Foul Language (Obscenity) Is a Sin
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29)
“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Eph. 5:3-4)
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (Col. 3:8)
“not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit’” (1 Pet. 3:9-10)
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? <...> Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James. 3:8-11,13-16)
What Is the Problem with Obscenity?
The problem with obscenity (aggressive vocabulary) is that a person wants to seem and to be evil, aggressive, dangerous, tough. An evil vocabulary is only one of the ways of achieving this goal. To it are added evil emotions, looks, gestures, clothing, tattoos, habits and all the other means of self-expression. But let us return to words.
Words are made up of sounds. A combination of sounds in itself means nothing: it is neither bad nor good. Let us say we invent the word “amusadar”. “Amusadar” as yet means nothing and therefore is considered neither bad nor good. But when society puts a meaning into this or that word, a person chooses words with meanings depending on situations and on what kind of person he wants to appear in that situation. When a person wants to be polite and courteous, he uses a polite vocabulary, that is, words into which pleasant meanings have been put, showing our peaceful disposition, humility, helpfulness or something similar. But when a person wants to seem tough, dangerous, evil or aggressive, he turns to aggressive vocabulary, that is, to words into which aggressive, vulgar and other negative meanings have been put, which immediately make it clear that such a person does not have an upbringing or a mood that would restrain him from bad deeds — he wants to seem to those around him a dangerous, evil, aggressive, unbalanced, restless person, in which there is nothing good.
Moreover, when a person grows used to such an evil state, he becomes dependent on it, as on smoking tobacco or drinking spirits, as on every sinful passion. As a result, he may take various actions to bring himself into this evil state, to cultivate it inwardly: swearing even alone with himself, listening to evil music, filling himself and the space around him with gloomy symbols. That is, all this is a movement toward evil states, a cultivation in oneself of the state of malice, of the passion of anger, whereas the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us:
“I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (an insult — note) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matt. 5:22)
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5)
And the apostle says:
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (Eph. 4:31)
And the prophet:
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret — it only causes harm” (Ps. 37:8)
Here it is also worth saying something about foolish jokes:
“nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Eph. 5:4)
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke. 6:25)