As with all my writings, this does not come from a self-righteous heart. I too have struggled in this area. Most bad habits, especially those we learned as a child, are very difficult to break. It is only with the power of the Holy Spirit that we can ever find victory over any sin.
My husband and I do not own a TV, but we read and listen to a lot of books and audio books. We started a Christian series earlier this year where the first book in the series had a least 3 swear words in it (we weren't actually keeping a tally; this is just an estimate.). Just like we used to do when we watched tv or a movie and turned off a program with profanity, we never should have read more of this author's books. However, we read a few more, and every single one had a minimum of 3 bad words. It was not until we reached, I think it was the 5th book, that we finally listened to our conscience about these novels and allowed the Holy Spiri to convict us for putting entertainment over pleasing the Lord. This author had the audacity to use our Lord and Savior's name as a curse word! We were done with her books right then and there. We also repented for reading as far as we had. The nutty thing is, we watched a YouTube video with this author saying she had strong Christian morals and would never use swearing in her novels! (And on a side note, yes, YouTube can absolutely be as dangerous as tv/movies, so we extremely limit how much we watch it.) It was her interview that got me to thinking that because she never used the F word, that maybe she considered her choice of bad words as soft cursing, and not the hard kind, so she justified it. I really don't know what her excuse was. Or what the excuse is for swearing behind the pulpit.
When we look, act, and talk just like the world, we are not reflecting the attributes of Jesus Christ.
(Romans 12:1-2) 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.
Next time you are about to let a nasty word fly out of your mouth, and I know this is so very cliche, but yet it is also very soul searching, stop and consider, "What would Jeus do?" Would the True Jesus of the Bible, NOT the liberal, watered-down Jesus who winks at sin version of Jesus, truly be okay with all that comes out your mouth? Would you say it if he was visibly standing next to you? Guess what, he is always there.
Is this a sin that will send you to hell? That is between you and God. But I do know that just because an act of rebellion may not send you to hell (and no that is not a swear word when used to described a place), that doesn't mean it is acceptable in the eyes of God. Why would you want to make Jesus sad just because you want to look tough or cool because you said a naughty word? Do you want to impress your peers or Jesus? Did your buddies die for you?
As I mentioned above, I too have struggled with such an issue, and I humbly ask the Holy Spirit to help me conquer my bad language. He has helped me drastically reduce my swearing so that it is much rarer than it used to be. I find myself trying to be creative and in place of a swear word I might say something silly like "Oh, peanut butter and jelly," or "Oh, banana bread." I guess I think about food a lot, but you get the idea! Sometimes saying something stupid can even calm my mood and realize that an unholy swear word is really not worth making Jesus sad.
Anyway, here are those scriptures:
(Ephesians 4:29, AMP) Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].
(Ephesians 5:4, AMP) Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God].
(Proverbs 4:24) Put away from thee a froward [stubbornly rebellious] mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
(James 3: 6, 8, & 10) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(Matthew 12:35-36) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
(2 Corinthians 7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
(Deuteronomy 5:11) 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.
(1 Peter 3:10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil.
(Matthew 15:11) Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
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