families. Those that are causing this will come under the judgment of God.

James 5:1-4 ¹Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ²Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the LORD Almighty.

Matthew 18:6 ⁶"If anyone causes one of these little ones-those who believe in me-to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

C. Try not to speak to other people in a way that will cause their anger to rise. If you can neutralize a situation; then use your influence to do so.

Proverbs 15:1 ¹A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Romans 12:18 ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

D. A home should be a safe haven. Work your hardest to ensure that it is not an atmosphere of war.

Proverbs 25:24 ²⁴Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

E. Do not provoke other people. You should cause peace and not confusion.

Galatians 5:26 ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Proverbs 26:17 ¹⁷Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

IX. TEN BIBLE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD NOT CUSS.

A. Proverbs 4:24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips

B. Proverbs 6:12 A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

C. Matthew 12:36-37 ³⁶But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

D. Matthew 15:10-11 ¹⁰Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. ¹¹What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."

E. Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

F. Colossians 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

G. 2 Timothy 2:16 Christian Standard Bible[11]
Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,

H. Titus 2:6-8 ⁶Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

I. James 1:26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

J. James 3:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

X. ARE SUBSTITUTE WORDS OK? It is best to avoid these as they could lead to the real thing.

A. IS IT OK TO FLIP SOMEONE OFF OR TO USE EMOJIS; SINCE YOU ARE NOT USING VERBAL LANGUAGE? While you are not saying the actual word; you will want to avoid this as well, as it also could lead to the real thing.

XI. TO CUSS OR NOT TO CUSS; WHAT IS THE ANSWER? Epheisans 4:29 when read from 7 (seven) different translations pretty much gives an answer to our question. While words have different meanings at different times in history; this verse is telling us NOT to cuss.[12]

A. New Living Translation
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

B. Christian Standard Bible
No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

C. Contemporary English Version
Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.

D. International Standard Version
Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.

E. NET Bible
You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.

F. Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Let not any hateful words come out of your mouth, but whatever is good and useful for improvement that you may give grace to those who hear,

G. GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't say anything that would hurt [another person]. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.

H. Darby Bible Translation
Let no corrupt word go out of your mouth, but if [there be] any good one for needful edification, that it may give grace to those that hear [it].