Dr Paul Allen

Is cursing a sin? Many Christians would instantly answer yes. But not so fast—it depends on what we mean by “cursing.” When you read the Bible, you’ll see that “cursing” and “swearing” mean something very different from what we might think. They aren’t the same as saying bad words. That said, they’re probably right that yes, cursing is a sin—but not for the reasons you think. Let’s first define each word, then look at the Scriptures to see what the words “swearing” and “cursing” meant in the Bible—and what kind of language God wants us to use today. Why do the words we use matter so much? What’s the difference between cursing and swearing? What does the Bible say about cursing and swearing? So, can we say bad words? Why do the words we use matter so much? If you’re a fan of the TV show The Office, you may remember the scene in which Michael Scott faced financial troubles and was told that bankruptcy was the easy way out. So, thinking his problems would soon be solved, he walked into hi...

 What if men in the church are more immature and less equipped because we’ve been expecting too little of them? What if we have simply failed to call them to more than sexual purity online and basic spiritual disciplines? I want to be a part of raising up men who, instead of merely avoiding this or that sin, become a force for good — better, a force for God. And I want to be that kind of man, the kind of man my son should imitate. When the apostle Paul wrote to a younger man, casting vision for what he might become in Christ, he charged him, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). In a previous article, I began recovering this simple but challenging framework as a paradigm for becoming a man of God. In this article, I want to narrow in on speech. What does it mean, more practically, to set an example in what a man says (or doesn’t say)? What about our words sets us apart from oth...