Profanity by John D. Snider

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 29, 1912

Profanity

By John D. Snider

JOHN D. SNIDER

“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.” Ex. 20: 7.

Although the above quotation is embodied in God’s immutable law, is a recognized tenet of every religious denomination, and is an ethical prerequisite of morality and etiquette, thousands upon thousands of thoughtless people are daily divorcing themselves from God’s grace and richest blessings, while at the same time they are paving the road, by adhering to an ungodly habit, for their own ultimate downfall. Is not the language of the text in itself conclusive evidence as to what the inevitable outcome must be? Can there be any ambiguity in the declaration, “For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain”?

An atheist was standing in the doorway of his dwelling, conversing with friends. A great electrical storm was in progress, and the conversation soon involved the question of whether God sometimes manifests his displeasure toward a wicked man by allowing him to be struck by lightning. Thereupon the skeptic spontaneously and deliberately swore that he positively maintained no belief in a Divine Power capable of manipulating in any degree the forces of nature. These were his last words. His awful declaration had called forth the wrath of Omnipotence, and the vain atheist was a corpse—killed by the lightning while in the very act of cursing his Lord. Anything strange about it?—No. He “cursed God” without the least provocation, and died with the imprecations upon his lips. Think of it! Dead and doomed! His future as rayless as the tomb!

This inexcusable habit assumes a more humiliating appearance when we come to consider the inconsistency of the uses it is made to serve. Men employ vile oaths and execrations to add force to their expressions of anger, surprise pleasure, incredulity, constancy, veracity, denial, and others too numerous to mention. Now, is it not an axiomatic truth that these imprecations, being all of the same nature, can not possibly represent emotions so multifarious and varied? If so, how obvious is the futility of their employment to serve all the above-enumerated purposes. Is not the English language sufficiently rich in synonyms so that men may select a vocabulary that will be adequate for the intelligent and potent expression of all emotions?—It undoubtedly is. Then why use these ungodly words in the vain effort to add emphasis to what is said, when they actually fail to do so, and when there are so many other words that may be used to reveal the strongest feelings and the tenderest emotions without calling down the wrath of God by blaspheming his name?

This sin is not confined to the lower and middle classes of society. Men moving in the select circles of society, cultured and influential, habitually punctuate their remarks with oaths. More than that, not infrequently we see women of all classes, and even girls of tender years, swearing over every little affair that irritates them.

Some young men seem not to consider their education completed until they can swear fluently. At first, it is unnatural, and the thought, “What would mother say could she hear me?” brings the blush to the cheek; but the young man only swears again to conceal his agitation, and the habit is quickly formed. We have a feeling akin to admiration for the boy who can go out from his mother’s training, and yet retain that chastity of speech which she has taught him.

Swearing is one of the greatest sins of the human race, and it is the bounden duty of every follower of Christ to battle against it, until it, with all other sins, is forever exterminated.