Foul language is something that most of us are quite used too. I remember when I was a kid the big movie to watch was "Robo Cop." All of my peers had seen it but I hadn't. when I confronted my parents about watching the movie they responded quickly with a "no." The reason, there was too much foul language. Of course my rebuttal to them was one, they couldn't have said anything in the movie that I hadn't already heard and two, they are just words. And how true was and is my first rebuttal for us today? We hear foul language from pre-teens, teenagers, 20's, 30's, and all the way up to the elderly. This language is so familiar to us that it is becoming "regular language." Most people do not differentiate the difference because this is how they have been raised or because it has become so habitual that they think nothing of foul language. But the second part of my rebuttal was and still is inaccurate. How far from the truth was I then? Very far.

Foul language is very serious, so serious that God tells us not to do it. Foul language may be a part of your life but if you truly love the Lord it shouldn't be. Lets look at what the Bible has to say about it. Now before we can look at the verses I need to tell you that the verses that we will get ready to look at are regarding the power of the tongue. I often tell my kids that your tongue can either lift someone up or to tear down and destroy (note: lifting up displays love, which is of God, but destruction belongs to Satan (Apollyon). James chapter 3 talks about controlling the tongue, for your review read the following verses:

James 3:3-6, Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Now that we understand how powerful the tongue is, look at verses 9 and 10:

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

We find that we bless (worship and praise) God with the same tongue that we use to curse man, which is made in the likeness of God. The writer goes on to say that this ought not be. Verses 11 and 12:

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

How can both sweet and bitter water come from the same fountain? It can't! How can a fig tree bear olive berries? It can't! Your mouth will either be for one or the other. Look at Peter in

Matthew 26:74, Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

While Peter began to swear and curse regarding Christ you see his heart was against Him. How do we know? Because Christ informed Peter that the cock would crow after denying Him three times.

Matthew 26:34, Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And that is exactly what happened. You see, Jesus also tells us that it is not what we put into our mouths that make us dirty but rather what comes out of our mouth.

Matthew 15:11 says, Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

And what comes out of our mouths is from our heart. There is a direct correlation between our hearts and mouths. That being said we also see Christ warning us about our speech.

Matthew 12:34-37, O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 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.

In closing, let me leave you with some verses to ponder. These verses can be used to help you understand the seriousness of the cursing, swearing, and foul language.

Exodus 20:7, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Matthew 5:34, But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne

James 5:12, But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

I once heard the analogy, if you say you are an apple tree and there are oranges hanging from your branches, then you have a problem. What are you an apple tree that bares apples or are you an apple tree that bares oranges? Today is the day that you can decide to follow after God with all that you have, even your mouth.