Profanity

          I was threatened as a child to have my mouth washed out with soap if I included certain foul words in my talking. Fortunately, I don't recall any time that I had to be “cleansed” by a bar of soap in my mouth. I quickly learned what to say and what not to say. We even found it almost difficult to discuss Hoover's big blocking of the river, you know, that huge concrete pile the keeps the river from flowing into the valley. It was too close to saying one of the taboo words and so people would giggle when the teacher discussed such things. We could now pause and say, “How times have changed.” Improper or inappropriate language is used more and more in our culture including the production of films and television series. We find that our minds are being dragged through the gutter, so to speak, in Hollywood's presentations of life as it is. While it is all around us, we don't have to accept it as a part of our lives. Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 

          The part of this verse that speaks to me of this issued is where it says that we are to have "renewed minds." We realize that much that occurs in our lives begins with our minds. There are those things that happen and those things that we think "might" happen which is often far greater than those that actually do take place. Instead of the world forming our vocabulary, change your view to that of Philippians 4:8. Mind renewal is a life time work which is quite often impaired by the world's introcution of profane words. Profanity is not the norm nor should ever be thought of as being the normal thing to speak or think. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us by saying, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” When our minds are fixed upon the principles of this passage, our mind renewal begins to make some progress. Colossians 3 has two passages that speak of two different categories of sins, one of them “speech” sins and the other “sexual” sins. We learn from those passages how coveting and anger are root causes for their easy progression. One list ends with fornication and the other list ends with filthy communication coming out of your mouth. (Colossians 3:5-8). Some people like to swear in front of you and then try to soften it by saying, “Pardon my French.” It didn't sound like anything French” to me. We all need to be involved in “mind renewal” as Paul mentioned in Romans twelve. One of the best methods is to keep Philippians 4:8 on your mind. Write it down and place it on the refrigerator or the “doorpost” of your house or on the middle of your steering wheel of your car and then practice what it says. Praise God today for His Holiness.