Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:10-12 (New International Version, NIV)

Cursing runs rampant in our society. Even some people who claim to be Christians use profanity. Many people reason that it’s only words and doesn’t matter. But it does matter- it matters to God. If not, then He would not have included the above noted passage in the Bible.

The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart. Luke 6:45 (Amplified Bible, AMP)

You see, words are an indicator of a person’s heart condition. If our words are foul, then it shows that our hearts need a good cleaning. Our words identify who and what we are at the core. To be honest, just like a fig tree does not produce olives, true Christians who spend time with the Lord do not produce words that align with the devil. A cursing Christian is a contradiction in terms. Someone who says they are a believer but uses curse words has obviously not gone beyond the shallow stages of a baby Christian. They have not been transformed by the Lord and His Word. They are what the Apostle Paul called carnal.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. I Corinthians 3:1-3 (NKJV)

As believers, we are to be like the Lord, who blesses us and does good to us. God does not curse- even those who go to hell are not cursed by God; they are sent their by their own rejection of Jesus, not by the condemnation of God.

In this world, it is so important that the children of God stand out from the unsaved. When we talk and act just like them, allowing filthiness and harsh words to come out of our mouths, we appear to be just like them. And they will not see the difference that the Lord can make in their lives.

If we truly want to be different and stand out from unbelievers, we must mature in the faith by spending time in His Word and by praying in the Holy Spirit. As we do, we will be transformed, and the words we speak will be those that bless people and not curse.

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. Ephesians 4:29 (New Living Translation, NLT)