“What is said when one doesn’t know what to say” Anon
Something has concerned me lately, and that is the language that flows freely out of the mouths of both our youth and our adults. I find that self-expression has been reduced to only three or four words in our society. I have heard the monotonous “F bomb” so often, it ceases to have any meaning at all.
I wonder if those wagging tongues realize what they are saying or if they even care.
Placing a curse, or cursing someone, brought awareness through the Christian Church. It began with God, when He said,” I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live “ Deut. 30:19.
The “sense” of “curse” is an expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, or doom fall on someone or something. Profanity, speech directed against God, is akin to the act of “cursing.” To cuss is an American alteration of the word “curse.” To curse is to cuss, and it means to “use profanity” or to “swear at.”
To “swear” means to “bind oneself by oath” and or to “use profane oaths or language.” The meaning has evolved from a word that started out clean and proper. To swear was to make a vow, and to be bound by those vows or words. “Swearing” on a Bible in court would be an example of which we are all familiar. A man’s word has always been the test of an orderly society, and swearing has been a vehicle to that end.
The verb “to curse” is the opposite of “to bless.” Oral cursing carries a profound negative effect. Blessing something or someone creates a positive result. Animal lovers take advantage of the day of the Blessing of the Animals; and we regard the “blessing” pronounced at a marriage, or the dedication of an infant to be deeply regarded. God instituted man with a choice and the Bible speaks often of the woes of cursing, and the benefits of blessing. Believers are commissioned to “bless those who curse you” and the Bible speaks that blessings prosper individuals and nations while curses will destroy and defeat.
When one loosely pronounces a curse, and uses the name of God, Jesus, or Christ in that curse, that person is committing a very serious act. He is challenging God, and using His name profanely. In other words, the poor, ignorant soul speaking this way is defiantly defying God and cursing himself as well.
It’s a frightening thing to curse another, or to curse God.
Such expletives create a negative and destructive mood to all who hear it. We must not curse anyone. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe this. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to believe it. Now you know. And you are held responsible.
Unseemly language is a different animal. Most of us have an one time or another been guilty. I have, especially when I stub my toe by jamming it into the chair leg in the dark, or spill an entire meal on the kitchen floor.
I am not condoning that release of expletives. I am merely explaining the difference.
I believe that if our adults would begin to have zero tolerance for cursing and cussing; swearing and blaspheming, and would correct our kids, that there would be a positive, uplifting change. Successful people do not talk that way.
To curse is to release negativity, unhappiness, sorrow, anger, wrath, and a multitude of unpleasant feelings in the air. It also brings negative results. “Why would we curse ourselves?” we ask.
One curses out of ignorance, or out of habit. One curses himself out of deep anger and despair. One curses because he doesn’t fear God.
I want to challenge us all.
Let’s all be aware and remind each other what is happening when these unedifying words are spoken. And let’s explain all of this to our kids! It’s time to turn the tide in our society and this is a start.
Judi Tabler is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune and her views don’t necessarily reflect those of the paper. She can be reached at bluegrasses@gmail.com