This post will not be an easy one for me but I feel lead to talk about my struggle with cursing. Recently, I read an interview on the Internet I did in 2006 with The Metal Pit and I saw to my horror several times I cursed in it. I have to no excuse and I have repented since but I have this example of my sin living on the net to remind me of my slipping into this sinful habit.
When we started the Rotting Corpse website and reunion shows in 2004, I got caught in the mindset of when I was 20. Thankfully, because I was a believer I didn't do everything I did back in the day. I falsely believed that- if I wasn't drinking, lusting after women, and being a generally nice guy, I wasn't hurting anything by a few cuss words. I believed I could pick my sins. Even after my daughter was born, I continued some cursing but through the urging of some friends who were bold, I finally realized I needed to watch my mouth.
What happened? Part of it is I like to cuss. When I get excited or angry, I like to express myself this way. The other part is I fell into the Seeker Sensitive trap of "If I act really cool, people will like me and might start believing in Christ (Jesus is better than beer)". After a few years back in the metal scene, I saw my friends still living the lives they lived before they re-met me in 2004 and realized how wrong I was to naively believe that the power to transform someone's life to Christ had anything to do with me being of the world. I also failed in that I was afraid to share the gospel with them verbally. I thought that them knowing I was a believer would be enough. I pray the Lord will bless me with more opportunities to share my faith boldly with my old friends from the metal scene and that he will forgive me for my timid ignorance.
Without true repentance, can we truly know the Lord?
Ephesians 4:29
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Colossians 3:8
"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."
1 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
Swearing:
Since 2002 I have been sensitive to people who say GD or JC in vain. It's like a kick in the stomach when I hear someone say it. I am praying for the boldness to tell people (in a nice way) to not say those things around me. I figure it's the least I can do for the man who gave his life for ours. And some times like me, people do not realize how much they are saying these things.
James 5:12
"Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned."
