Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  (James 3:10)

Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.  (I Corinthians 10:32) 

Recently some friends who hadn't been to a movie for years treated themselves to a picture that had received rave reviews and several Academy Awards.  I asked how they had enjoyed their night out. "It was a good movie," Judy said.  An excellent story line and great acting, but...  "When she hesitated, I had a good idea what she would say next.  "But the language was foul!  The foulest I've ever heard, and I've been around. Things sure have changed."

Yes, they have.  Words once reserved for rest-room walls are now common stuff in films, plays, books and even on television.

The "F word," long taboo, is now high fashion.  As columnist John Leo noted recently in U.S. News and World Report, stand-up comedian Eddie Murphy tosses out hundreds of four-letter words in a single performance; New York Mets baseball star Lenny Dykstra, in a book snatched up by many a young fan, uses the F word the way others use punctuation; and David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross, is littered with the you-know-what word.

Moviemakers are in the thick of the expletive explosion.  But, whatever the medium, the message seems to be that foul language is in, so get used to it.

I realize there are those who contend that entertainment merely depicts life as it is.  "It's the real world," they say.  "It's how people talk!"  Indeed, my friend noticed that others in the theatre hadn't appeared offended by the on-screen obscenities.  In fact, the people behind her were using much the same language.  "Is it us?" she asked.  "Are we the different ones?"

I admit that sometimes it seems to be the case.  Not long ago, I was sitting on a bus behind two women who apparently believe that no noun is complete without an obscene adjective attached.  And many of us have worked in offices that can best be described as a locker room after a big loss.

Basing an impression on looks can be risky.  Words reveal much more about a person.  Wise employers know this.  A business manager told me of an attractive job applicant who not only "dressed for success," but had the background and training to land a job with the organization.  Why wasn't he hired?  His language.  Said the manager, "If he felt no qualms about using expletives in our interview, he'd probably use them with our customers."

Sadly, this applicant may have thought that profanity would make him appear tough and aggressive – leadership material.  Not so.  Such language implies an inability to communicate well and to discern what is inappropriate.

"But they're only words," we hear some people say.  Only words?  Words are the way we communicate our most precious thoughts – our feelings about ourselves, about each other, about life.  No wonder they can inflict so much lasting pain.  I will never forget the young woman whose mother once called her foul names during an argument.  She later confided, "It would have hurt less if she had slapped me.  I'll never get over those things she called me."

A friend told me about a commuter who grew so tired of the stream of obscenities coming from members of his car pool that he planned to quit the group.  He tried to think up excuses, but they all sounded phoney.  Finally, he decided that the others should know his real reason.  He levelled with them.  To his surprise, the two worst offenders immediately promised to clean up their act, and insisted he continue with the car pool.

I still regret that a number of years ago I failed to speak out as language pollution became the norm in a writing class I was taking.  It began when one of the students asked our instructor if it was permissible to use a certain word in his story.  "By all means," he said.  "It's real life; it's how people talk."  Soon others began lacing their prose with "real life."  Of course, it wasn't real life at all, but what the students thought was expected.

I copped out by not objecting.  I was afraid of what the others would think of me, fearful that if I spoke up I would appear unsophisticated.

What happened in that classroom probably reflects what is happening in society at large.  Isn't language pollution increasing because we are too eager to follow what others tell us is fashionable?  Because we are not exercising our right – and obligation – to speak out against it?

When a filmmaker I know put together a short documentary about his young son's soccer heroics, his mother was appalled to find the script riddled with profanity.  "But Craig," she objected, "my grandson just doesn't talk this way.  He never has."

"Oh, Mom, I know that," Craig replied.  "But you've got to put that kind of thing in nowadays.  People expect it.  It's the trend."

I rest my case.

Cursing is to call upon divine power to send injury or damnation upon someone.  We know what Jesus' thought of such curses by His response to James and John when they wanted to call fire down from heaven on some Samaritans who did not welcome Him:

Swearing is to use profane or obscene language.  Swearing may have had its origins in Old Testament times when people sincerely called on God's name to back up oaths, promises or vows.  In the 1990's the people of modern Israel have discarded God as well as the practice of making sincere promises, vows and oaths before Him; but they have retained His holy name to throw around as a common exclamation!

Blasphemy is defined as the act of expressing a lack of reverence for God.  Surprisingly, blasphemy is still technically a civil crime in some U.S. states and in Britain.  But it goes almost without saying that, with each passing year, with the steep slide in morals, charges and convictions of the crime of blasphemy have become fewer and fewer until today they are virtually non-existent.

Profanity is the use of profane language – serving to debase what is holy.  It seems that many types of bad language are related to God or to holy things.  The modern Israelite of the early twenty-first century seems to think he's a real big-shot if he can say anything foul about God or about what is holy and sacred without being struck down on the spot.  How far from God our nations have fallen!

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.  By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.  Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.  (Hosea 4:1-3)

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls... If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.  (James 1:21, 26 RSV)

For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.  If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.  Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire.  The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brethren, this ought not to be so.  (James 3:2-10 RSV)

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.  (James 5:12 RSV)

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.  (Philippians 4:8)

What kind of movies and TV shows do I watch?
What kind of music do I listen to?
What kind of books and magazines do I read?
What kind of company do I keep?