The use
of profane and obscene speech is an increasing problem.
I once
received a newspaper column in which a woman discussed whether parents should
allow little children to use swear words. She cited a woman
"theologian" who said the Bible nowhere condemns swearing. She
concluded there is really nothing wrong with it, unless your children use such
language around people who would be offended.
Some
people have long used profanity and obscenity privately when they are angry,
disgusted, or excited. Some use it for emphasis. Some enjoy suggestive or
off-color jokes. With others the practice is just a habit. Unfortunately, this
is even true of some professing Christians.
More
recently, such speech has become common, not just in private, but also in
public and in the mass media. Finding a TV show, movie, or novel that does not
use it is nearly impossible, even in so-called "family
entertainment." Social media have gone so far as to give such expressions
code abbreviations, so people can use profanity without having to type it out!
Some professing Christians carelessly copy and distribute on their pages
messages that include it.
