Obscenity

"The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness."

Proverbs 10:32

"God's righteous men and women have a sense of discernment in what they say.  They are skilled in saying what is acceptable, so the wicked have a talent to speak what is crooked or perverse." Guzik

"The wicked man knows as well what is perverse, and that he speaketh forth. As the love of God is not in his heart, so the law of kindness is not on his lips." Clarke

I was driving to an appointment yesterday when I stopped at a red light.  When the light turned green, the truck in front of me remained stopped.  I patiently waited for a few seconds and realizing that the person inside the vehicle was texting, I lightly tapped on the horn.   I was answered by a hand sticking out of their open window with an obscene gesture.  Sigh

That seems to be the popular thing to do in our world today.  Not only the gesture but the actual obscenity in words and speech.  Seems like there is no refrain, manners or common courtesies when it comes to such profanity.  It's the word used all over the News, by the lips of rioters and even those who serve in Congress.  While watching the State of the Union Address on TV last night, even those who represent our Country wore buttons with the obscenity directed at our National Security Officers.

When I was a kid, that word was the Biggest Badest Word of them all.  To utter such a word was spoken at high risk.  Mouths were washed out with soap, back sides sore from an immediate paddling, and being sent to our rooms with no hope of early release.

But not today.  Obscenity is spoken with no thought of its vulgarity. Not only by men, but by women.

It's expected from those who do not know our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but by the mere fact of mention in God's Word, obscenity is addressed to Believers.  Obscenity is clearly reproved and admonished in Scripture.  To think that Obscenity had to even be addressed as a problem among Believers is sad, and yet necessary.

Believer, if you have a problem with obscenity, it's time to examine your heart, because it begins with a heart issue.  Jesus taught that speech reflects the heart; evil, corrupt, obscene words indicate an inner issue.  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Words of Jesus, Luke 6:45

Jesus also warns that we will be held accountable for every word we speak and give an account for every careless word spoken. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37

What should our words be?  Edifying.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalm 34:13

How can keep from speaking words that should not be uttered? By asking God to set a watch over our mouths and lips.

"Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3

Christian, our words should not match those spoken of the world...

    Our words should be spoken in love and with compassion...

        So that the world can know Who our Father is and Who we live for...Christ.

            But that's just me!

"Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten."

Carl Sandburg