Forbidden Words – Curses
The word “curse” has a couple of different meanings, but they are related. On the one hand, there is the idea of cursing someone with a spell like in witchcraft. I don’t personally know anyone that does that, although, I have known a few people who claim to be “witches.” The notion is that someone wants to inflict ill fortune on another because of envy, jealousy, revenge, anger, or some other sinful motive. Cursing a person in this way is sinful. Galatians 5:20 lists “sorcery” as one of the works of the flesh. “Sorcery” was the ancient method of using potions to curse other people.
The other idea of the word “curse,” is related to language. We talk about “curse words,” or sometimes colloquialized, “cuss words.” “Cuss” is just another form of “curse.” We have used the word “cuss” as a euphemism for “curse,” since “curse” carries such a negative connotation with it. I doubt anyone really thinks of themselves as uttering curses, though, whether we use the word “cuss” or “curse” it is really the same thing: one is cursing an object, person, or action with one’s language. Such cursing is sinful. Consider what James says: “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:10).
I do not need to list the various curses that people utter. There are many. These words condemn something God has made, but everything that God made was good (Genesis 1). Who are we to condemn the good things that God has made? Euphemisms of these words are no better. They are just veiled curses. Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). Please, don’t curse.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley